When looking back at last year's Manila Wrestling Federation's Noche Buena show, there were definitely a lot of memories that stand out.
Being this blogger's first pro wrestling show outside America, did not know what would be expected. It all began about two hours before the doors to the Peta Theater Center in Quezon City opened.
This fan met up with Darius, one of the most knowledgeable wrestling fans I know. Along with his friend, we went to a nearby restaurant, and eventually made it back before the doors opened.
Once inside, the Peta Theater Center is a great setting for a pro wrestling show. It would be something like the independent shows this fan sees locally and the early day ECW shows in a ballroom.
The event itself? Top notch! Fans in the ringside areas received a poster and top notch wrestling! There were 10 matches that evening and a near sellout crowd was ready for what was about to happen!
The opening match between Aaron Liwanag against Yellow Shirt was a mismatch only in size. I thought Yellow Shirt held her own against a male opponent. It was the first time seeing an intergender match and quickly got used to the physicality. Yellow Shirt became Joya and part of the MWF roster a few months later.
Pinoy Bulldog, a veteran wrestler from back in the late 1980s appeared at the show and was in great shape. He took on White Shirt. White Shirt won and now known as Isaiah Valencia, he would now be part of the MWF roster.
There were several title changes for the SETUP Thailand 24/7 title. It seemed that evening that the title itself was as hot as a firecracker! Brother Jomar Liwanag was the champion going into the show. However, a pinfall by an unexpected source, Tarek El Tayech during a conversation with Bahay Ng Liwanag in the ring would change title ownership.
There would be three more title changes in the course of the evening. Veronica Litton, the head of MWF would defeat Tarek out in the hallway during an interiew with Patricia Ligaya, the interviewer. Eventually, she would lose out to a tag team of Danny Zamora and Razael not by pinfall, but by wanting to be the head of MWF at the end of the show. The tag team would lose out to Aaron Liwanag who would eventually lose out to Ken Warren in the stairway.
Ken Warren would then go into a three on one handicap match against Bahay Ng Liwanag as the champion instead of the challenger. It turned out that Bahay Ng Liwanag would be the handicapped one as Warren would retain the 24/7 title.
El Kapitunero defeated Saint John Martin when Martin's knee buckled when coming down on the mat.
There was Crystal defeating Chelsea Marie in a very good women's match for both competitors.
Danny Zamora and Razael defeated Migs Valdez and Kanto Terror in a BGC Street Fight. It reminded me a lot of the old ECW matches.
Dabid Ravena defeated Main Maxx was one of the hardest hitting and banging matches I've seen. Today, both wrestlers are a part of the stable, Oro Plata Mata.
CJ Serafin defeated Robin Sane was a good match as well. It definitely elevated CJ Serafin as he was beginning to rise around this time.
Ken Cifer defeted Khayl Sison in Sison's return to the ring. Cifer would go on to win the Chilly Willy Cup early in 2023! This blogger has been a fan of both wrestlers for awhile. It was great seeing Khayl back in action and hopefully one day, we'll see him again.
Finally, Fabio Makisig defeated Jake De Leon for the MWF Pinoy Wrestling Championship is still a match that is in my mind from time to time. The ending of the match was totally unexpected but it was clean, no question.
Following the show, there were the many fans and wrestlers this blogger had a chance to talk with. Everyone I met was gracious. Being able to hold a wrestling belt is a dream. My thanks to Ken Warren, as always, for the great conversation we had. There was as well, the moment of a photo-op with Jake De Leon, definitely Mr. Philippine Wrestling in this fan's opinion. There was also my first experience with being on a you tube podcast and with Darius. Other than being nervous, it was a great experience.
People will tell you that your first show will always be the best one and that nothing will come close after that. This blogger is not so sure about that. He's seen three more shows in the Philippines since last December and they were right there with the first one.
This fan believes when all is said and done after the December 3rd show, it will top the other four watched. I'm definitely looking forward to Noche Buena!
The results from last year's show:
Fabio Makisig d. Jake De Leon (c) for the MWF Pinoy Wrestling Championship.
Ken Cifer d. Khayl Sison.
Ken Warren (c) d. Bahag Ng Liwanag for the SETUP Thailand 24/7 Championship.
Danny Zamora and Razael d. Migs Valdez and Kanto Terror in a BGC Street Fight.
Crystal d. Chelsea Marie.
Dabid Ravena d. Main Maxx.
CJ Serafin d. Robin Sane.
El Kapitunero d. Saint John Martin.
White Shirt d. Pinoy Bulldog. White Shirt is now Isaiah Valencia.
Aaron Liwanag d. Yellow Shirt (Joya).
