Fascinating fight card could change the careers of several competitors
SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling continues to gather momentum as it emerges from the pandemic with frightening force and impressive enthusiasm.
Thailand’s foremost pro wrestling brand now has two active championships, a regular events programme, a growing legion of fans and the increasing involvement of overseas promotions and competitors.
The latest iteration of this exciting phenomenon, Episode 6: King of Wrestling, comes direct from SETUP’s adopted home of Circus Studio in Bangkok, with an intriguing bill of matches that could change the careers of several athletes – and maybe even the direction of the entire promotion.
Diesel fuels his desire for revenge against double champ Shivam
SETUP battled bravely on as the coronavirus pandemic raged, staging broadcast shows behind closed doors for as long as the format was viable.
Despite the lack of a live attendance (and thus income), SETUP’s output was critically acclaimed, and peaked with Episode 3, the last show before Thailand’s lockdowns intensified in severity and ruled out all sports in any setting for a number of months.
But if that night preceded a pause that nobody wanted, its timing was perfect in terms of the storyline arc, for it left us all keenly awaiting more.
In the main event of Ep.2, the popular Shivam had scaled his personal mountaintop by claiming the SETUP Openweight Championship – the first belt of his career – with a hard-fought win over the bigger and vastly more experienced incumbent, Terry Diesel. Ep.3 concluded with a first successful defence, against Azura. The stage looked set for an intriguing title run, but as soon as it had begun, Shivam’s reign was placed on hold.
Still, at least he had his gold to keep him company while Thailand’s rings and gyms remained locked down. That’s more than could be said for Diesel, who while accomplished in his own right, will have been restless wearing the tag of “ex-champ”.
When action resumed, Shivam hit the ground running, soon adding a second belt to his collection. His hugely impressive win over Johnathan Johnson topped Ep. 5, earning him the AWGC Jr. Heavyweight crown.
“Bangkok Rockstar” Diesel, meanwhile, looked more dangerous than ever, as he revelled in the no-disqualification format against Bital Hasdin, emerging victorious after a violently bad-tempered brawl that ran to almost a half hour.
At the conclusion of Ep.5, as Shivam brandished both his championships, Diesel re-entered the ring and pointed one foreboding finger at the SETUP strap. No words were spoken, but the intent was clear: Diesel wants his belt back.
He gets his chance to do exactly that on Saturday night.
P’Suchart and Monomoth embody ‘card subject to change’ clause
All fight sports events carry the disclaimer: “Card subject to change”.
This addresses the possibility of athletes getting injured in training or other mishaps befalling them or others involved in this most unpredictable of industries.
But never is it more appropriate than when announcing a SETUP 24/7 Championship match.
As it stands, reigning 24/7 titleholder P’Suchart is booked to defend against Monomoth at Ep.6. But with this most peculiar of championships, anything can happen between now and then!
The title’s name comes from the fact that its holder is obliged to put it on the line at all times of day and night, wherever they may be. Anybody is eligible to challenge – all they have to do is find a referee and track down the champion.
With that in mind, will P’Suchart still be wearing the crown on Saturday night? If not, who will Monomoth face instead? And if Monomoth wins, will he be a champion in his own right when he challenges Shivam for AWGC glory at Ep.7, or will his reign already have been and gone, thanks to the bizarre nature of this belt?
So, indeed, this card may be subject the change. And when it comes to the 24/7 Championship, it seems change is its only constant.
Mystery opponent a test of Alexis Lee’s arrogance
A Singaporean invasion leads the undercard, with SPW stars Andruew Tang and Alexis Lee taking the first opportunity to fly back to Bangkok now that coronavirus travel restrictions have been lifted.
Lee, though, is not coming to renew friendships. It seems her status as one of Southeast Asia’s foremost female wrestlers has bred in her a sense of arrogance.
“I’m go to show how good the female wrestler Thailand never had is,” says the dismissive “Lion City Hit Girl”, who says she has only flown to Bangkok for the sake of creating “better women’s wrestling”.
As reigning SPW Tag Team Champion, Lee is now so confident in her abilities that she believes she can beat any wrestler in the kingdom.
Accordingly, she has issued an open challenge for Ep.6, insisting she doesn’t care who she fights – she will win anyway.
SETUP feels Lee’s attitude is inappropriate, especially in the wake of the retirement of Thailand’s first female pro wrestler, Blue Lotus.
Blue Lotus was forced to reluctantly hang up her tights due to “personal reasons”, in a development that stunned and upset Thai wrestling fans and the SETUP roster. Lee wasted no time in capitalising on this, by declaring – with insensitivity – that “a new era of women’s wrestling is here”.
The promotion has risen to Lee’s “open challenge” by signing a new competitor, who will make her debut against Lee.
Her identity will not be revealed until Lee is in the ring – will Lee’s confidence prove well founded, or is she in for a rude awakening?
Also in action
Johnathan Johnson is not looking to lick his wounds following the surrender of his AWGC title to Shivam at Ep.5.
For many, the loss of a belt might be seen as the end of an era, but Johnson believes the best is yet to come – indeed, he was the youngest AWGC champion in history.
He therefore is seeking to get right back into contention, and sees a showdown with Singapore veteran Andruew Tang as his shortcut back to a title shot.
Tang, though, is one of the region’s most experienced competitors. He sees this return to Thailand more as a holiday than a competition.
“I miss Soi Nana, cold beers and Thai girls,” said “The Statement” of his upcoming Bangkok trip. “And Thong Lor has not been the same without handsome guys like me.”
That he didn’t even mention his opponent shows Tang is either justifiably confident, or dangerously complacent. Soon, we will find out which.
* A triple threat match between Bital Hasdin, Paksa and Hyde rounds off this outstanding night of wrestling action.
Hasdin returns after his reputation-making brawl with Diesel at Ep.5, so all eyes will be on him to see if he can translate that gruelling experience into victory in the three-way format.
To do so, he will have to overcome Thai legend Paksa and Paksa’s former student, Hyde. Will Hyde and the Slave Leader form an alliance, or will Hyde look to emerge from his teacher’s shadow? And how will this play into Hasdin’s strategy?
Be there to find out for yourself!
Sponsors Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation / Siamdol
MATCH CARD
Shivam v Terry Diesel SETUP Openweight Championship
P’Suchart v Monomoth SETUP 24/7 Championship
Jonathan Johnson v Andruew Tang
Bital Hasdin vs Hyde vs Paksa (triple threat match)
Alexis Lee v TBA
NEWS AND FEATURES
Event page
SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling company page
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