2018 was probably the best year ever for women’s wrestling in North America. Stars like Tessa Blanchard took center stage, and events such as WWE‘s Evolution got fans everywhere excited to see women wrestle. But it wasn’t just the big name promotions. Indie promotions played, arguably, an even greater role in showcasing the best that women’s wrestling has to offer and pushing it to new limits. RISE Wrestling ended the year by hosting a record-breaking and headline-grabbing 75-minute iron man match. And Booker T‘s Reality of Wrestling (ROW) closed 2018 by hosting its fourth women-only event of the year (click here to watch its stellar main event). This Saturday, the two promotions will collaborate to bring us ROW on the RISE, featuring four announced matchups.
Rachael Ellering vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Shotzi Blackheart has wrestled many matches for RISE. She is the former Phoenix of RISE title holder, and competed for the Guardians of RISE tag team titles in the last show, RISE 10. Rachael Ellering, a former powerlifter, will be wrestling her first solo match in RISE after two tag team appearances. Both women are well-traveled, accomplished competitors, appearing in promotions such as SHINE, NOVA, and SHIMMER. They are also both making their debut with Reality of Wrestling.
Delilah Doom vs. Su Yung
IMPACT Wrestling veteran Rosemary is lurking in the background of this picture, although she is not officially in the match. This may be because Su Yung’s rivalry with Rosemary could play into this matchup. It may also be because Rosemary has decided she is not finished with Delilah Doom. During RISE 10, Delilah and Shotzi challenged Rosemary’s friends, Paradise Lost, for the Guardians of RISE championship. The “Rosemary’s Rules” stipulation of the match ultimately cost Delilah’s team the victory. Although Rosemary’s involvement is unclear, this matchup threatens to be a show-stealer without her. The endlessly charismatic Delilah is a former Phoenix of RISE champion, and Su Yung has wrestled in some of Reality of Wrestling’s most dynamic matches.
Guardians of RISE Tag Team Championship: Paradise Lost vs. The Killer Death Machines
Paradise Lost is the harrowing team of Dust and Raven’s Ash. They are the inaugural Guardians of RISE Tag Team Champions, and have successfully defended the belts three times. Perhaps their biggest victory thus far was against the Twisted Sisters (Holidead and Thunder Rosa). The Killer Death Machines will present their biggest challenge to date. Twin powerhouses Jessicka Havok and Nevaeh have been teaming together since 2014, at promotions such as SHIMMER, Queens of Combat, and Rockstar Pro Amped. Rosemary will once again be in Paradise Lost’s corner for ROW on the RISE, and she may prove to be the difference maker.
Phoenix of RISE Championship: Kylie Rae vs. Mercedes Martinez
The crowd will almost certainly be firmly on the side of the challenger, Kylie Rae, during the final match. Kylie was ROW’s fastest rising star in 2017. A former ROW Diamonds championship holder, she has since taken the wrestling world by storm. Most recently, she defeated Kimber Lee for the AAW Women’s title in a main event barnburner. However, she has not had quite the success in RISE that she has had in other promotions. Home field advantage may spur her to take down Mercedes Martinez. One of the most respected wrestlers in North America, Mercedes has held many championships. She defeated Tessa Blanchard in an iron man match for the Phoenix of RISE title, and this will be her first defense.
Also announced for ROW on the RISE are RISE mainstays Saraya Knight and The Killer Baes (Laura James and Heather Monroe). You can find tickets for ROW on the RISE here. Video on demand streaming for RISE 10, and other preceding events, can be found at RISEASCENT.com
