NEW HORIZONS PRO WRESTLING
… and Now For Something Completely Different
Written by: Michael Lee - New Horizons Pro Wrestling
The rush of performing to the masses transcends many genres. At the Cockburn Youth Centre last Saturday, the crowd was vast, the night young & hundreds of people were patiently waiting for music to start… just not for a concert.
NEW HORIZONS PRO WRESTLING (NHPW) have been hosting events throughout Western Australia for the better part of thirteen years. When it comes to the community it has amassed, some people have been around since day dot while others discover the magic in their own time but it feels like they were always there. After the pandemic hindered the entertainment industry of endless gatherings & creative outlets, NHPW’s ‘Final Chapter’ event was a send off to 2020 but simultaneously a return to the public eye as it was the first time in over seven months that fans could attend a live wrestling show without the need for social distancing or health concerns.
Seven matches made up this action-packed night of climactic showdowns, three of which revolved around a tournament to crown a new champion after the previous holder couldn’t cross the interstate border safely to defend the title.
SEMI-FINAL TOURNAMENT MATCH - CANNON CONNORS def. SALEM SIXX: Two men in regular conflict throughout their careers, however this night was for a chance at a grander prize in NHPW that neither had ever obtained.
WAR def. ANTHONY DRAKE: Two NHPW rookies who both started their careers at the same time last year out to prove not only their individual worth but their threat to the rest of the roster.
SEMI-FINAL TOURNAMENT MATCH - MATTEW PACE def. GORGEOUS GARRY: Two veterans of the sport. One who personifies the glitz, glamour & showmanship wrestling can provide an audience, the other a no nonsense brawler who pays crowds no mind driven only by the win.
TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - THE FUTURE LEGENDS (C) def. THE WRECKING CREW: A clash of the old guard versus the new as the 80’s throwbacks The Wrecking Crew did battle with two younger stars who had newly formed as a team yet were still the champions to beat.
WARRIOR RISING CHAMPIONSHIP CAGE MATCH - CREEK MURDOCK (C) def. JEBEDIAH: Two men once considered brothers who after wrestling as a team almost their entire careers had finally fractured believing the other to have lost their way & settling their issues in an ultra-violent match of their own design. Trap your opponent in a barbed wire cage, close the lid & close off that chapter of your life, proving you were the better man.
HYBRID CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS - CANNON CONNORS def. MATTEW PACE: Fatigued & battle weary from their previous fights, both competitors were desperate to win the vacant Hybrid Championship. After Connors defeated Pace in the finals, Salem Sixx attacked Connors from behind in response to his lose at the start of the show & ripped off Connors mask which had previously defined his character.
ART OF FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ MATCH - ROGAN KARGUIS (C) def. LENA KROSS: Two of NHPWs biggest success stories trained together from the ground-up, plagued by the question of who is the best. Rogan had never defeated Kross 1-1 in his career (even losing a previous championship to her once). After their previous match ended in a 30min draw, both wrestlers wished to leave no doubt who is truly deserved to be called champion. Despite winning the match on his own merit, the question seems to remain after Rogan’s teammates aligned with Kross, ousting him from his own group.
After an evening of stories being told through victories & betrayals, the impact from each match built upon itself leaving eagerness & anticipation for 2021 & new chapters to be written. While we've all tried to accustomise to 'new normals' with intimate settings & increased online activity to keep the entertainment industry & our collective creativities alive, last week felt like the reward we all needed for months of biding our time with the promise that the mood for 2021 is that of change & we're only just getting started. How will you choose to renew & #Reload for 2021?
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