PWL The Fyre Rises Review (18/04/2026)
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
By Mick Robson
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I haven’t seen a lot of QLD wrestling, apart from bits and pieces in my past life writing for PWDownunder when I did the 12 Days of Christmas series. God, I wish I saved those articles offline! I was quite proud of my work in those ones. Anyway, this is my first full-fledged review of a Queensland independent wrestling show. Let’s lock in.
One of the featured matches on this card is the first in a Best of 7 series between “Undeniable” Bobby Bishop vs. “Uniquely Violent” Trent O’Day- who is a friend of the Arena Media. You can check out my interview with O’Day, conducted the day before this event- where he discusses Bishop and the QLD scene as a whole here:
As I fire up the old YouTube in order to watch this show- it was uploaded a few weeks after the show, on the 12th of May- I’m immediately struck by the high production value that Pro Wrestling League has. PWL looks very polished and professional in the opening video package, the big screens in the venue, video/sound quality on point etc. It’s time for our opening match!
Let’s do this!
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Match 1: Strong 94 (JJ Avery & Renegade) vs. The Stepdads (Stepdad Chris & Stepdad Charlie)
Strong 94 get the jump on the Stepdads to start the match as Todd Eastman welcomes us to the show on commentary. Stepdad Chris hits a big back body drop and tags in Stepdad Charlie with a handshake! Novel. At one point, it looks like Chris is going to administer a spanking, but JJ Avery turns it into the Devil’s Kiss! I definitely prefer Stephanie Vaquer’s version.
Some slick double team moves by Strong 94 have Charlie reeling. Great athleticism and cohesion. Charlie looks for a tag, but Renegade pulls Chris off the apron, allowing Avery to hit a well, strong, dropkick in the corner on Charlie. Another modified Devil’s Kiss into the turnbuckles. Charlie fights his way out of the corner eventually and gets the hot tag to Chris, who comes in cleaning house. Atomic drops on both members of Strong 94 interferes with any plans they have to have kids in the immediate future, then Avery finally gets that spanking. Now go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done!
The Stepdads hit a double chokeslam on Renegade for a near fall. Avery interferes to prevent another double team move, and Strong 94 blast Chris with a double superkick. Innovative finisher with a Dominator/Meteora combo- and it gets the 3!
Winners: Strong 94 (at 8:14)
Thoughts: Fun opening tag. The Stepdads gimmick is up my alley for the kind of silly pro wrestling fun I like, and coming out to Limp Bizkit’s “Dad Vibes” wins them immediate brownie points. And this was my first impression of Strong 94 after hearing their name in passing- I can see why they’re highly regarded, very smooth tag team that flow together really well in there. Another killer entrance theme with Kasabian’s “Underdog” as well.
A video package airs on Trent O’Day challenging Bobby Bishop to a Best of 7 Series. O’Day described himself as “an angry spandex man” in a recent social media post, which gave me a good giggle, but it certainly seems to fit here!
Match 2: Best of 7 Series (Match 1)- Trent O’Day vs. Bobby Bishop
O’Day jumps Bishop during his entrance to start the match. They go to the outside and O’Day throws Bishop shoulder-first into the ring post! Back in the ring, O’Day wrenches Bishop arm and shoulder first into the mat, so a clear game plan here.
A Side Effect gets an early near fall. O’Day goes for his seated arm submission- apologies, I don’t know the name- but Bishop eventually breaks it up with a hangman on the top rope. Discus lariat gets Bishop a near fall. Bishop sets up for a piledriver, O’Day gets out and wrenches the arm, Bishop snaps back around into a quick piledriver- and that’s it!
Winner: Bobby Bishop (at 3:44)
Thoughts: Wow. Fun and dynamic as long as it lasted. O’Day had a sound gameplan, with Bishop’s arm really hanging on by a thread towards the end there, but there’s not a lot you can do when you get dropped on your head. Thankfully, this Best of 7 Series is far from over.
Post-match, Bobby leaves quickly clutching his arm. O’Day is furious and hits a ringside photographer with a cutter. Trent punts the photographer before leaving.
Match 3: Eugenie vs. Billie Mac vs. Xtina Kade
Billie talks trash and Eugenie and Xtina literally kick her out of the ring. Eugenie has power and shows it by blasting Xtina with a shoulder block, while Xtina immediately comes back with arm drags and a flying headscissors, showing speed and finesse. Everyone showing what they’re about in the opening moments.
The fight goes outside the ring and Xtina takes out both Eugenie and Billie with a top rope cross body! Back in the ring and Billie quickly asserts herself with a big clothesline on Xtina. She lines up for another big move, but Eugenie intercepts her with essentially a Pounce. Big Samoan Drop on Xtina but Billie breaks up the pin attempt. Billie scores with a flatliner on Eugenie but the advantage doesn’t last long, as Eugenie picks her up in a powerbomb then Xtina flies off the top to drop Billie! Big move after big move here.
All three women trade strikes. Eugenie cuts Billie in half with a Spear. Xtina breaks up the pin with a top rope elbow drop. Eugenie with a Code Red on Xtina. Billie with a TKO on Eugenie. Near fall. They’re going all out here, and Billie is beside herself. Eugenie knocks Billie out of the ring and hits a massive powerbomb on Xtina... and that does it!
Winner: Eugenie (at 7:17)
Thoughts: Absolute non-stop action here, and Eugenie looked like a killer, Xtina looked like a spirited underdog willing to take risks, and Billie was the ultimate opportunist at key points. Very entertaining triple threat.
Post-match, the commentators put over the dominance of Eugenie, and how Xtina is constantly getting close but not quite there.
The “Devil’s Double” Jesse Daniels makes his entrance and grabs a microphone. He’s been on a crusade to get Outback Adam to PWL. And to prove how serious he is... he pulls out an inflatable crocodile. Apparently his name is Steve. “If you don’t come out here-”
The music of Hugh Manatee hits! Daniels drops him immediately with a DDT. Aww. Daniels looks to unmask him, but the lights go out... and Outback Adam is here!
Match 4: Jesse Daniels vs. Outback Adam
Two wrestlers I’m unfamiliar with, but it seems to be quite the juxtaposition of characters- Daniels appears dark and serious, while Adam appears comedic and fun-loving. He must’ve improved his physique though, as Todd quips on commentary, “there must be an Outback gym we don’t know about.”
Adam starts hot with an arm drag and a flying butt attack. Soon after, Daniels knocks him down with a boot that has a lot of light. Adam’s not a big guy, so needs to use agility, and does so with a rana and enziguri, giving him a fighting chance. He then loads up for a giant smack on the ass. More insult than injury, but we move on.
A 619 attempt is messed up, but he quickly corrects and connects. Adam grabs Steve and jumps off the top rope with him, but is planted with a sitout powerbomb instead. Kick out. Daniels puts Adam in the tree of woe and hits him with Steve from the top rope. Adam then grabs Steve and they superplex Daniels! A top rope splash follows, and the combined weight of Adam & Steve is enough for the 3!
Winner: Outback Adam (and Steve) (at 5:56)
Thoughts: Messy action in points, and I feel like I’d appreciate the comedy a little more if I had some familarity with the character, but it was alright. The PWL crowd clearly loved Outback Adam, he was over like rover, and that’s the most important thing here.
Post match, Outback Adam grabs a mic. “How are ya?” An “Outback Adam” chant starts. He tells us that the days of doing this full-time are past him, HE’S TURNING 30. That’s old? (Cries in almost 36). He tells us that he started wrestling at 20, actually training under Jesse Daniels, which was not easy. Daniels would tell him that he was “too much” or “too silly” and “made a mockery of pro wrestling” with his antics in the ring. But then he went to PWL, found that support and became a champion. His mission for the night was to protect Pro Wrestling League from Daniels, and calls himself “the ghost of PWL looking over everyone”. He talks about his growth as a wrestler and as a person, and that he’s proud of himself today.
Okay, that was a great speech. I get the crowd support- he's very charismatic and likeable. Seemed like he was kind of saying goodbye, or more “see you later”, he’ll pop in and out for “wildlife missions”, as he called it, but not appearing regularly going forward on PWL.
The ring announcer introduces a special guest- Ned Balme from Channel 9! He’s here to interview PWL Openweight Champion Zeke Andino. Ned then heels on the crowd, saying that Zeke’s taught him a lot about wrestling, including that wrestling fans are “some of the biggest losers I’ve met in my life”. Ned heeling isn’t surprising- he kind of has the look of a smug pretty boy heel as it is. He notes that he’s done some wrestler interviews with big stars- MJF, Kyle Fletcher, Timeless Toni Storm. “Because I’m a journalist and I only speak in facts, I can tell you [Zeke] that you are better than all of them combined!” Well, that’s definitely subjective. So his question to Zeke- “What makes you so great?”
Zeke says he’s always been a fighter. “Growing up, my daddy only made 500K a year,” he says in a great display of fake humility. Ned has “breaking news”- the new PWL Openweight Championship belt. Zeke says it’s “about damn time” and “unfortunate that six bozos are fighting for a shot at this” just to lose at The Purge to him. Ned says with a bit of training under Zeke, he could beat everyone back there too. I believe it's PWL owner Mitch McCarthy, who approaches him with a clipboard, the arrogant Ned assumes it’s an autograph and absentmindedly signs it. Mitch reveals that it’s a Purge Rumble entry contract, and Ned is apoplectic as he leaves with Zeke.
Match 5: Six Way Scramble- Andre Irons vs. Sam Cannon vs. Craven vs. DC Dante vs. Logan Pearce vs. BK Calloway
Cannon attacks Calloway as he enters the ring- seems to be a lot of getting the jump during entrances in this show! Sam Cannon clears the ring, back dropping Irons onto the other competitors at ringside. We get a one on one big boy showdown with Cannon and Calloway. All I know about Calloway is that he’s dating Miss Havok- so no matter how many championships he wins in wrestling, he’s already winning at life. But let’s see how he goes here.
DC Dante, Logan Pearce and Craven get back involved and everybody’s throwing hands! And feet, as some well placed kicks send the big men flying. It doesn’t last long though, as Calloway comes back with a superplex on Craven. Logan tries to steal the pin, which earns him some Calloway right hands. Dante takes out Calloway with a top rope cross body, but soon after gets drilled with a uranage by Cannon. Irons back in with a flying kick on Cannon, but the follow up brainbuster attempt is... ill-advised, to say the least. Logan tries to help, but Cannon suplexes them both.
Cannon goes on a tear, running through everybody. Cannon attempts a moonsault- he's 135kg, by the way- but Craven moves! Everyone works together to blast Cannon out of the ring with kicks. Irons puts an exclamation point on it with a springboard cross body! Irons gets back in the ring and walks into a massive F5 by Calloway, who then eats a spinning back kick from Dante. Craven hits a Destroyer but misses the follow up Swanton. They’re really going balls to the wall here! Irons connects with the brainbuster on Dante- and he’s got it!
Winner: Andre Irons (at 7:13)
Thoughts: Talk about maximising your minutes here! Everyone got opportunities to shine, hitting some of their biggest and best stuff. A wild ride. With this win, Irons gets the opportunity to face Zeke Andino for the Openweight Championship at The Purge.
Post-match, Andino gets in the ring to stare down his next challenger and raise his new Openweight Championship belt in the air. Zeke goes for the cheap shot, Irons ducks it and looks for a brainbuster, but the champ escapes- for now.
Match 6: PWL Tag Team Championship- Wacol's Most Wanted (Cockroach & Jack Tarr) vs. The Monstars (Jake Nova & Rip Reilly) (c)
We are told that if Wacol lose, they will never challenge for the tag titles again. The Monstars, as the name suggests, look to be an imposing force- they won the titles relatively recently at Project Revolution 6 in late February.
Rip starts against Cockroach. We actually get a traditional start with a lock-up and Rip pushes Cockroach onto his ass. Cockroach tries to rally with right hands but gets knocked on his ass again with a clothesline. Tarr tags in to try his luck. Battle of meaty men but Rip gets the better of the early going with a body slam. Tag out to Nova and Cockroach helps get rid of Rip with a low bridge, sending him tumbling to the outside, and hits Nova with a hangman. Tarr takes advantage, hitting a massive T-Bone suplex!
Wacol gain momentum and take control of the match, as the commentators emphasise that this is their last shot. Backbreaker/leg drop combo gets them a near fall. Cockroach goes up top, but Rip reenters the fray, crotching him and dropping Tarr with a World’s Strongest Slam. Nova hits Cockroach with a top rope Spanish Fly! Crazy. From there, Monstars isolate and beat down Cockroach. Nova hits a top rope elbow on Cockroach for a close 2 count. Rip tags in but inadvertently collides with Nova, allowing Cockroach to hit an enziguri and get the hot tag! Wait, ref didn’t see it. The beatings continue until morale improves.
Rip flattens Tarr with a senton for a near fall. The unkillable Cockroach fights out of a sleeper and finally gets the legal hot tag! Tarr flies in with intensity and knocks Nova off the apron, before hitting a body slam on the massive Rip Reilly! Great display of strength there. Nova blind tags in and hits a sitout powerbomb on Tarr! 1... 2... kick out! Nova locks in the calf slicer but Cockroach breaks it up! Strong 94 try to get involved and the distracted allows Rip to hit the Rip Driver. We get another kick out!
Nova goes for a pumphandle but Cockroach turns it into an inside cradle for a great near fall. He then drops Nova with a Yakuza kick! Wacol set up for their finish- but the bell rings! Renegade has commandeered the ring bell, as JJ Avery grabs a steel chair and blasts Nova with it! That does officially end the match.
Winners: Monstars (via DQ) (at 11:40)
Thoughts: Strong 94 screw Wacol’s Most Wanted out of any future tag team title shots. Those scoundrels! What occurred before that was a strong title match, the high stakes were evident and conveyed through the action. Quality stuff.
Main Event: PWL Championship- Jesse Love (w/ Jazzy Kennedy) vs. Jaxon Cross vs. Alex “Yeet” Stevens (c)
It’s almost unfair how ridiculously good-looking Jesse Love and Jazzy Kennedy are. I’ll do my best to focus on this match with Jazzy at ringside. Alright. Ahem. Professional.
So this was originally set to be a singles match between Jesse and Yeet, but Cross was later added due to being injured before a scheduled no. 1 contenders match. Jesse isn’t happy about the triple threat... because he’s scared of gingers, which Cross and Stevens are. Wonder if they would be open to joining the Brotherhood of RANGA in NSW?
Jesse talks trash to Yeet and Cross and they both blast him with forearms to kick things off. The two “giant gingers”- as commentary call them- have a stalemate trying to get the advantage in the early going as Jesse recovers. He then pulls Yeet out of the ring, and attacks Cross in the ring after Jazzy causes a distraction. Can’t blame Cross. (Sorry.) Neckbreaker gets Jesse a 2 count.
Yeet tries to get involved, but Jesse bails and uses Jazzy as a human shield. Classy. Jesse drives the champ into the ring post, as commentary makes the point that Jazzy can be more involved under triple threat rules than in a singles bout. Baseball slide by Cross drives Jesse into the barricade. Back in the ring, a Shining Wizard gets Cross a near fall. Jesse comes back with a high knee and a jawbreaker. Cross straight back with a modified TKO for a near fall.
Jesse knocks Cross down with another knee and poses, only for Yeet to re-join the fight. He lifts Jesse in a vertical suplex and drapes him across the top rope. Jesse counters the Yeet Bomb and hits the Fameasser. 2 count. Jaxon Cross takes them both out with a top rope cross body!
All three guys trade massive punches and chops. The champ takes over with a double clothesline. Back drops for both and Yeet’s straps come down! The universal sign for “let’s finish this”. Yeet Bomb set up again but Jesse gets in a poke to the eyes, followed by a flying knee. Cross comes in with a curb stomp! Jesse recovers and kicks him blatantly in the nuts. No DQs in a triple threat!
Jazzy comes in to hold Yeet’s arms while Jesse punches him. A flying knee almost hits Jazzy accidentally, but Jesse puts on the brakes. Yeet does not put the brakes on when hitting Jesse with a big boot though! Jazzy then slaps Yeet! Ooh. So Yeet throws Jazzy into Jesse. That could’ve been worse for her. Yeet Bomb on Jesse- and it’s over!
Winner: Alex “Yeet” Stevens (at 11:04)
Thoughts: The appropriate amount of shenanigans for a triple threat. Good action, but it felt like a matter of time before Jazzy got involved, the commentary even drew attention to it at one point by saying she was being “suspiciously quiet”. So it felt like nothing was going to end until that happened, which undercut a bit of the drama. Definitely fun action until we got to that point though.
Yeet Stevens is successful in his first title defence. The next PWL event is June 20th, the Purge, featuring a two-ring Hardcore Rumble. Definitely keen to see that. It’s my birthday that weekend, if money wasn’t so tight I’d probably go!
Overall Thoughts
Very good first impression of PWL. As I said at the outset, very impressive production quality, and the show quality was high with a clearly stacked and talented roster. Hard to pick a favourite match on the show, most of it was all consistently really good. I’d say the last 3 matches were probably the strongest. I really enjoyed the Scramble, and there’s definitely a few characters I want to see more of- in particular, Yeet Stevens and Jesse Love got big reactions of both ends of the spectrum, and they left me wanting to see them wrestle again after that performance, just to see what they’re all about as wrestlers and characters.
Overall Score: 8/10
Until next time, take care.
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