Match Point is an on-going series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches. Today’s edition focuses on a massive eight man “War of Attrition” match to crown the inaugural Warrior Wrestling Champion, featuring eight massive superstars from the indies and WWE.
Warriors Wrestling (WW) is a new promotion out of Illinois, based in Chicago Heights, that just got its start this past May with it’s first event, that featured an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match between Nick Aldis and Sam Adonis, a Zelo Pro Women’s Championship match between champion Tessa Blanchard and Santana Garrett, plus matches featuring Alberto El Patron, Brian Cage, Pentagon Jr., Chelsea Green, and many more top indie stars. They return for Warriors 2 this Sunday, September 2, where they’ll crown their first WW Champion. It’s being contested in a War of Attrition match, featuring eight competitors that are a literal who’s who of some of the elite talent in the world of wrestling outside of the WWE.
#RAWTonight #WWERAW THIS SUNDAY. Chicago Heights. The craziest main event you've ever seen! If you're coming All In, STAY IN for an incredible show! Tickets at https://t.co/bb2K9Ms32C pic.twitter.com/6UBWf8EvHd
— Trouble is Brewing – Chicago – March 1st (@WarriorWrstlng) August 28, 2018
BRIAN CAGE
Pedigree: IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion (current), 2x WrestleCircus Ringmaster Champion (current), WrestleCircus Sideshow Champion (current), World Series Wrestling (WSW) Champion (Australia), Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Champion
“The F’N Machine” is exactly that. Athletically gifted for a man of his musculature, Cage is a wrecking machine and tearing up the indies, as well as appearing on TV with IMPACT Wrestling and Lucha Underground.
FENIX
Pedigree: AAA Mega Champion (current), Lucha Underground Champion, 2x LU Gift of the Gods Champion, AAW Heavyweight Champion, PWG World Tag Team Champion, The Crash Cruiserweight Champion, LU Trios Champion, MLW Tag Team Champion (current)
One of the most electric high flyers in the world, he wins gold as a singles or a tag partner alongside his brother, Pentagon Jr. This past Saturday, he won the AAA Mega Championship for the first time in career and is riding a momentum that’s carried through IMPACT, Lucha Underground, Major League Wrestling (MLW) and the rest of the world.
JEFF COBB
Pedigree: Lucha Underground Champion (as Matanza Cueto), PWG World Tag Team Champion
He may be one of the least decorated champions in the match, but Jeff Cobb has been an absolute shooting star on the indie scene the past two years. A hybrid between ECW Taz and Brock Lesnar, Cobb is an athletic powerhouse who can suplex you till the sun comes up.
AUSTIN ARIES
Pedigree: 3x IMPACT World Heavyweight Champion (current), 2x Ring of Honor World Champion, 6x IMPACT X-Division Champion, IPW:UK World Champion, Defiant Champion, WSW Heavyweight Champion (current), DEFY Champion, IMPACT Tag Team Champion, ROH Tag Team Champion
“The Belt Collector” will be looking to add another title to his trophy case. Following a muddled run with the WWE, Aries returned to the indie scene with a vengeance and is having arguably the most successful run of his career. He doesn’t look like he’s close to slowing down.
PENTAGON JR.
Pedigree: Lucha Underground Champion (current), IMPACT World Heavyweight Champion, 2x PCW ULTRA Heavyweight Champion (current), AAA Latin America Champion, AAW Heavyweight Champion, The Crash Cruiserweight Champion, PWG World Tag Team Champion, MLW Tag Team Champion (current), AAA World Tag Team Champion
Alongside his brother Fenix, Pentagon Jr. is one of the top stars in the indie world today. He appears on multiple television shows a week and works for just about every promotion outside of WWE, NJPW or ROH. Can go hardcore, aerial, technical or straight up lucha libre, not to mention having one of the coolest characters in years.
SAMMY GUEVARA
Pedigree: AAA World Cruiserweight Champion (current), WrestleCircus Sideshow Champion
One of the fastest rising young stars in pro wrestling, Sammy Guevara just won the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship this past Saturday at TripleMania XXVI. He’s exploded in the past year, working for MLW, IMPACT, DDT Pro in Japan, The Crash Lucha, AAA, and PWG, appearing in his first PWG Battle of Los Angeles in 2017.
RICH SWANN
Pedigree: WWE Cruiserweight Champion, 2x Full Impact Pro (FIP) World Champion, RevPro British Tag Team Champion, Dragon Gate Open The Owarai Gate Champion
One of the bright spots of WWE’s 205 Live division, Rich Swann held the WWE Cruiserweight Championship for 61 days. He returned to the indies and has signed with IMPACT Wrestling, where he’s showcasing the potential that many noted WWE was missing the boat on, with a MOTY candidate against Fenix. Now that the Swann has been unleashed, he’s going to show the world he can fly.
REY MYSTERIO
Pedigree: WWE Champion, 2x World Heavyweight Champion (WWE), 5x WCW Cruiserweight Champion, 2x WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3x WWE Cruiserweight Champion, The Crash Heavyweight Champion (current), 4x WWE Tag Team Champion, LU Trios Champion, 3x WCW Tag Team Champion, 3x WWA (Mexico) World Lightweight Champion, 3x WWA (Mexico) World Welterweight Champion.
Seriously. It’s Rey Mysterio. We all know who Rey Mysterio is.
For those who are going to ALL IN on Saturday in Chicago, it may be worth your while to head up down the I-75 W for about 45 minutes to Chicago Heights the next day and catch another killer line-up. Here’s a quick look at the rest of the card.
Frank the Clown & James Ellsworth vs. RJ City & David Arquette
Darby Allin vs. Jay Bradley
Sam Adonis vs. Colt Cabana
Black Label Pro Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Tessa Blanchard