Philippine wrestling fans were electric all night as Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) returned to Makati Cinema Square last August 15, 2015 with PWR Live. The card featured the first round of the Philippine Hybrid X (PHX) tournament and a main event that featured heated rivals “Classical” Bryan Leo and “the Senyorito” Jake De Leon.
In a rematch between current PWR Champion “Classical” Bryan Leo and the inaugural champion “The Senyorito” Jake De Leon, it was Leo, with the help of stablemates “Cutthroat” John Sebastian and Scarlett, who choked out JDL to retain the championship.
However, at the end of the night, it was The Apocalypse, who made his intentions that he wants the PWR Championship, that demolished both the champion and JDL.
The Apocalypse is upon us
Apocalypse with an abdominal stretch to the host of the Mark D. Manalo invitational
The Apocalypse has been one of the most mysterious figures in the PWR roster. Only speaking in short spurts the past few PWR events, the Apocalypse let action speak louder than words about his true intentions during PWR Live.
During Mark D. Manalo’s Invitational, a poor PWR bootcamper was laid out by the masked menace. MDM did not have any choice but to face the Apocalypse and fell victim to not just one, but three Death Bells. The referee had no other choice but to stop the bout. After the bell, the Apocalypse demolished the other half of Beer Promdi in beating the hell out of Kanto Terror as well. Kanto was on the receiving end of a devious Claw by the Apocalypse. The big man did not let go of the hold for at least three minutes. The result? A lacerated eye for the guardian of Kanto Tinio street.
The main event was not safe from the destruction caused by the Apocalypse as the entire Royal Flush and an injured Jake De Leon fell prey to Death Bells of their own.
The Apocalypse has made his intentions known. He wants the PWR Championship.
Leo vs. De Leon II
The confident champion from the first world taunts the crowd from the third world
A confident Bryan Leo entered the match sporting a gold polka dot attire as a tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. However, Jake De Leon thought otherwise as “The Senyorito”, with vengeance in mind, brought his best to try and regain his belt.
JDL with a middle rope splash to Leo
The challenger from Negros Occidental connects with a Gori bomb on the champion
Jake De Leon brought the house down with his high flying arsenal in connecting with various splashes and, at one point, even connecting with a huge rolling thunder that tore the house down. Even Leo’s underhanded tactics could not stop the Maximum Rage of JDL.
Bryan Leo with an illegal choke on the Senyorito
A defiant Bryan Leo refuses to tap to the figure-four
De Leon then locked-in a figure-four leglock, Leo’s stablemate John Sebastian distracted the referee that infuriated the haciendero. In frustration, JDL hit a huge superkick on Sebastian. As the referee was attending to a fallen Sebastian, the champion from the first world resulted to another underhanded tactic: a lowblow on De Leon that turned the tides of the match. The champion secured the Royal Prison Lock 2 that choked out the challenger from Negros Occidental.
Classical Bryan Leo chokes out JDL with the Royal Prison Lock 2
After the match, the entire Royal Flush continued to beat down JDL and focused on De Leon’s battered knee. A steel chair was even brought out as Leo and Sebastian took turns in connecting with vicious steel chair shots to the knee of JDL. De Leon had to be helped out of the venue by the medics afterwards.
Warren, Imbayashi, Panzer, Brannigan advance to the PHX Final Four
The tournament that will decide who will represent the Philippine-style of wrestling also commenced Saturday night. Four men advanced to the semifinals of the elimination-style tournament as Mayhem Brannigan, Chris Panzer, Ralph Imbayashi, and Ken Warren all advanced to Renaissance.
Mayhem Brannigan defeated Miguel Rosales in a barnburner
Mayhem Brannigan and Miguel Rosales opened the tournament with a slobberknocker of a match.
Rosales sends Brannigan for a ride
Rosales, one half of the Fighters 4 Hire, displayed his athleticism in combining aerial and power moves all throughout the match. The masked rebel did not let up as well in displaying his agility. As the match took its toll on both wrestlers, Brannigan connected with MMA elbows to knockeout Rosales. The referee had no other recourse but to stop the contest.
SANDATA with a variation of a leg lock on Panzer
Chris Panzer also took a win after defeating SANDATA in a dominant fashion. Panzer connected with a frog splash, as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero, midway through the match. Capping the match was the Panzerschreck that resulted to a Panzer win.
The cocky Ken Warren advances to the PHX semifinals
Ken Warren also advanced to the semifinals and in doing so breaking his three match losing streak. Joey Bax, though sloppy at times, put on a great showing in the early goings of the match. Bax, however, fell prey to a superkick by Warren that resulted to a victory.
A victorious Imbayashi celebrates his victory over Peter Versoza
The match of the night goes to the third first round match for the PHX Tournament. Fil-Jap Ralph Imabayashi and Peter Versoza tore the house down with a great back-and-forth bout. Versoza displayed great power during the match in hitting a giant swing on his opponent midway through the match. The two also exchanged power move after power move, strike after strike all throughout the match. The end of the match came when Imbayashi, who had Versoza in a sleeper hold, connected with the Sonic Crusher from out of nowhere to take the win. After the masterpiece the two produced, both competitors hugged in the middle of the ring as cheers from the crowd serenaded the two combatants.
The Royal Flush’s first strike
The other half of Wrevolution X’s main event also succumbed to the numbers game of the Royal Flush as Bombay Suarez was also on the receiving end of a beatdown during his match against “Cutthroat” John Sebastian.
The much more experienced Suarez was on the receiving end of strikes by Sebastian to open the match. The mentor to majority of the PWR roster rallied back starting with a huge enzuigiri that knocked down Sebastian. However, the Jack of All Trades had one last ace up his sleeve in throwing powder to the eyes of Suarez that momentarily blinded the veteran. Sebastian then connected with the Killshot for the win.
After scoring the upset, the Royal Flush continued to beatdown Suarez while Sebastian continued to mock the crowd and Suarez.
Bootcampers Vintendo and Jimmy Orellana open the night
Orellana taunts Vintendo from the middle rope
Vintendo defeated Orellana after this huge chokeslam
PWR Live Results:
August 16, 2015 – Makati Cinema Square, Makati City
PWR Championship: Bryan Leo choked out Jake De Leon with the Royal Prison Lock 2
PHX Tournament First Round: Ken Warren pinned Joey Bax after a superkick
PHX Tournament First Round: Ralph Imbayashi pinned Peter Versoza after connecting with the Sonic Crusher
PHX Tournament First Round: Chris Panzer pinned SANDATA after hitting the Panzershreck
PHX Tournament First Round: Mayhem Brannigan def. Miguel Rosales due to referee’s stoppage
Mark D. Manalo Bootcamp Invitational: The Apocalypse laid out both Mark D. Manalo and Kanto Terror after a series of Death Bells
John Sebastian pinned a blinded Bombay Suarez after a superkick
Pre-Show: Two local fans def. Kanto Terror in a drinking contest
Pre-Show: Vintendo pinned Jimmy Orellana after a huge chokeslam
