Interview #15 - Miguel Navarro

Hello everyone!

 

It's been about 11 months since doing an interview on this blog.  A lot has happened in the pro wrestling world since that time.  There have been several people that suggested that one of these should be done again.  So, here we go.

 

During this blogger's last visit to the Philippines a few weeks ago, had a chance to meet Miguel Navarro.  Right away, I saw the passion and the knowledge that Miguel has as a wrestling fan both locally and internationally.  Miguel is the WUW - PH (World Underground Wrestling - Philippines Correspondent).  Just recently, he began his own podcast called Ready To Rambol.  Please check it out if you haven't already.

 

Just recently, we did this interview with several questions.  Hope you enjoy it.

 

Wayne:  When did you start following wrestling?

 

Miguel:  I started following wrestling in 2006. Although I discovered it through a video game which is Smackdown 2 Know Your Role.  I played that game most of the time I was in my grandmother's house and I used to think that wrestling is a setting that can be seen in fictional media, like superheroes with superpowers can be seen in comics, series, or movies.  It wasn't until I was finding something to watch that I saw ECW One Night Stand 06 and realizing that wrestling is real blew my mind.

 

 

Wayne:  Have you ever wrestled or just follow it as a fan?

 

 

Miguel:  Back then I thought of being a wrestler, however due to a bad injury made me not pursue it for my safety. So I decided to just be a fan, then I got into podcasting, which lead to me contributing to the local scene, and here we are.

 

 

Wayne:  Who is your favorite wrestler locally and/or internationally?

 

 

Miguel:  Locally my favorite wrestler is SJM (Saint John Martin), some will joke that I'm being bias as a WUW correspondent, but I always see SJM as a unique wrestler and attraction in wrestling shows where you rarely see him appear, but when he does, you know that you will witness one of the most intense bouts of the show.

 

 

As for international wrestler, it has to be Cody Rhodes, he's the wrestler I fully got attached to and relate with mostly because I followed him when he was still a rookie in WWE, to running the indies and AEW, to his comeback in WWE and seeing him transform to the wrestler he is now.

 

 

Wayne:  What are your thoughts on Pinoy Wrestling today and its future?

 

 

Miguel:  This is the best time to support Pinoy Wrestling. You can see that the wrestlers here are giving their all. At this point we can say we have wrestlers who can go toe to toe with guys like Tajiri, CDK (Calamari Drunken Kings), Zack Sabre Jr. and more, likes of JDL (Jake De Leon) wrestling in Kouraken Hall, Fabio and Jomar being invited by Tajiri to train, and seeing the next generation of local wrestlers being exciting to watch. I can say that Pinoy wrestling now and future shines bright.

 

 

There you have it.  Thank you Miguel for your thoughts on the pro wrestling scene.  All the best to you as the WUW PH Correspondent as well as the podcast you recently launched.  This fan will continue to tune in to future podcasts.


Very soon, another interview could be headed this way.  Please be on the lookout who it might be.....

PUSO Wrestling Heart-2-Heart Update #4

Hello everyone!

 

One match has been added for PUSO Wrestling's (Philippines) Heart-2-Heart show.  The event will take place on Saturday, September 21st.  Location is the Brawl Pit Bulusan beginning at 6pm.

 

Jomar and ?????? (partner of Jomar's choosing) will take on Isaiah Valencia and Patricia Ligaia in tag team action.  

 

For those who haven't followed how this match was made, Patricia Ligaia was the winner of the Jun Capilos Battle Royal.  She won by eliminating Jomar over the top rope to win it.

 

It appeared that initially, Jomar wanted Patricia in singles competition.  However, Isaiah Valencia stepped in perhaps to face Jomar instead.  Eventually, per General Manager - Sonny Go, this will now be a tag match.  Jomar will choose a partner of his choosing against Isaiah and Patricia.

 

Also, Jake De Leon, fresh off a very successful wrestling tour of Japan, will be in action that night.

 

For more information, including tickets, please visit the PUSO Wrestling Facebook page.  Also, for sponsorship inquiries, please message PUSO Wrestling or email pusowrestling@gmail.com for more details.  Thank you.

Cross Promoting

Growing up with pro wrestling in the Territory Era in North America, there was something interesting that this blogger learned early on. 


About two years after first watching wrestling on television, this blogger first came across a wrestling magazine known as The Wrestler.  Remember everyone, back then, there was no internet! 

 

It was a shock to find out that there were actually three promotions in North America and not one!  I grew up in the National Wrestling Alliance territory and thinking it was the only one.

 

However, there were two other promotions in the American Wrestling Association (Midwest Region) and the World Wide Wrestling Federation (East Coast Region).  It would be extremely rare if a wrestler from one region back in 1968 would wrestle in another one.  The only exception I could remember early on was the WWWF's Bruno Sammartino doing a couple of shows against the NWA's Ray Stevens at the Daly City Cow Palace.

 

Things were very tight amongst the heads of the different groups back then.  Definitely, it was big business and up until the 1970s, one promotion would not "invade" another's territory.  The invasion began in 1969 when the American Wrestling Alliance invaded NWA territory with a show in the Los Angeles area (The Forum in Inglewood).  NWA was the territory back then with shows at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.

 

Jumping forward a half century, in Southeast Asia, there are a few pro wrestling promotions throughout the various countries.  Unlike the days of The Territory Era in North America, pro wrestling in Southeast Asia is definitely a breath of fresh air!  The heads of the various promotions are far more receptive in a wrestler from one country visiting another.

 

This blogger has been following a recent pro wrestling tour of Japan involving Jake De Leon (PUSO Wrestling - Philippines), Shivam (SETUP - Thailand) along with Dr. Gore (SPW), Monomoth (SETUP), Chris Brookes and Masa Takanashi (SETUP, DDT Pro Wrestling, ChocoPro).  A couple of fans from abroad were able to attend the tour as well.

 

There were the Baka Gaijin and ChocoPro shows that were definitely memorable.  Then there was the legendary show at Korakuen Hall where many Japanese pro wrestling shows have taken place.  I believe the tour ends in Saitama before the wrestlers return to the respective countries.

 

Over the last few weeks, this blogger has been trying to keep up with several wrestlers.  While I was in the Philippines, Filipino Pro Wrestling's, Chino Guinto took part in a Vietnam Pro Wrestling show at the VAIB Studio.  Before this, Jake De Leon (PUSO Wrestling) and Mike Madrigal (Filipino Pro Wrestling) traveled to Malaysia for an APAC Wrestling show.  The Eurasian Dragon and a couple of other wrestlers from Ring Of Rebirth Singapore wrestled in the show as well.

Earlier in the year, Dexcon Philippines promoted a couple of shows with Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW), Chris Brookes and Masa Takanashi (SETUP, DDT, ChocoPro) appearing. 

 

In about two weeks, September 14th, the Philippines own, Crystal, will be appearing at Middle Kingdom Wrestling's Championship Supercard show in Shanghai.  She will be taking on Yuki Kamifuku for the SPW Queen Of Asia Championship.

 

The point this blogger is making is that the cross promotion of wrestling talent in Southeast Asia is a very healthy one for pro wrestling in the region. It spurs interest, grows the industry and helps the economy.  Friendships are strengthened as well.

 

There is no question in this wrestling fan's mind that the Japan visit was a success!  From what was posted in Social Media, all of the wrestlers had a great time and were receptive positively by the fans who attended.  Definitely, there are exciting times ahead for sports entertainment in the region.  

PUSO Wrestling Heart-2Heart Update #3

Hello everyone!

 

PUSO Wrestling's next show, Heart-2-Heart, will take place on Saturday, September 21st.  The venue is the Brawl Pit Bulusan beginning at 6pm in Quezon City.

 

One match has been added to the show, and it is not just a match either.

 

Danny Zamora will be taking on Dabid Ravena in what will be in wrestling terms, "a banger!"  The rivalry between the two wrestlers has been an ongoing one.  For those of you who were at the inaugural show, Unang Tibok, here is what happened.

 

Before the Jun Capilos Jr. Battle Royal, the two appeared to be jawing at one another before the match began.  Then, at times during the match, the two were battling each other.  Eventually, both Danny and Dabid were eliminated within seconds of each other, and a couple of meters from one another.

 

However, it didn't stop there.  The two combatants continued battling each other outside the ring.  They kept brawling when leaving the Brawl Pit Bulusan.  Who knows if the two are still battling as this post is being written!

 

Anyway, for information, including tickets, please visit the PUSO Wrestling Facebook page.  Until this coming Saturday, tickets are 5% off in all categories.

 

Also, if anyone is interested in sponsoring the show, please message PUSO Wrestling or email them at pusowrestling@gmail.com for more information.  Thank you.