Final Thoughts On FPW Astig

This blogger and wrestling fan has some final thoughts in 2023 on Filipino Pro Wrestling, one of three wrestling promotions in the Philippines.

 

To begin with, the company began operations in October 2022 with a few wrestlers who had performed with Philippine Wrestling Revolution, a company whom was founded in late 2013.  The company, because of the pandemic, closed in September 2022.

 

Because this fan loves wrestling, and this is a Southeast Asia wrestling blog, FPW deserves more posts than it has been getting.  Moving forward, the company began with their first show on October 16.  It turned out to be the beginning of a series of shows called FPW Astig.  The first show was called FPW: Unfinished Business.

 

Red Ollero, in my opinion, has done a great job with getting Filipino Pro Wrestling off the ground. The promotion is starting cautiously and slowly, but most everyone feels this is the correct way.

 

Back to FPW Astig, the shows from October 2022 through the August show in 2023, were held at the PMC Spotlight Theater in Circuit Makati.  Following the Unfinished Business show and another in November, there were seven FPW: Astig shows.  Several of the shows would have a tournament to see who would be the first FPW Champion.  That turned out to be Mike Madrigal.

 

Madrigal won a three way final on April 22nd by defeating Cali Nueva and "The Best Pure Wrestler"- Ralph Imabayashi, certainly two deserving wrestlers, to win the belt.  Madrigal has successfully defended the belt twice against Cali Nueva and Duke Ortega.

 

This fan was curiously wondering why results were hard to come by.  Well, I found out the reason.

 

While on vacation in the Philippines in August, on Sunday, August 27th, I attended my first Filipino Pro Wrestling show.  Following one of the matches, Red Ollero announced that the FPW Astig series would be aired on You Tube beginning on Thursday, September 14th.  There would be two matches each week for 10 weeks with the FPW Championship Match as the final match of the series.

 

Right now, this fan is assuming that there will be more video from the July and August shows on You Tube sometime in the future.  Certainly from the show I saw in August, it was a highlight in itself with some great matches that took place.

 

From what is on the blog, several wrestlers were accommodating on doing interviews with this blogger.  Though right now, it is a quiet time of the year due to the Christmas holidays, am sure that training is going on to get ready for the 2024 season.  

 

Am told as of right now that Filipino Pro Wrestling's next show will likely take place in February and at the PMC Spotlight Theater once again.  With what has been happening with World Underground Wrestling - Philippines and the Manila Wrestling Federation in 2023, the 2024 season will be a successful year for all three promotions.

 

And why not!       

Wrestling Shows In January/February

In the next few days, a new year will be upon us.  In advance, Happy New Year everyone!  This blogger has decided on something new for the viewers beginning in 2024.  I've put together a list of upcoming wrestling shows in Southeast Asia over a two month time frame.  

 

Just to let everyone know, this page will be updated promptly as more promotions will schedule upcoming shows.  It would be a good idea to bookmark it since the updates may happen often. At the end of each month, there will be a new list.    

 

The January and February shows (actual and tentative) are posted below.  The times of the shows are accurate per each promotion's Facebook page.  Normally, the doors open roughly 30 to 90 minutes prior to the show depending on the promotion.  Please check the Facebook pages of any of the promotions regarding the time of the show and ticket availability! 

 

Again, this page is subject to change and will be updated often.  Thanks again everyone!

 

***

 

Saturday, January ?, 2024 (tentative) - Vietnam Pro Wrestling - Saturday Showdown.  Venue is the VAIB Studio, 37 Be Van Cam, P.Tan Kieng, Q7, Ho Chi Minh City beginning at 7pm 

 

Friday, January 19, 2024 - Singapore Pro Wrestling - Champions Never Yield 2.  Venue is the Foo Chow Building, Tyrwhitt Road, 207530, Farrer Park MRT Station, Serangoon Rd and begins at 7:30pm.

 

Saturday, January 20, 2024 - SETUP Thailand - Bangkok Showdown.  Venue is The Circus Studio, G Village Bangkok and will begin at 6:30 pm.

 

Saturday, January 20, 2024 - New Taiwan Wrestling - ? - Venue is Zhongguang Dojo and will begin at 2:00pm.

 

Saturday, January 27, 2024 -  Middle Kingdom Wrestling - Bash At The Bay 3.  Venue is the Nashan Digital Innovation Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, China and will begin at 7pm. 

 

Sunday, January 28, 2024 - APAC Wrestling - Enter The Dragon.  Venue is Spacerubix in Puchong, Malaysia and will begin at 7:30pm. 

 

Friday/Saturday, February 2-3, 2024 - Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation - Tag Of Glory.    Venue is  柴灣 青年廣場2樓 Y劇場 Youth Square 青年廣場, Y Studio, 2/F Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, HK beginning at 7:30pm.

 

Sunday, February 11, 2024  - Filipino Pro Wrestling - FPW Astig.  Venue is the PMC Spotlight Theater at Circuit Makati, Makati, Philippines beginning at 2pm (time to be determined).  

2023 Noche Buena Thoughts

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and are having a safe and healthy holiday.  This blogger is back in America and had a quiet and safe one.

 

It was nice on Christmas morning here in San Francisco to be on the Rock Of Manila feed for Part 2 of the 2023 Noche Buena showing.  Even though being about 7000 miles away, I felt as if I was actually in the Philippines taking part with over 100 viewers in watching the feed.  Sometime next week, I'll post the results from the show.

 

Now that Parts 1 and 2 have been shown both on Gank and Rock Of Manila TV, here are my final thoughts on the show.

 

First and foremost, it was great seeing, meeting and talking once again with numerous kapafeds, the MWF staff led by Veronica, Tarek and William, and quite a few of the MWF wrestlers as well as talking briefly with Michael Su and Bitman from the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation.  It was a memorable day as it was the anniversary of my first MWF show one year previous.  

 

Thank you, as always to everyone, as this fan has always felt comfortable and welcome at a pro wrestling event, whether it is MWF, Filipino Pro Wrestling and World Underground Wrestling - Philippines.  Pinoy wrestling fans are great fans.  They are passionate, knowledgeable and can be humorous at times.  Am grateful for this.

 

There was no question in people's minds is that the show exceeded the expectations.  A sellout crowd at the PMC Spotlight Theater were really into the show.  Seeing three of the last four shows live, there was no question this was the best one - post pandemic.  It has great momentum going into 2024.

 

The matches were top notch from the preliminary match with Grey Shirt vs. Orange Shirt to the Eight Man Tag Elimination Match.  

 

Certainly, the four way women's match was one great highlight for this fan.  Seeing Patricia Ligaia make her debut as a wrestler was awesome.  Hopefully, she will continue to pursue her dream. 

 

Joey Rosas held his own very well in the Hong Kong-Philippine Cup against two experienced wrestlers in Michael Su and Bitman.

 

I was excited to see "Danger" Rex Lawin continuing his return to the squared circle to beat Ho Ho Lun in the MWF #1 Contender's Match.  It was great to finally meet him after the show and to share my appreciation on him getting an opportunity in getting a title match sometime in 2024.

 

Finally, the eight man elimination tag match had so many story lines within the match.  It will be interesting following what we saw, what will  transpire in the first show in 2024.  There were certainly be changes amongst the various "stables" or groups.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with C.J. Serafin, Jomar Liwanag, Danny Zamora and Main Maxx going forward.  All of us who saw Noche Buena on video, live, or both, may have some possible answers regarding each one.

 

However, this fan has learned something from the late and great wrestler, Roddy Piper when it comes to this.  Once in an interview, Piper said to an interviewer, "when you think you have the answers, I change the questions!"

 

There is one question that has been answered so far in 2024.  The Manila Wrestling Federation will return to UP Dillman with their main shows at Ang Bahay Ng Alumni.  It will be memorable times.

 

Happy New Year everyone and will see you guys in 2024! 

Grapplemax Amplify Show Results

Here are the results from Grapplemax Pro Wrestling's show, Amplify, that took place on Saturday, December 23rd.  Thank you, as always, for the results.

 

Inglorious d. Joses and Larhvin.

"Crypto Bro" LK d. Shaun P. Diddy.

Simon Siah d. Christian.

BIG DAVE and Ben Sachak d. Aussie Aussie Aussie.

Hotshot d. Jullian and retains the Grapplemax Openweight Championship.