Philippine Wrestling Revolution ends 2014 on high note with ‘Terminus’

Nissi Icasiano

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Philippine Wrestling Revolution ends 2014 on high note with ‘Terminus’
The Philippine Wrestling Revolution closed 2014 with its second event, growing its reputation as a sports entertainment company on the rise

MANILA, Philippines – In every sports organization, it is of utmost importance to close out the year on a high-note climax. Culminating it with a bang sends a message that it is not only here to stay but also what to anticipate in the coming year.

Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) staged its second event dubbed “Terminus” last Saturday, December 13 at the Makati Cinema Square Arena in Makati City, Metro Manila. It featured a six-match card that was headlined by a surprise tag team contest, pitting the duo of Bombay Suarez and “The Senyorito” Jake De Leon against “Classical” Bryan Leo and Main Maxx.

If its first event PWR made it clear that professional wrestling in the country is alive and kicking, the second outing demonstrated how the sports entertainment company is vindictively tethered on local shores.

Ken Warren vs. Chris Panzer II

Similar to boxing, it will be most likely that the first fight will run contrary to a rematch. If the initial encounter between Ken Warren and Chris Panzer dwelled on back-and-forth trades, the second meeting had its dramatic moments, which added flavor to the action.

Instead of putting his face immediately on Panzer, Warren delivered a promo, conducting an impromptu poll on what the crowd would want as a conclusion of their rematch. Soon after, the man known as “The Social Media Sinister” mounted offense versus his foe from Detroit City, delivering a crossbody from top rope and a series of well-timed dropkicks.

Warren punished Panzer with a Stinger splash and a baseball slide while his opponent was hanging inversely in the corner. Panzer worked on his counter attacks, converting Warren’s suplex attempt into a high-impact DDT.

Panzer comfortably sat in the driver’s seat after delivering a hard spinebuster and locking an inverted Indian facelock, or Muta Lock, on Warren. 

Warren was able to get back where he started as he pounced his Wi-Fi finisher, but Panzer kicked out before the count of the three.

After barely evading the next two Wi-Fi assaults from Warren, Panzer was able to hit the Panzerschreck, a running kick to the head, to get the 1-2-3.

Ken Warren was undisputedly the performer of the night. His mat skills went along with his mastery of the mic. He exhibited his brilliance in transitioning in offense. He even tried to provoke the crowd in attendance, but Warren was not very successful. The drawback sometimes of being a superbly talented villain is that the crowd often can’t help but love you.

Grade: A

Main Maxx vs. Kanto Terror and PWR fan Mark D. Manalo

This handicap match has its pros and cons. Let us take a look at the upside. Nelson Borman Jr. was originally scheduled to team up with the beer-drinking figure Kanto Terror so as to bring comic relief to the event. 

Unfortunately, Nelson Borman Jr. and his baller persona failed to show up. Due to his absence, PWR discovered a gold mine in Mark D. Manalo, a fan who was wearing a polo shirt made famous by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza. Manalo injected humor by impersonating a cowardly provincial simpleton, but he blew away the crowd when he did Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Stunner on Main Maxx.

The result was humorous and had everybody laughing in the end, but in my perspective, it dented Main Maxx’s menacing character. He portrays an invincible force who is ready to impose punishment on anyone who gets in his way. Positioning him in a mediocre segment was too premature. I would have preferred seeing him more as a vicious antagonist. At least, Main Maxx still came out on top by slamming one of his opponents with a sitout two-handed chokeslam.

Grade: C

“Classical” Bryan Leo vs. Bombay Suarez

The much-awaited duel between “Classical” Bryan Leo and Bombay Suarez was supposed to take place towards the end of the show, but surprisingly, it happened midstream of the program when Leo along with his beautiful valet Scarlett made their way to the ring and preached in relation to everything that is wrong about being in a third-world nation.

Bombay Suarez tries to attack "Classical" Bryan Leo as Leo feigns a neck injury. Photo by Reema Castillo/PWR

However, Suarez interrupted Leo’s spiel and challenged him into a match at that moment instead of waiting for the main event.

The confrontation between Leo and Suarez was not a typical wrestling match because it developed a dramatic brawl that made use of its surroundings as a tool to perfection.

Both men scuffled outside the ring, prompting security to intervene. Paramedics were called in when Leo faked a neck injury after receiving a swinging sidewalk slam from Suarez.

Although the match resulted in a no contest, new authority figure Stan Sy made announcement that Leo and Suarez would face each other later that night and urged them to find respective tag team partners.

Grade: B+

Mayhem Brannigan vs. The Apocalypse in a Falls Count Anywhere match

If you think the No Holds Barred match at PWR: Renaissance was barbaric, the sports-entertainment company turned it up a notch higher at PWR: Terminus as Mayhem Brannigan and The Apocalypse in a Falls Count Anywhere contest.

Since the stipulation of this match stated the Brannigan would be reinstated in the PWR roster if he could pull off the elusive win against Apocalypse, the masked crowd-favorite attacked the six-foot leviathan outside the confines of the ring right away.

Brannigan and Apocalypse exchanged blows at the balcony of the Makati Cinema Square Arena and even slamming their bodies on the concrete floor. Seemingly not content with that, both men used Singaporean canes and thumbtacks to inflict torture.

High-risk maneuvers were also seen as Brannigan executed a senton splash from the ring apron, while Apocalypse returned the favor by delivering an over-the-top suicide dive.

Despite Bryan Leo’s interference, Brannigan walked out victorious when he impaled Apocalypse with the Rock N Roll finisher.

Grade: B

“The Senyorito” Jake De Leon vs. John Sebastian in a PWR Boot Camp Challenge

This past October, PWR held its Boot Camp, where the organization’s resident wrestlers trained aspirants who were interested in becoming part of the local wrestling scene.

One of the first graduates of the aforementioned training program stepped up the plate as John Sebastian locked horns with “The Senyorito” Jake De Leon.

Sebastian had no qualms punishing De Leon as he clobbered a neckbreaker out of nowhere and a Stinger splash in the corner. The rookie consistently toyed his senior as he slammed De Leon with a hard spinebuster before spiking a reverse DDT.

However, De Leon’s experience played a pivotal factor moments later as the 5-foot-5 native of Negros Occidental pacified Sebastian with a rolling senton and sent the newcomer home with a disappointing defeat courtesy of his Alipin Drop.

It looks like John Sebastian has a bright future ahead of him as he can perfectly execute his moves and sell his strikes. Together with his resolute persona, his go-getter attitude in the ring will work in his favor.

Meanwhile, Jake De Leon has totally detached from Sebastian. He has chosen to occupy another level with his performance at PWR: Terminus. Despite his bulky physique, he is able to perform various in-ring theatrics in an unthinkable manner.

Grade: B

Bombay Suarez and Jake De Leon vs. Bryan Leo and Main Maxx

Even as the ongoing tension between Bombay Suarez and Bryan Leo was forestalled earlier in the night, the backyard wrestling stalwart had the last laugh in the main event as he tapped Jake De Leon to be his tag team partner against the Classical One, who in turn chose Main Maxx to be his ally.

Suarez and De Leon had an infamous opening salvo as the pair surprisingly sprayed red mists on their opponents’ faces and immediately dictated the pace of the proceedings by exploiting Leo with a Flapjack-Cutter tag team maneuver identified as the Dudley Death Drop.

However, Leo was able to gain leverage of the match, scolding De Leon with a sharp shooter and a different variation of a figure-four leglock.

Main Maxx joined the fiasco by twisting De Leon’s neck with an alligator roll, but when The Senyorito tagged in Suarez, the twosome nailed super kicks to bring down the humongous grappler.

Suarez made a tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero by scooping Leo with the tres amigos or a triple vertical suplex before going after Main Maxx with a tiger feint kick.

At PWR: Terminus, fans witnessed a face turn as Apocalypse went out to settle his score with Main Maxx for his come-from-behind attack from the last show and take Leo’s partner out of the picture.

With Leo standing alone in the ring, Suarez and De Leon retaliated with a combination finisher of KOTD and the Alipin Drop to claim the pinfall and allow Mayhem Brannigan to officially sign his reinstatement contract on Leo’s cataleptic body.

In principle, Bombay Suarez and Jake De Leon vs. Bryan Leo and Main Maxx was the first tag team match of PWR that turned out astoundingly on its pilot run. The story was interpreted and executed excellently, and did not rely on high spots. There was a give and take in momentum, making room to control the audience’s emotions.

Adding beauty to the outcome was the creative executions of moves, where performers showed off multiple facets of unbridled skills. There was fluidity in movement, with each one mindful of continuity. 

Grade: A+

Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!