SEA Wrestling Magazine Issue 9
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Editor’s Corner
I want to touch on a couple of things with my own little soap box this issue. I doubt anyone actually reads this anyway.
My trip to Malaysia for MYPW was a wonderful 24 hour expedition from homebase Vietnam to Kuala Lumpur to support VPW Champion Ares. As Cody Rhodes says, he went from undesirable to undeniable through April. Well maybe he wasn’t undesirable but unknown. It has been a pleasure supporting the rise of this young talented athlete from local rising star to arguably now a regional draw.
As for MYPW, the professionalism and passion of the promotion and its rosters completely surpassed my expectations. My biggest take away was really that these guys need to be running more shows. I know 2025 wasn’t easy but they all deserve at least a monthly mini developmental center show.
Moving on, I wanted to share one of two things playing on my mind. The first being the state of journalism in professional wrestling. I touched on this online but I noticed over Mania Week that a lot of so called journalists (including podcasters and influencers) have an unhealthy dose of main character syndrome.
Somewhere along the way, many who will remain nameless here have gained viewers and followings but in their heads, they are the attraction, not the news scoops, footage or insights from wrestlers.
It might be necessary for industry insiders to remind my fellow journalists et al, that we are observers, not the attraction themselves.
Anyway, stay safe, stay healthy.
Simon
SEA Wrestling News
Legendarius Returns
Miles to DDT
We’ve made some changes to our News & Results page. Instead of the bulk listings, we’re giving you the very best highlights and making things more digestible. Remember you can keep up with all the news and results weekly through our website and newsletter.
At the start of the year, Super P let it be known she would be heading to Vegas for Mania Weekend and was looking for bookings.
What nobody knew was that she had secured herself a place on Bayley’s second ever Lodestone camp for women’s wrestlers.
Through her stint in the camp, she trained with other world class wrestlers under the tutelage of Bayley and received guidance from numerous WWE superstars including CM Punk, Becky Lynch and Rey Mysterio (whose daughter was among the camp attendees).
Following the stint, she headed over to Vegas and then Korea for standout matches in Spark and PWS. She continues her rise facing Zack Sabre Jr and Chris Brookes with partner Hotdog San Jose on the 23rd May at BakaGaijin MNL 2 and then will face Jeney in Bangkok at SETUP Hellraiser end of June.
At New Breed 4 - Miles Karu announced that he will be heading to Japan for a three-month excursion with DDT.
At time of writing, he had just finished his first match as six-man tag match where Akito, Daichi Satoh & Kazuma Sumi defeated Miles, Naomi Yoshimura & Yukio Naya.
Regular matches should be posted on Wrestle Universe featuring Lyrical Lightning as he works and trains with the promotion.
Super P’s Super Excursion
Dropping right at press time was FPW’s Matira Matibay that saw both Grapplemax singles titles defended. Shaheen defeated by Metro Manila Champion Jan Evander and Cali Nueva with the Matira Matibay match.
The biggest shocker was when Legendarius returned to a huge ovation coming out of retirement to face debuting Kastigo.
Robin Sane Turns Heel
The unthinkable happened at WUW Fight Night 3 when perennial babyface Robin Sane assisted Sexy Juicy Miguel in defeating Ravena in the main event and joining MUM.
Reasons and answers have been promised for the future. Let’s see where this goes..
Out with the old in with the new ring
A major announcement came at Dito Naman that Dexcon would be getting a brand new ring.
Already installed, the crew bid farewell to the old ring and revealed a larger more modern looking ring that they’ll be using from now on.
The best thing is they can now use bigger venues with Dakila 2 moving to Bigger Pictures Studios meaning the event has screens, lighting and best of all AC!
Mercedes Moné vacates title
Announced in April immediately following Apac’s Edge of Glory event on the 4th.
Mercedes Moné has vacated the belt she won from Nor “Phoenix” Diana last year.
Some press outlets blew the story out of proportion claiming she tried to reach a deal with Shaukat but couldn’t while Apac have outlined the difficult situation they found themselves in. They did not blame Moné.
A new champ was to be crowned in a Gauntlet on 6th June.
Sarah Coldheart in Prestige 40 under 40
Singapore’s Prestige Magazine featured Grapplemax’s Sarah Coldheart. The 40 Under 40 article showcases exceptional women in the country, sharing their story. The article wrote:
“Sarah Coldheart (@sarahcoldheart) – real name Maisarah Abu Samah – is best known for tearing up Singapore’s professional wrestling scene as its first hijabi performer. When she’s on the mats, she’s a mean pirate queen – unapologetic, bold and always ready to throw down.”
Just remember who gave you a cover first, Sarah!
If that wasn’t enough she will finally face Xtian on May 30th!
In Other News
Jim Smallman has been observing SEA Wrestling over the past few months as he first watched Apac’s Edge of Glory remotely to give advice before flying to Korea for PWS Wrestlenation 2 to offer similar support to Alexis Lee and Super P.
Jomar and Duke Ortega were both a part of the PSE/Fight Circus Songkran events inside and in front of Kandy club in Rawai Phuket. Ortega was gifted Heart’s Alone as entrance music which we think he should keep!
New wrestlers debuted at a special set of VPW shows during Saigon Pizza fest on the 16th and 17th April. Flying Felix a new debutant from the academy was in action while Hai Yen who may seem familiar.
Top Dojo’s Bad Company invaded a stage at PP Dreams concert. P-Nutz and Golem Thai seem to be making a statement they’re back on top of Thai wrestling.
Viva Van and Chelsea Marie were headline news in Vietnam following Saigon Slam Jam making it to government owned papers! That’s a big achievement.
Grapplemax will return with Bash at Bahru on May 30th. They’re going all out for their first main show with Sage Matthews, Shaheen and more returning as well as all three titles on the line including GST already getting a shot at DEGEN: Z.
Speaking of Devin and Nathan used our Issue 6 (gifted to Hotshot) for their skit recently. Take a look on Instagram. The two are fantastic and rubbing Millennials the wrong way with their Gen Z/ Gen A schtick.
Chelsea Marie will be in an upcoming Documentary released in May. We’ll cover it on the website when we can review it.
Results Roundup
Apac Wrestling Edge of Glory
Date: 4.4.26
Venue: ESI Grand Hall Punchog
Shaheen won the gauntlet match to earn a championship shot against Dreamkiller Azroy, Nor “Phoenix” Diana defeated Maya Hartsteel, Akash Kaelyon & The Crescent Kid Putra Bulan defeated Razif “Fiyah” Razin and Masaru Danial, Dreamkiller Azroy retained the Apac Championship against Shaheen
H4PW 2
Date: 11.04.2026
Venue: Grapplemax Studios
PinkD (BIG DAVE) def. Warden LOW (Cornelius LOW) in a Handcuff Match, The Powerpuff Girls (Blossom (Devin Zemir), Buttercup (Nathan X) & Bubbles (Tydus)) def. THRICE (Black (Jinn Kai), Red (Jinn Kai) & Pink (Jinn Kai)) (w/Amani) in a Six Man Tag Match, Tiger (Shawn Phang) def. Flamingo (Fienic Rose) and Quilan Zipwell (Jullian Creed) (w/Jads (Nish)) in an Interspecies Three Way Match , Banny Invincible (Ban Sachak) def. Kelvin Lang.
FPW Pagsubok SA QC
Date: 12.4.2026
Venue: Kowloon House, Quezon City
Joshua Ellevistah def. AB3, Jason Rex def. Kid Kwago, ZABOS def. Jeffrey Tigassi, Quatro def. Thiago Santiago, Roxy Reeves def. Kimmy Larue, Rio Rufino def. Penny Haze, FPW Metro Manila Championship: Jan Evander def. Ralph Imabayashi (c) to win the title
WUW Fight Night 3
Date: 18.04.2026
Venue: Brawlpit Bulusan,
Devil Danny Cavite def. Ken Cifer, Robin Sane def. Poknat, La Verna def. Trainee Kiko, HY OP (Jake De Leon & Nigel San Jose) def. JOMAR & Zera, Isaiah Valencia def. Joey Rosas and Johnny Trinidad in a Three Way Match, Sexy Juicy ME-Guel def. Ravena.
The Lab Experiment 2
Date: 18.04.2026
Venue: Lemon Bangkok
Jonathan Johnson def. BGJ, Manuel def. Mc Nexo , Matcha vs. Shivam ended in a No Contest, Shivam def. Manuel .
ROR Experience 10
Date: 18.4.2026
Venue: Goldpine Industrial Building
Nyc & Spider Pura def. Sabro & Tobias Frost, The Eurasian Dragon def. Sayn RH in a Friendship Match, Fariz Bravo def. Alfred, The Eurasian Dragon def. Fariz Bravo, Ring of Rebirth Championship: Top Bomoh Mekong def. Erfie Blackheart (c) and Ahmed Arif to win the title
Post-match, Ahmed Arif attacked the new champion Top Bomoh Mekong.
Top Dojo Overheat & Iron Will
Date: 26.4.2026 &16.5.2026
Venue: Motorway Dojo
Overheat
WASSANA def. BAPHOBIA, Best Boonpa def. P-Nutz, Jay Yuu def. CHAYUT, WASSANA def. Golem Thai via disqualification
Post-match, Bad Company attacked WASSANA before KUMA made the save, KoTW Championship: Prince Benny (c) def. KUMA
Iron Will
WASSANA def. BAPHOBIA, P-Nutz def. CHAYUT, Jay Yuu def. Best Boonpa and KUMA, KoTW Championship: Prince Benny (c) def. Golem Thai
SETUP ABSOLUTE MAYHEM
SETUP Thailand presented Absolute Mayhem on May 2nd in Bangkok, Thailand, delivering another high energy showcase of Southeast Asian professional wrestling. The event, now on YouTube, featured a stacked lineup of local standouts, Southeast Asian talent and some of the best matches seen in the region this year, further cementing SETUP’s reputation as one of Asia’s fastest growing independent wrestling promotions.
MC Neko and Manuel faced Admin Oak and Dowdy in a surprisingly polished rookie showcase to open the evening. The trainee presentation, complete with coloured shirts and coordinated attire, gave the bout a distinctly Japanese influenced feel. Dowdy impressed with graceful offence while Admin Oak displayed increasingly natural heel tendencies, avoiding conflict whenever momentum shifted. A mistimed kick from Oak accidentally struck his own partner, allowing Neko and Manuel to briefly regain control with a DDT and dropkicks. However, Dowdy stormed back with a Glam Slam and scissor kick before Oak forced himself into the pinfall. A lively opener that exceeded trainee expectations.
Jake De Leon defended the DEXCON World Championship and SETUP 24/7 Championship against Jonathon Johnson in a chaotic brawling encounter that immediately spilled into the crowd before ring announcements had even finished.
Johnson’s aggressive start and huge dive to the outside electrified the Bangkok audience, while De Leon embraced his increasingly arrogant heel persona as chants of “JDL Sucks” echoed throughout the venue.
The challenger impressed with both his fiery offence and sympathetic selling, pushing the champion to the limit with multiple submissions and near falls. However, after a referee bump and missed swanton, De Leon retained following a low blow and belt shot. Moments later, Dowdy rolled up De Leon with Johnson’s help to capture the SETUP 24/7 Championship, sending the crowd home far happier than expected.
Hustle & Educate faced Dr Gore and Kru Pol in a highly entertaining tag match that balanced comedy with surprisingly strong in-ring action. Early chaos began when Ray ambushed Kru Pol before the bell, allowing Ms Selina to control
proceedings with trash talk, submissions and impressive athleticism that showcased a more serious side to her wrestling ability.
The comedy remained constant throughout, including Dr Gore forcing Kru Pol to sanitise his hands before spanking Ray and a ridiculous “lightsabre” style ruler battle to stop a groin shot attempt. A mistimed exchange eventually led to a huge hot tag for Dr Gore, whose explosive chops sent the Bangkok crowd into a frenzy. The match ended after a pump handle slam and an enormous frog splash from Kru Pol onto Ray. A genuinely fun match that blended humour and wrestling extremely well.
St John’s Innocent reunited in full character form against Jack N’ Cheese in a match driven as much by storyline progression as in-ring action. Kevin Weng played the polished golden boy while Pondhub embraced the rebellious school troublemaker, creating a fun contrast throughout the bout. Surprisingly, Jack N’ Cheese naturally settled into the aggressor role, isolating Pondhub while Big Good Jack displayed a more brutal and dominant edge than usual.
The momentum shifted when Jeney appeared in a school uniform, distracting BGJ and allowing Weng to finally enter the match with a burst of fast paced offence. After multiple near falls and chaotic interference, BGJ chased Jeney backstage, leaving Cheeseburger Kid vulnerable to a double team bodyslam for the St John’s Innocent victory. A strong tag match elevated further by character work and ongoing storylines.
Badd Company overpowered Naga Nai and P. Suachart in what largely felt like an extended showcase of dominance for the destructive duo. Golem Thai opened by dismantling his former trainee Naga Nai before Suachart used his agility and targeted limb work to briefly create openings against the much larger opponents. Throughout the match, Nai and Suachart worked well as underdog firecrackers trying to neutralise the giants through speed and strategy, but the raw power of Badd Company continually overwhelmed them.
A brutal lariat from P-Nutz halted the challengers’ momentum before Golem Thai sealed the victory with a sit-out powerbomb on Nai. The assault continued after the bell as Badd Company also laid out Terry Diesel. A straightforward but effective squash style match designed to further establish the duo’s dominance.
SETUP All Asia Women’s Championship holder Matcha defeated Jeney in a match built around a simple but effective dynamic between ruthless champion and determined underdog. Jeney received strong crowd support and surprisingly jumped Matcha before the bell, briefly overwhelming the champion with quick offence and an early roll-up attempt.
Once Matcha regained control however, the entire tone shifted. The champion choked Jeney in the corner, absorbed a slap and facebuster before responding with a brutal German suplex that realistically could have ended the match. Instead, Matcha deliberately continued the punishment with another suplex before forcing the submission with a painful Boston crab. The bout showcased a far more dangerous and aggressive side of Matcha while further positioning Jeney as one of SETUP’s most sympathetic young babyfaces moving forward.
SETUP Thailand Openweight Championship holder Monomoth lost the title to Anot Alonzo in an outstanding match driven by excellent psychology and storytelling. Monomoth entered overly confident and repeatedly toyed with the challenger, while Alonzo wrestled with urgency, discipline and clear focus throughout. Whenever the champion stalled or showboated, Alonzo punished him with explosive power offence including slams, elbow drops and a brutal black hole slam.
As the match progressed, Monomoth gradually abandoned his flashy style and became increasingly aggressive after realising Alonzo could not be easily outsmarted or broken down. Despite several huge dives and near falls from the champion, Alonzo eventually connected with a running lariat to the back of the head and a modified pump handle slam to capture the championship in what was arguably the match of the night.
Jeula may genuinely introduce Ares better than Xavier Patricks at this point, sorry Carey! The atmosphere for the main event level encounter between Ares and Shivam was electric before the wrestlers had even touched, with the Bangkok crowd heavily split between support for the visiting Vietnamese powerhouse and the local champion.
The opening stages were surprisingly methodical, built around tight grappling exchanges and strength based wrestling rather than immediate chaos. Both men repeatedly tested each other through holds and counters, neither willing to give ground until Ares’ raw power finally began overwhelming Shivam. The audience reacted with genuine awe to the physicality, almost as though they were watching an old early twentieth century
strongman contest unfold in modern form.
Shivam, however, quickly reminded everyone exactly who he is. After teasing some unexpectedly flashy offence with a sudden hurricanrana, the champion immediately mocked the crowd instead of embracing the moment, leaning fully into his arrogant and manipulative persona. From there the contest escalated into a violent ringside brawl with chairs and beer cans flying around like a Saigon street fight while Shivam repeatedly searched for shortcuts to neutralise the physically stronger challenger.
One particularly memorable moment saw Shivam weaponise a pair of young fans at ringside in a spot those children almost certainly will never forget. Back inside the ring, the champion slowed proceedings down with grounded control, using punches, kicks and a tight chinlock to grind the pace to his advantage. The crowd, however, increasingly rallied behind Ares, and the Vietnamese athlete responded with explosive German suplexes that visibly shocked sections of the Bangkok audience.
As the match progressed, Shivam’s tactics became nastier and nastier. He escaped a Stormbreaker attempt before viciously stomping on Ares’ fingers and even biting them, bringing to mind the more sadistic tendencies of some of his RGT allies. Yet Ares continually fought back, levelling the match with a huge spinebuster before the pair battled dangerously onto the apron where Shivam delivered an absolutely brutal piledriver that drew gasps even from seasoned viewers. The final stretch was exceptional. Both men re-entered the ring exhausted yet unwilling to back down, creating a thick tension inside the venue. Ares nearly blew the roof off the building with a devastating lariat before attempting a top rope maneuver,
, only for Shivam to counter with an earth shaking superplex. Somehow Ares immediately rebounded with a delayed Jackhammer that left the crowd stunned.
Then came absolute chaos. Shivam dragged the referee into the path of a spear, narrowly survived an F5 and repeatedly escaped defeat by fractions of a second. At one point the referee counted only for Shivam’s toe to barely reach the bottom rope, a moment that fully cemented the crowd behind Ares as “This is Awesome” chants erupted around the venue.
Ultimately though, Shivam survived once more. After countering another Stormbreaker attempt, the champion connected with a running elbow and twisting suplex combination to finally put Ares away and retain the championship.
This was a tremendous professional wrestling match, running close to twenty-five minutes while remaining highly methodical and carefully paced throughout. It was comfortably the best match either wrestler has produced this year and arguably a career defining performance for Ares, who looked every bit like a future top star throughout the contest.
The evening concluded with Jonathon Johnson addressing the crowd and clarifying that his ongoing issues with RGT are strictly business rather than personal before issuing a challenge. He was answered via video message by Daisuke Sasaki of DDT Pro-Wrestling, who challenged him for Hellraiser on June 27th.
Johnson reminded Sasaki that the pair had previously trained together before boldly declaring that at just 22 years old, he is already the best wrestler in Southeast Asia. Finally, as tradition dictates, new Openweight Champion Anot Alonzo closed the night by sending the Bangkok crowd home.
Overall, SETUP Thailand delivered another extremely strong event with Absolute Mayhem, proving once again that Southeast Asian wrestling does not need imported stars to produce compelling and memorable professional wrestling. Every match on the card served a purpose, storylines progressed naturally and the overall pacing of the show ensured the crowd remained invested throughout the entire evening.
From the lively rookie opener to the outstanding final two matches, there was a consistent level of quality across the card with no real disappointments. More importantly, the show balanced strong in-ring action with meaningful character development and ongoing narratives, something modern wrestling often struggles to maintain consistently.
PUMI BOONYATUD - INTERVIEW
Pumi Boonyatud isn’t just a founding father of modern Southeast Asian wrestling. His vision and influence stretch across the world through Choco Pro. We sat down to discuss his wrestling origins, SETUP Thailand, and what he might have in store for 2026.
SW: How did you originally get into wrestling? I heard you were a Nitro fan — I didn’t even know WCW was shown in Asia!
“So I was born in 1990, right? We had Japanese women’s pro wrestling on free TV, so it was very popular. They even ran a show at the National Stadium with one of the biggest crowds Bangkok had ever seen, but that was before I was born.
The 90s were the VHS era, so we’d rent tapes and they had wrestling videos, especially WCW, even if they were already a couple of years old. Then I got to watch Nitro on cable TV. WCW was shown on Cartoon Network when it switched over to TNT at night, and that’s how I fell into it.”
SW: That’s exactly how we got Nitro in the UK.
“But WWF was always more popular in Thailand. People here preferred the larger-than-life characters. The turning point for me was watching the crazy Halloween Havoc 1995 PPV with the monster truck battle on the rooftop between The Giant and Hulk Hogan. It was so impressive and made my five-year-old self incredibly excited. After that, I just tried to watch as much wrestling as possible.”
SW: What was the first wrestling show you saw live?
“That was when WWE came to Thailand around 2006, I think. I actually had tickets to an earlier show in Singapore, but it was on the same day as my entrance exam, so I missed it.
Then in 2006 I finally got to attend a SmackDown house show called Unleashed in the East. Before the show, WWE sent Funaki and Dawn Marie to do promotional work. They weren’t huge stars or anything, but only me and my brother went to the airport to meet them.”
SW: You originally started Gatoh Move with Emi Sakura in 2012. Back then, there was no ring. How did you come up with the idea of doing mat-based wrestling?
“I was only 18 or 19 when we started and I was already working as a commentator for Japanese promotions like Ice Ribbon, where Emi came from. They used to run mat shows, so the idea made sense because we didn’t have much money.
In fact, when we started, it was literally just a bedsheet — not even a mat like you see in Choco Pro today. We built everything up ourselves over those first two years, trying to grow a roster and show that wrestling can be fun no matter what platform it’s performed on.
Mat wrestling also teaches you the basics and gives you a really strong foundation for pro wrestling. I think starting that way helped us grow faster because it forced us to be creative.
From a business perspective, it also makes a lot of sense. The concept has helped people like Rocky (VPW) and Greg (Grapplemax) start small and grow steadily. If you spend all your money on a ring and transportation immediately, your promotion is probably going to die. When the time is right and you have enough roster depth and experience, that’s the right moment to get a proper ring.”
SW: In the early days of Gatoh Move, how did you find wrestlers to come and train?
“Oh, I gotta be honest, the first few years were very difficult because social networks weren’t really there yet and the internet was still very slow. So if you go to YouTube and search for the early days of Gatoh Move, the videos are lagging like crazy, but we had to use them anyway (laughs).
But we still tried to use social media as much as possible. Miss Sakura already had her own fanbase, so she did a lot of advertising through Japanese media in Thailand. I also worked in the media field for a long time, so I had some connections. I used them to get TV exposure and anything else I could.
We had some Japanese stars, but we also needed locals to create a balanced roster. When we did tryouts, we were much gentler at first than they are in Japan. If we asked people to do 200 squats
immediately, they probably wouldn’t come back. It was important to find people who were interested and keep them motivated.
The first few years were still difficult though. Sometimes people would come for two or three months, show promise, and then leave. Emi was always very focused on retention too.”
SW: In 2020 you ran the first SETUP Thailand show. You’ve talked about how the timing was wrong due to Covid, but before all that happened, why did the timing feel right?
“Before we started SETUP, we already had a fanbase that kept coming back to our shows. One of the biggest things I noticed was that the way we wanted to present wrestling in Thailand had started to look very different from Japan.
In Japan, Gatoh Move was a women’s wrestling company, so there were certain restrictions to protect the company image and maintain a family-friendly atmosphere. But in Thailand, most fans preferred a more American-style presentation — lots of drama, strong characters, and highly entertaining matches, almost like watching a TV show or movie.
So I talked to Sakura and said that I wanted to respect what the Gatoh Move name stood for. If the way we presented wrestling in Thailand was moving away from the original vision, then maybe we should create something new while still supporting each other.
Because she’s such a sweetheart, she completely understood. That’s how SETUP began. We tried to give fans what they really wanted while learning from the process ourselves.”
SW: Andreuw Tang mentioned that Thai fans prefer stronger gimmicks than Singapore’s fanbase. Would you agree?
“Thailand is the Land of Smiles, right? We love funny things and we have a strong sense of humor. Strong gimmicks — especially funny ones — get a lot more media attention here.
But I’ve also learned that gimmicks alone aren’t enough. You still need good wrestlers.
Thailand also has a deep combat sports history through Muay Thai and various regional fighting cultures, so fans still expect good fights and strong storytelling at the same time. Those two things have to work together.And honestly, the market changes very quickly. I’m always monitoring it.”
SW: SETUP has been around for about six years now. What have been your personal highlights?
“I think the biggest thing is being seen as a more legitimate promotion. In the early days it was honestly embarrassing sometimes — even things like our DIY entrance setup looked bad — so seeing the growth from there has been really satisfying.
Then there’s the growth of our partnerships with Japanese promotions and eventually running our own shows in Japan. That was a huge milestone for me.”
SW: A New Dawn in Japan was a tremendous success. It sold out and the crowd was incredibly loud.
“With that show, we wanted to showcase Thai wrestling, but I also had one very specific goal: I wanted to sell the venue out and become the first promoter to do it.
We were lucky to have partnerships with companies like DDT, New Japan, and TJPW, so it became a rare event where all these different wrestlers appeared on the same card. It doesn’t happen often. Seeing someone like HARASHIMA on the same poster as ELP still feels surreal to me.
The IWA Japan brand also still has history and recognition in Japan, which definitely helped.
We did a lot of marketing too. We even had advertisements on Tokyo Tower. One of the happiest moments for me was hearing that restaurants and cafés around Tokiwadai Station were packed because of our event.”
SW: You own the rights to IWA Japanand have run IWA-branded shows alongside the usual SETUP events. What’s the difference between the two?
“You might have noticed that we’ve paused the IWA shows for the moment. There’s something planned, but I can’t talk about it yet.
The main difference is that SETUP is presented as a family-friendly show, while IWA Japan is more adult-oriented and hardcore. It attracts a different kind of audience.
The IWA Japan branding still carries recognition and nostalgia, so it helped us enter the Japanese market. It’s also nice to keep part of IWA Japan’s history alive. In a way, it’s a little bit like what Tony Khan did with Ring of Honor.”
SW: SETUP gives a lot of opportunities to regional wrestlers. On Absolute Mayhem you’ve got Ares (VPW) as well as Ray and Selina (SPW) making their debuts.
“One thing I really feel about Southeast Asian wrestling in 2026 is that it’s becoming very entertaining. When the region comes together and we see more talent exchanges, it becomes much more exciting for fans.
At the same time, there are still very few wrestling shows in the region, and it’s difficult for wrestlers to make a full-time living. Sometimes people work incredibly hard, but the environment still limits them.
So when wrestlers come here, it helps make SETUP more exciting while also giving them more opportunities.
You also have to understand that every country has a different style of presentation and a different fanbase. Something that might not work in Thailand could work somewhere else, and vice versa.
So when I bring wrestlers into Thailand, I try to present the best version of their characters. Maybe we make some small adjustments so they connect better with Thai fans, but the goal is always to help them succeed and benefit as much as possible from coming here.”
SW: The biggest storyline across the region over the past year has been Real Global Threat. Did you ever expect it to become this big?
“First of all, I have to give credit to Shivam because he came up with the idea. When he first pitched it, it immediately felt like a huge deal — a Southeast Asian supergroup.
It really connected everything together, especially at a time when every company in the region is working hard to grow.
We’ve had major stars visit the region like Naito, Chris Brookes, Marufuji, and Zack Sabre Jr., but we also need a foundation that proves Southeast Asian wrestling is good enough on its own.”
SW: The second half of last year really saw the SETUP midcard step up and connect with the audience in a major way.
“I need to give credit to the wrestlers for their hard work because I think they could feel the company growing bigger and they stepped up to match that energy.
Right now I’m trying to get more media exposure and create more opportunities for them, like our shows in Japan.
But wrestlers need more than just good matches — they need stories people can invest in.
Last year we ran shows almost every month, and honestly that might have been too many because ticket sales started dropping a little. So this year we’re spacing things out more and making sure every event feels important.”
SW: What’s coming up for SETUP through the rest of this year?
“We’re definitely looking at expanding our international collaborations. That’s still a key direction for us, and you’ll see more of it this year. At the same time, I don’t want to approach things the same way we did before.
Some people might feel like things are moving a bit slower this year and wonder why. The honest answer is that I’m being more careful — but in a positive way. We’re taking a more measured approach and making sure every step is right before moving forward.
I’ve learned that you don’t always need to operate at full speed. Sometimes it’s better to slow down, think clearly, and build things properly.
The international connections are still there and they’re actually getting stronger. You can already see that with examples like Monomoth going to the United States and competing for major promotions, or our wrestlers working in Japan at a high level. That’s part of a long-term plan.
On a bigger scale, even bringing the full TJPW roster to Bangkok was rare. It’s unusual for a major Japanese company to run a full-scale show here, but we made it happen.
Right now my focus is finding the right balance — figuring out what elevates our local talent while also strengthening our international relationships.
We’ve always believed that strong local wrestlers are the foundation of everything. The stronger your roster is — whether it’s great heels or great babyfaces — the stronger the entire scene becomes.
But we’ve also reached a stage where collaboration between countries benefits everybody. Bringing in strong talent from places like Singapore helps raise the level on both sides. It’s not just about us anymore — it’s about growing together with our partners.”
GRAPPLEMAX - NWE HOMECOMING
Grapplemax ran their first full show on the 11th April -NWE Homecoming from Grapplemax Studios in Singapore.
The seven match show saw veterans mix it up with trainees and newer roster members.
Larhvin Deshadow defeated new face Aidie to open the show before BIG DAVE put Maximillian through his paces.
A new face for the women’s division Jannie lost a competitive contest to Divya while Xtian won a triple threat against Radiant Rui and Shawn Phang. Sarah Coldheart made a surprise appearance but ended in an argument with tag partner Xtian (again!).
SPD defeated Tydus who is looking main roster ready while GST (Big Dave & Endboss GREGORY) cemented their reunion beating Jinn Kai and Nathan X.
The main event saw a leaner Ban Sachak make his first rising championship defense against Nish.
Jumping for Joy-a
Women’s wrestling is reaching a whole new level in the Philippines, anchored by Dexcon’s new women’s champion, Joya.
On April 12th, women in the Philippines finally realised a dream when Joya held high the Lakambini ng Dexcon Women's World Title. After years of hard work and struggle to build a regular female roster, the women’s division had finally been recognised with its own locally branded singles championship. More importantly, it felt like proof that women’s wrestling in the country had truly arrived.
The recipient? Manila native Joya, a woman who has been mixing it up with everyone on the Pinoy roster for the past three years. Despite not being the largest in stature, the Firestarter has continually turned heads throughout her career. After debuting in the latter days of Manila Wrestling, Joya was thrown straight into the tough HSSL group, where she learned to never back down and hit hard from leader Fabio Makisig and later turncoat Danny Zamora.
As part of the new Puso Wrestling promotion, Joya’s first major win would come as part of the Pwersang Pinay Gauntlet.A remarkable contest that featured overseas Filipinos such as Wrestlefest DXB’s Roxy, actress Andi Fei and rival promotion FPW’s Robynn, as well as Ice Ribbon’s Yappy as the referee. The excellent match saw Joya tagged as someone to watch.
Watch is certainly what people did, as it wasn’t long until she crossed paths with another female making waves in Chelsea Marie. Tensions rose during the first few livestreams and would come to a head at WUW Master Clash in June of last year, as the two did battle in the chain-wrapped ring of the underground. The pair’s match was so well received that the feud escalated through captivating street brawls, an unsteady alliance and a match-of-the-year candidate no holds barred match in November. Despite being on the losing end of the feud, Joya stood out as a made woman in the locker room.
By the start of this year, Joya had firmly established herself as one of the key names in the scene. Things kicked off with a bang when she challenged SETUP 24/7 Champion Jake De Leon in the main event of February’s livestream.
Then came her big moment. As she entered the ring to battle one of her mentors, the country’s first female wrestler Crystal, it was revealed that this would be the first match for the Dexcon Lakambini ng Dexcon Women's World Title.
With a swift roll-up on Crystal, Joya was shockingly crowned champion.
But while Joya becoming DEXCON Women’s Champion would already be enough to mark a new era in Filipino women’s wrestling, there’s been far more happening across the scene to celebrate its rise as one of mainland Asia’s emerging homes for women’s grappling.
Super P has, of course, won the US-based CWE Vixen’s Championship from Alexis Lee before going on to become Bayley’s favourite wrestler at Lodestone and tagging with Maki Itoh in Korea. Chelsea Marie garnered international media attention with contests against Monomoth in December and AEW’s Viva Van this past month. Then Crystal became the talk of the town by bringing her fantastic heel character home through turning on new champion Joya.
Over in Makati City, FPW’s women also deserve mention as an expanded roster including returnee Kimmy Laru, Penny Haze and Roxxy Reeves begins drawing more fans into the product.
Then there’s the media attention. It’s no longer uncommon to see one or more of the Puso/Dexcon roster on television, radio or other media platforms nationwide and further afield, such as Super P appearing on Busted Open After Dark. Women’s contests are also arguably beginning to sell many of
the DEXCON shows, with matches involving Lady Leigh and Lacey Lane proving to be major draws.
With the way things are heading, it won’t be long before a women’s match headlining a show stops feeling like a novelty and simply becomes expected.
SPW KINGS LANDING
SPW returned to the Foo Chow building with a clear objective on April 10th, to outdo the highpoint that was Tranquilo last November. That’s exactly what they did…
The night was main evented by a dream encounter that Singapore's fan base could only have dreamed of a few months earlier when Da Butcherman battled with legendary Minoru Suzuki.
Starting off slowly, the match exhibited a more grounded and technical side to Butcher that we rarely get to see durThose that weren't enjoying the slower pace didn't have to wait long as the match descended into an absolute brawl around the ringside area including a perilous segment on the stage where even the ref was almost launched off.
The thrilling encounter ended after an exhausted Butcher failed to finish off Suzuki and was on the receiving end of a piledriver by his foe for the three count.
Despite his age, Suzuki still has juice in the tank and did not disappoint the Foo Chow faithful. SPW is really running on a high following its last three shows. Although less shows have been run in 2026 each one has been hugely impactful for its rosters and the local scene.
Also on the card, Bryson Blade bested newcomer Terrance Choong, meaning Terrance is now the Legion of Total Anarchy’s young boy.
Mason defeated Ryan Shen, Ray, Tok Bomoh Mekong, and Riz to win the Hardcore Title. Looking like an absolute beast in recent months, the title should be a good starter for a promising singles run.
VPW’s Ares then went up against Aiden Rex in a losing effort but, according to reports from attendees, left a strong positive impression on the fans.
Then Real Global Threat (Statement & Azman) broke some hearts as they lifted the tag titles from Jack N’Cheese in a three-way match with Mighty Jackson.
After this disappointment, fans were lifted up when Dr Gore finally captured the Singapore title from CK Vin. Yes, fans chanted rude things again.
The good Doctor wasn't able to celebrate, as Carlo Cannon ran in and mauled him to make a very clear statement.
Then, in a fun tag match, Selina and Marika Kobashi defeated Alexis Lee and Madkat Karina when Selina pinned Alexis. It would seem Selina will get a main show title shot, hopefully,
although the long game is predicted to be heel Alexis vs Karina.
On April 26th the wrestler known in WWE as Dante Chen received the news no superstar ever wants to receive; he was being released from his contract. After a 5 year stint in the big leagues, Dante would be a free agent again in July. While the monetary options providing full time contracts might make fiscal sense, a return home might lead to more heartfelt gains in the long run.
To explain the opportunity ahead with Dante, we only need to look at the story of Drew McIntyre. Much like Chen, he came from a wrestling region somewhat overlooked by the big leagues. Despite a storied history, few British wrestlers had made it to the major US promotions with Scottish representation being even less. In comparison, Dante was the first Singaporean and Southeast Asian wrestler in WWE.
Similarly, if we are being honest, both competitors' initial runs perhaps ran shy of their homeland fans' expectations. Drew spent time in 3MB while Dante was mostly a part of NXT and EVOLVE shows with little storyline depth. In 2014, WWE had decided that Drew was to be cut. Some fault lay in his behavior but his sins would’ve been overlooked had he been a main event player for sure.
At that moment, McIntyre could’ve taken the obvious route to head to distant number two TNA, or become part of the red-hot NJPW/ROH conglomeration.
However, Drew chose another path. Confidence shattered, he emerged back in rising Scottish promotion ICW, one he had cut his teeth in eight years prior. Fans were elated by his return and over the next two years saw him help grow not only ICW but the Scottish scene exponentially to the point they were able to fill out 10,000 plus seat arenas.
What started as “Featuring former WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre” morphed into Drew Galloway - a draw in his own right. Wrestlers and promotions across the UK benefited from McIntyre’s knowledge and experience. As a mentor he grew his confidence as the scene grew.
Despite damage done from its prime, the UK scene is still healthier today than it was in decades prior with large, engaged crowds filling halls every night of the week providing wrestlers with the opportunity to make a full time wage. As for Drew, he made himself a top level main event attraction globally and eventually returned to WWE as champion.
Dante, as we’ll continue to call him for now, needs to make the choice that is best for him of course, but a return to Southeast Asia could be highly fruitful for him and others.
The regional scene is also in a much stronger place than it was even five years ago. Promotions such as Singapore Pro Wrestling, Vietnam Pro Wrestling, SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling and Ring of Garuda have all helped build a more connected and visible Southeast Asian scene.
Talent exchanges are more common, production standards have improved
and fans are increasingly willing to travel internationally for major events.
Besides the initial comeback hype should he appear in SPW or another promotion, there’s the amount of matches waiting for him. While he has already battled SPW veterans such as The Statement, Butcherman and Aiden Rex, rematches would feel fresh and exciting. Then there’s newer talent like CK Vin, Bryson Blade and more that would benefit from learning what he took on during his NXT tutelage.
Then there’s a wealth of wrestlers in the region who he never faced pre-WWE as he rarely left Singapore to wrestle (talent trading was much smaller then). There’s too many wrestlers to list them all off but the idea of Dante vs Ares, Wonderboy or Anot Alonzo alone is metaphorically mouthwatering.
The return of Dante would also make a logical turning point in the Real Global Threat storyline. Not so much in a “Sting to the nWo” style but more a new ally or person to be aware of that could divide allegiances in The Statement and add a gripping twist to the group's ongoing dynamics. Moving away from what would draw in the die-hards, being able to use ‘WWE Superstar’ on marketing can sell more tickets and lead to an expanded fanbase. To casual fans, he isn’t a failure, he’s a returning hero.
Then there’s the lessons Dante could bring to wrestlers and production. For the past three years he’s been guided by some of the most knowledgeable trainers in the world and in theory could now share this info with his peers to help make the local product even better. This is exactly what Drew did, from noticing camera angles to working the crowd and even how to improve gimmicks to engage fans even more.
But then there’s the issue that Southeast Asia just doesn’t run enough shows right now. Dante would need to be on every show and likely find other work if he was fully based in the region. However, with the close proximity to Japan and the typical ability for wrestlers to take overseas bookings, Dante could potentially work for a promotion like NOAH or DDT with the ability to jump between the higher paying tours of the Japanese scene while making regular appearances in his home region.
There’s no certainty on what happens next for Dante. At 30, he has a lot left to give to the wrestling scene but we’ll need to wait and see what happens next.
The question is not whether Southeast Asia can produce world-class wrestlers anymore. Dante Chen already answered that. The question is what happens if one comes home.
MYPW NEW BREED 4
After an unforeseen hiatus, MYPW finally returned to the Ku Ash Theatre, its home for top-tier shows, for the 4th annual New Breed extravaganza. SEA Wrestling’s editor attended in person to assess the card, which was headlined by a high-stakes international main event.
The brief pre-show contest saw Dean Zaid dominate Ben Hazmah and secure a tainted victory within minutes. Hazmah sold convincingly and would benefit from more consistent ring time after debuting in 2024. Zaid, meanwhile, continues to show long-term potential as a credible upper-card presence with a great mouth on him.
LOVE X FRDM were out first for the opener, providing their ever-popular dazzling entrance before Cornelius LOW marched to the ring with purpose to introduce his new protégé. Another relatively new name to the promotion, the large and imposing Tan felt far more threatening than Blazing Raj.
The match followed a classic structure, with the heels cutting off the babyface partner on the apron while laying in offence, with Syawal playing a phenomenal babyface in peril.
A fired-up Fienic Rose eventually got the hot tag, which led to a rather unusual dance routine when he forced Mr LOW into it, ultimately leading to the popular pinfall victory. An exciting and fitting start to the evening’s proceedings. The standout here, though, was Tan, who looks like an absolute monster. While metal/gothic gimmicks are becoming a little passé in wrestling, the look works well for someone like Tan.
The next matchup saw the women take centre stage as Japan’s Marika Kobashi, now resident in Kuala Lumpur, took on popular local Poppy Shay. The match began with Kobashi playing mind games, dodging Shay’s attacks and drawing her outside before upping the viciousness in the second half. Poppy mounted spirited comebacks that rattled the veteran.
Following some strong aerial exchanges, including a top-rope codebreaker by Shay and a terrifying dive to the outside by Kobashi, Shay secured the win with a top-rope frog splash. Kobashi continues to impress and seems to be appearing everywhere in the region right now. Shay has come a long way and would benefit from time in Japan; she has excelled against recent Japanese opponents and would return even more well-rounded after training somewhere like the Ice Ribbon Dojo.
The four-way match shifted the pace again, delivering the most relentless action on the card. Jack Alexander, Bobby Sinaga, BGJ, and Kaizul operated at a high tempo with minimal downtime.
The match emphasised contrast: BGJ and Sinaga provided power-based offence, Kaizul leaned into opportunistic heel tactics, and Alexander maintained the role of the high-risk babyface.
“Alexander continues to prove he’s one of the most underrated babyfaces in the region, and Kaizul walked out looking main-event ready.”
A key moment saw BGJ launch Alexander into the front-row seating, a spot that drew a strong reaction and reinforced BGJ’s physical dominance. The finish was well constructed. Sinaga appeared to have control after landing a lariat, but Kaizul capitalised by removing him from the ring and stealing the pin. Not only was this match exciting, but each man came out looking stronger. Veteran BGJ looked more dangerous than ever, Sinaga felt like a legitimate part of the roster, Alexander continues to prove he’s one of the most underrated babyfaces in the region, and Kaizul walked out looking main-event ready.
The grudge match between Emman Azman and Wonderboy closed the first half with a strong narrative focus. Their shared history was evident in the opening exchanges, which balanced technical wrestling with competitive posturing. The pacing then accelerated, with both men incorporating dynamic aerial offence, including a stunning plancha from Wonderboy.
Wonderboy controlled extended portions of the match, dictating tempo and spacing. Azman’s turning point came through a well-timed counter into a Russian leg sweep, shifting momentum. From there, the structure alternated between Wonderboy’s high-output offence and Azman’s calculated interruptions.
In the closing stretch, Azman transitioned into a more grounded approach, using submissions and targeted strikes. Interference from Shivam ultimately determined the outcome, allowing Azman to secure the win. Both wrestlers continue to demonstrate high ceilings given their age and athletic profiles. This is a pairing that warrants repetition across multiple promotions.
The Raya Rumble provided a reset in tone following the interval. As expected, it followed a familiar structure but remained engaging through character interactions. Billy from VPW made his international debut, though his outing was short-lived following a shared elimination with Syawal. Their post-elimination exchange introduced tension that could develop into a future tag or singles programme.
“I’m gonna fart on you.” X-Pat to a vocal Carlo Cannon loving fan.
The final sequence came down to Fienic Rose and Nik Adam. Adam’s positioning throughout reinforced his reputation as an underrated performer. The finish was decisive: Rose re-entered the ring and delivered a cutter to secure the win. His post-match celebration with fans added an emotional layer that contrasted effectively with the earlier matches.
The emotional win saw the crowd erupt as Karu held the title high. It was a deserved moment for “Lyrical Lightning,” who has spent the past two years travelling, competing, and developing across the region. Having followed his journey closely, this feels like validation of what a Southeast Asian wrestler can achieve. Not content to end on that high note, after a brief appearance from number one contender Kaizul, Karu announced he would be heading to DDT in Japan for three months of training and competition starting in May.
The main event saw Vietnam Pro Wrestling’s Unstoppable Force Ares challenge Carlo “Cash Money” Cannon for the MYPW World Championship in a match where the title genuinely felt at risk.
The pre-match video highlighted the heated buildup, including vicious promos from Xavier Patricks aimed at Malaysia’s beloved champion and Cannon’s equally intense responses. Cannon had even sent warnings to the SEA Wrestling office, aware of its close ties to VPW and Ares.
During introductions, Ares’ manager for the night, Xavier Patricks, grabbed the microphone to run down MYPW, Malaysia, and announcer Johan, ensuring Ares entered as a fully established heel challenger.
Ares attacked Cannon before the bell, reverting to his earlier heel persona with relentless strikes as Patricks antagonised the crowd. While some fans have labelled him a “Paul Heyman wannabe,” his performance felt closer to a blend of Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan on this night.
Cannon endured Ares’ powerful offence until around the four-minute mark, when he began mounting a comeback following a huge German suplex. However, his trademark chops had little effect on the Vietnamese powerhouse, who responded with a series of Germans that left Cannon grounded despite strong fan support.
The turning point came when Ares missed a spear, allowing Cannon to fire back with his own signature Germans, sending the challenger across the ring. The match spilled into the crowd, with Cannon using ringside chairs to deliver stiff chops. Back inside, he hit a massive vertical suplex and went to the top rope, but Patricks interfered on the apron and was promptly struck down. The distraction allowed Ares to hit a spear, but his frustration at only getting a two-count led to an argument with the referee. That lapse gave Cannon just enough time to recover and hit his flying suplex finisher for the win.
After the match, Cannon acknowledged Ares before thanking the fans.
New Breed 4 was an unforgettable return to form for MYPW. Arguably their best outing since Champion’s Quest 2024, the crowd left satisfied, with a sense that things are firmly on track in Malaysian wrestling. If this marks the beginning of a more consistent run of shows, it will greatly benefit a roster full of young and promising talent across the dojo, theatre, and beyond.
Fans in the Philippines had been broadcasting their jealousy at the fact Singapore was treated to Naito in November and April would provide them with Minoru Suzuki. However, their wishes came true when it was announced he would be heading to DEXCON just two days after his match for SPW.
The show opened with Hakai Mateo once again left without an opponent, leading to a frustrated in-ring moment, followed by an unconvincing apology from Miguel. Similar to the old Brodus Clay angle from 2012, we’re expecting Mateo to snap at some point rather than turn into a comedy character, he already is!
The first real match saw Robin Sane defeat Daryl Voll from NJPW Tamashi which was followed up by Ken Cifer defeating the now renamed Devil Danny Cavite (previously Zamora). We’re not sure on the fine points of this switch as limited footage is being released at the moment. Serafin Liwanag then took down Hit in somewhat of an upset.
Following this, it was time for one of the most memorable moments of the night as Carlo Cannon took apart Nigel San Jose, his legal opponent and Isaiah Valencia who was at ringside.
Following the match a man dressed in black and masked up assaulted both the Hy/Op boys. Luckily it wasn’t Seth Rollins but Jonathon Johnson who also had a face off with Jake De Leon to hype his upcoming double title match in Bangkok.
Before the next match, Dexcon revealed they now had a Women’s championship or more accurately DEXCON Lakambini Championship which would be contested between Joya and Crystal with the former beating the veteran to deservingly become the first champion. There’s no question that Joya is deserving of this honor, all the women are but she had a standout year in 2025 which was somewhat overlooked until Puso Alamat in November.
Following her celebrations, however, Crystal turned and attacked Joya signalling a well-needed heel turn for The Queen. Her work in Apac in this role has been a real highlight of their shows and it’s definitely time she brings that character to modern Pinoy wrestling.
In the main event, Jake De Leon defeated Minoru Suzuki and Dabid Ravena to retain the DEXCON World Championship. The match began with huge reactions for all three competitors with Ravena being a clear fan favorite now (as well as our top pick to eventually dethrone Jake for at least one title). From reports, the match was well received by fans providing the kind of hard hitting contest they expected.
The promotion wasted no time announcing their next events that happened in May after press time on the 24th - Dakila 2 and Baka Gaijin Manila with some old friends returning.
DEXCON DITO NAMAN
VPW SAIGON SLAM JAM
Vietnam Pro Wrestling continues their relentless mission to top the show before it. This time, the promotion looked to smash the records of Spring Bash, Vietnamania and Ho Tram Slam all in one go with an outdoor spectacular featuring some of Southeast Asia’s best.
The show, in partnership with a company known as Sports Jam who are involved in the live entertainment and sports industry in Vietnam (and co-promoted Ho Tram Slam last year), was moved from the usual home of VAIB studios to Fox Field, an outdoor football field on the other side of the city. A brave move at the start of the rainy season that almost didn’t pay off with drizzle threatening the show during the first match. As a venue, while Fox Field didn’t offer up the special atmosphere cultivated at their usual home (mostly due to all the sound escaping) but the tiered seating, wider spread of seats and unique position under the bright lights of luxury condos and Saigon’s biggest pagoda certainly gave the show a unique look that should translate well to video. Additionally, the greatly improved sound system finally allowed most of the roster’s music to be heard clearly which was one of the main issues plaguing the promotion previously.
Editor’s note: Before going through matches, please note that a lot of the footage I took to jog my memory didn’t save. Should anything be incorrect, I apologise!
Sunny Z & Chen Wenbin Vs Vortex Rebellion
The show kicked off before the sun set with a pre-show match between the team of Sunny Z and Chen Wenbin taking on Vortex Rebellion’s Kira & D. Austin. A very standard match went ahead as planned with lots of footage clearly being taken for Wenbin’s livestream shows in China. For those in the dark, Chen Wenbin and some of his buddies (who were sat in the second row) run a vertical video livestream show in China that attracts millions of viewers. It generally consists of Chen beating up big men from around the world. Needless to say, Chen pinned Kira in about five minutes to win the match. A shame not to see more from the talented Sunny Z but this footage and some filmed later at the VPW academy was the team’s role.
SPD VS KPY
After the welcome from Xavier Patricks, things got under way with local rising powerhouse KPY taking on Grapplemax’s Openweight Champion SPD. This acronym-filled match certainly lived up to its billing as both strong-armed each other and slammed one another into the mat until KPY was able to lock in his version of the Styles Clash to win his first singles bout against a foreign talent. A fine opener that also began what feels like KPY’s rise towards becoming a main event singles star. He has a long road to go but is beginning to look like a bona fide singles star. SPD meanwhile left looking furious, showing off some long-forgotten heel skills towards the end.
Bindfold Match - Khoa Truong Vs Dokuga
The crowd then got one of the bravest match choices on the card and it paid off big time. Blindfold matches in years gone by have been met with groans of cringe but Khoa Truong vs Dokuga was one of the best blindfold matches in decades.
The duo did exactly what they were supposed to, pacing each other out while the fans went berserk trying to help babyface Khoa, occasionally tripping each other up or hitting random moves before the heel finally found a way to cheat and lift his veil up following a ref bump. Despite this, Khoa stayed strong until a new ally for Dokuga emerged in Zachar. The Belarusian behemoth slammed Khoa to the mat and allowed Dokuga to get the win.
Zachar aligning with Dokuga makes sense. The powerful big man is still very new and working with VPW’s head trainer feels like the natural direction. Like many professional fighters, he needs to continue working on his transition from shoot fighting into worked wrestling but that takes time and patience.
Five Way Elimination
Match three saw some of the day-one backbone of VPW in Damien Wolfe, Jimmy AG and An D get ready to enter a four-way match with newcomer Ronnie El Rapido.
However, before the match could begin, a debuting wrestler, Hai Nguyen, came out (it’s not hard to work out who is under the mask) to make it a five-way.
What on paper looked like a filler contest to get wrestlers on the card turned out to be one of the most underrated matches on the show. All five men were clearly looking to make a statement, both in storyline and reality, after a disappointing six months (storyline losses) with eventual winner Jimmy AG seeming the most desperate to turn the tide.
All five traded holds, dives and went full throttle throughout the contest. The order of elimination saw Damien eliminated first, then surprisingly favourite Ronnie before Hai Nguyen went out. An D and Jimmy then showed Fox Field that they might have been around the longest but they can still go, until Jimmy rolled up An D while showing some of the heelish tactics from early 2024 that were leading him towards the top of the card. An D vs Jimmy would make a fine undercard bout on an upcoming show. Of note, Damien was in his old heel attire and using non-VTX music which looks to be a clear signal Phong Tran has hung up the boots for longer than expected.
Xiumin Long Vs Cheeseburger Kid
Before the interval, Xiumin Long moved onto challenger number two in his bid to demonstrate he’s Southeast Asia’s top masked man. As we wrote in our preview, Cheeseburger Kid provided the speed and planchas while Long cut him off at every opportunity until the package piledriver sealed his fate. A thrilling bout that doesn’t hurt tag competitor CBK but continues rebuilding Long as a terrifying light heavyweight force.
Football Field Fight - Real Global Threat (The Statement Andeuw Tang, Shivam, Jake De Leon Vs Meteor Kid & The Classic Night)
Following the interval, it was time for one of the most anticipated matches of the night, the Football Field Fight. By this point the atmosphere around Fox Field had completely changed as darkness settled over the venue. Before the match even began, fans showered The Statement, Shivam and Jake De Leon with boos like the foreign invaders they Portrayed while plucky young Meteor Kid and The Classic Night were greeted as saviours following their highly entertaining entrance video. Clad in football shirts, the screen showed Vietnam’s national team trouncing Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines in previous matches.
However things quickly turned against the trio as the veterans took them on a tour de force around the arena to every possible corner in an all-out, anything-goes brawl that lived up to the expectations of regular fans while blowing many newcomers’ minds. The most memorable moment of the match saw all six brawling over to the food vendors where De Leon and Shivam held Bobby while The Statement downed The Rock’s tequila and delivered a series of chops.
Despite some spirited comebacks it was another victory for Real Global Threat as they pinned all three in the ring to continue their dominant run across the region. A highly entertaining brawl that The Classic Night can afford to lose while Meteor Kid gains a huge amount of experience at such an early point in his career. The question now is what’s next for the RGT vs VPW storyline?
Viva Van Vs Chelsea Marie
In the penultimate match Viva Van returned to defend her women’s championship against another of the Philippines’ blossoming women’s division talents. The match had an old-school main event vibe with both competitors attempting to knock the other down for supremacy using their strength. The end result was Viva hitting the Vietnamita on Chelsea for the three count. Like the match with Crystal, more character work would’ve added to the match. The fans already want to cheer Vietnam’s champion and things would really come alive if the character work in Viva’s matches was pushed more than the wrestling itself.
The biggest surprise from the Women’s title match was the introduction of special guest ring announcer Charli who is the first female trainee at the VPW Academy. Smiley, bright and articulate, the young hopeful did a fantastic job on the microphone.
VPW would be remiss not to put her into an interviewer role or continue doing this more often to provide her with as much confidence as possible.
Ares Vs Hy Draco Vs British Horror Vs Rocky Huynh
The main event however blew everyone at Fox Field away as all four of Vietnam’s main event scene collided in a fatal four-way match for Ares’ Vietnam Championship.
The match started with all four feeling each other out and The Rocky Horror Show being on the same page to gain the clear advantage. Surprisingly though both respectfully faced off and tied up in a gentlemanly way after ridding the ring of Draco and Ares. That quickly changed once the faces returned to demolish the duo before facing off against each other themselves in the lightning-quick, hard-impact style only two opponents who know each other as well as The Unstoppable Force and Saigon Mamba do.
The match then broke down on the outside with Phuong Nam and Princess Death getting involved until Hy Draco hit his signature dive only to be followed by Rocky in a rare high-flying attempt that ended in less-than-graceful fashion with help from ringside assistants.
The big turning point came when The Rocky Horror Show brought out a table and threw the champion through it with a heavy backdrop leading to him being taken away from ringside.
The heels then went to work picking apart Hy Draco with steel trays, seemingly shocking some fans but delighting the enthusiastic group of youths near my chair. Draco fought back through spirited offence but was outnumbered by some of The British Horror’s minions until Ares made a shocking recovery and came out to decimate those in the ring. One highlight was seeing Phuong Nam help deliver an F5 to Rocky.
The match came to its end when Ares powerbombed Rocky Huynh through another table to get the three count and send the fans into a frenzy.
The match was about as good a four-way contest as you could expect to see and reminded this aging millennial of similar WWF main events in 2000.
From a wrestling show perspective, Saigon Slam Jam was a high-quality show. As a long-term fan, I would’ve liked more storyline progression and did feel the outdoor setting allowed a lot of that special “VPW atmosphere” to escape into the heavens, but that was always to be expected.
From a business and marketing perspective however, the event looked like an outstanding success. It’s easy as a diehard fan to forget that wrestling is still a business and behind the shows we like, companies need to push growth for further opportunities.
The main event also drew a fantastic line under the past 18 months of main event storyline and clears the way for all parties to head in different directions. With no main show planned until The Rumble, Vietnam’s wrestling calendar may look bleak for a few months but this gives time for anticipation to build and for new paths to cross and faces to arrive.
BEYOND THE SEA - WORLD TOUR
Over the past couple of months, numerous Southeast Asian wrestlers have stepped up and grabbed opportunities across the globe attracting media attention and leaving a permanent mark.
Super P
Another wrestler in Vegas last month was Super P who, as mentioned in our article on Pinay wrestling was part of Bailey’s Lodestone camp. In addition she wrestled for Spark Joshi Lady Luck 2 on the 19th in a triple threat against Airica Demia and Kaia McKenna. Despite losing, she came out of Vegas as a clear winner with Bailey (her new biggest fan) and CM Punk showing themselves wearing her signature shirt.
Super P wasn’t done with international travel however as she then headed to Korea on May 9th to wrestle in front of her biggest ever crowd as she tagged with Maki Itoh to face local prospect Yeni and Alexis Lee. Who speaking of....
Alexis Lee
That’s right, Alexis Lee has managed to outdo everyone in terms of travel within a few weeks. Starting off in Las Vegas, the SPW Queen of Asia Champion wrestled Viva Van for Big Time Wrestling, Joseline Navarro in Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling, took part in a six woman tag at TJPW’s standout Vegas show and capped off the USA component by also appearing for Spark Joshi where she tagged with Mei Seira against Aleah James & AZM.
While most headed home for some R&R, Lee decided that the best rest was to fly to Europe to defend her title against Eden in Lyon, France.
Things didn’t slow down one bit after this as she finally made it to the UK where she wrestled three times. Once in London for the largest non-Japanese women’s wrestling organisation EVE, teaming with Abi Cartwright against NyteSkye at the Big Penny Social before wrestling a set of matches with Fist Club (an LGBT offshoot of Progress Wrestling) in The Electric Ballroom, Camden as well as Brighton.
This was then followed up with the previously mentioned Korea match.
To give some perspective, Lee has already wrestled in seven different countries in 2026!
Mighty Mighty
While many went west, Mighty Mighty went east. During a recent visit to Japan for Golden Week, the Singapore veteran main evented a Choco Pro show at Choco Square teaming with Miya Yotsuba to take on Best Bros in an extremely fun match.
Monomoth
During Mania weekend, SETUP Thailand’s Monomoth dazzled during matches at two of the top-tier indys signature shows. He was first a notable participant in the GCW Clusterf**k on the 18th April before being a part of a multi man tag at Effy’s Big Gay Brunch on the 18th. Most notably, between those two shows he gave iconic LGBT wrestler Kidd Bandit one of her last matches before retirement at Divas & Drag wrestling.
Devin Zemir
Devin Zemir returned to Australia for the EPW camps he attended last year. This year his match opportunities were expanded to three as he competed twice at Phat Brew, being defeated by Faizal Ali before tagging with him to defeat Nevermore and also entering their rumble. He of course made sure his Grapplemax tag champion co-holder Nathan X was there via video call.
CREDITS & LEGAL
Editor
Simon worden
CONTRIBUTORS
-Aurelien Foucault - VPW
-HanzelBee -dexcon/Puso/WUW
-Shing Chan - VPW
-najywan & sgwrestlingsoC - Grapplemax
-Grapplemax, spw, setup thailand, dxcn wrestling, fpw, mypw, Ring of Rebirth.
-Pumi Boonyatud
-Kaixven01 - MYPW
-Spark Joshi Pro @dtan.omoide
-PWS Korea
-Pro Wrestling Eve
to have a photo credit added please email contact@seawrestling.net
Pumi Boonyatud - interview
Elias Chang - News & Results
published 3rd April 2026
Press Time - March 12TH 2026
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