What did an out-of-touch spectator feel after watching live wrestling again after close to a decade?
It’s been days since I went to Bigger Pictures in Mandaluyong to witness DXCN’s smorgasbord of wrestling matches. It had been a long time since I had my taste of live wrestling — my last visit to a physical show was somewhere in Quezon City around 2017.
I definitely miss watching elements at play — the wrestlers bringing in the action, and the fans (especially the heckler’s row) who believe in the vision of Pinoy Wrestling, so much that they spent time and cash to be there, surrounding the wrestling square. If there’s a good advantage that the venue has, they have projectors from atop and on one side that add spice to the whole aura of the show. It was colorful, to say the least.
Some of DXCN’s matches are free to watch, coinciding with the Season Pass Flea Market also held at the same venue from noontime up to 6 pm, where the gates are kept for the main bouts.
As I’ve written, several matches were held during the weekend. I have lost count, and I am recalling some of them as this event marks my reintroduction to Pinoy Wrestling — but I kept my mental notes for the ones I’ve watched closely:
I was just in time for ChocoPro Wrestling’s Manila debut. Watching the whole show made me realize why this promotion offers no paywalls. I didn’t realize what ChocoPro was until I saw the words Gatoh Move, the former name that I got used to knowing in the past. Whether you call them Gatoh Move or ChocoPro, the matches they offered resonated with the viewers, who are looking forward to watching them one more time in person.
I love the Main Maxx vs Romeo match wholeheartedly. This was Maxx’s 100th match, and he’s grappling against his long-time tag team partner. I have a little anecdote about Maxx: I didn’t support the guy when I watched him 9 years ago, but looking at the fella now, I felt a sense of respect I can give to him. That goes for Romeo too, who wrestled his fair best.
Going into Jam of the Joshis 2, the tag-team of Sayaka and Chie Koishikawa showed up in costumes that remind me well of THE iDOLM@STER. That, and the entrance music, got me rooting for them as they faced Crystal and Tokiko Kirihara. Crystal and Tokiko evened the playing field by throwing them against each other mid-match.
Super P vs Sayaka Obihiro got me chuckling, especially because ‘Blue Heart’ Sayaka knows how to use the ‘P’ against the Super P, the Pinay wrestler of Manilaverse-616 who’s among the few blessed to be trained and wrestle in the US. Did I forget to mention how Super P can fly in the ring? Much respect.
For the Main Event, we got Mei Suruga vs Joya for the Lakambini ng DXCN Women’s World Championship. The crowd favorite Mei was high-energy throughout that whole day with no signs of stopping. All eyes were focused on Joya as she defended her title — and Joya to her credit, is just as focused as everyone else to maintain her streak.
Moving to the next day, I arrived just in time for the start of Ay Sus, which introduced me to the Mr. Sy Group dynamics in person. Mr. Sy himself introduced Kenzo to the DXCN crowd, and Kenzo did not disappoint in representing the MSG during the 3-way match against the UAE’s Shaheen and Singapore’s Cheese Burger Kid. (I still burger the CBK, with matching burger hand gestures).
Another Pinoy wrestler who’s making waves (or should I say speeding his way through) the scene is Robin Sane, who faced ‘Scum Dawg’ Sage Matthews for the title of whose wrestling style can steal the show better. Both offered equal parts to the table. This match was just insane, Rob. Insane.
A match that I didn’t expect to appreciate very much was Hakai Mateo vs AFAM Steve. Look, if you tell me that someone booked 2 wrestlers who have a wide age gap against each other, I would be somewhat concerned, but this has become a gentleman’s match where Hakai gave Steve some leeway to whip out moves of equal weight as this otaku representative. Even the crowd was rooting for Steve to deal more damage to Hakai, as far as I saw it.
Nigel San Jose vs Ares got us at the edge of our seats — and at some instances, out of it. I will always appreciate wrestling brawls that carry their fight out of the ring and into the audience because it adds more spice that way.
Having gotten myself into the heckler’s row years ago, I was waiting for the crowd to chant how awesome the match was — that well-deserved recognition went to Best Bros vs Jomar & Crystal, showing the best of both Japanese Puroresu and Pinoy Wrestling in a single match.
Culminating the fights is Jake de Leon vs Ravena, which has a backstory that goes way back. The day before this match, JDL had just won against Ares, and suddenly this ‘influential influencer’ sent him a message to prepare for the time they meet again.
We didn’t get much of what Ravena’s trying to say, but we know it’s going to be a good match between the Bacolodnon and the Bisaya. This photo from that moment encapsulates the anticipation:
One look at the heckler’s row and it’s all Ravenatics booing out the fighting rooster – who, by the way, are much, much younger than this author. This is where I realize I’m way past my prime.
T’was not an easy fight for JDL as he was dealt blows from Ravena, but he still emerged victorious at the end. Just like Nigel vs Ares, this one also goes into the top matches at that location that weekend. The crowd cheers and the show ends, but not without a message from JDL about the vision of Philippine wrestling, and that he’s ready to face anyone who wants to stand up against him.
All wrestlers get into the ring for one group photo opportunity, and the night caps off. I left the venue carrying the energy and hope that Pinoy Wrestling gets more attention again.
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If he’s not watching wrestling or anime, Jay Agonoy observes how VTubing is growing as an industry as the current Editor and Publisher for VTuber NewsDrop.