The Midwest region of the US indie circuits has never been hotter, and right now the Chicago area is one of the top locations in the scene, with AAW Pro, Freelance Wrestling, GALLI Lucha, Zelo Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO1 USA and much more. Warrior Wrestling is one of the younger promotions, rising up in the Spring of 2018, but it’s made an impression quick, combining the best in area wrestlers alongside some national and international powerhouses. That trend continues on Saturday night with Warrior Wrestling 8, which will feature two War of Attrition matches, one for the Women’s Championship and one for the Warrior Heavyweight Championship. You can watch Warrior Wrestling 8 live on FITE.tv.
Preview: Warrior Wrestling 8 (2/15/20)
Alex Shelley vs. Ren Narita
New Japan Young Lion Ren Narita continues his North American excursion that has already seen him compete in Black Label Pro, Premiere Wrestling eXperience (PWX) and Bar Wrestling, and the 22-year old star-in-the-making gets a huge opportunity on Saturday night when he faces IMPACT & ROH legend Alex Shelley. Shelley made his return to pro wrestling last year and has had big fights as a freelancer, even reuniting with Time Splitter partner KUSHIDA in NXT.
WARHORSE vs. Robert Anthony w/ Frank the Clown
WARHORSE continues his amazing run of late, as the IWTV Independent Champion heads to Warrior Wrestling on Saturday night to face former Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) World Champion Robert “Ego” Anthony (aka Egotistico Fantastico). The ever annoying Frank the Clown will be in Anthony’s corner as WARHORSE looks to continue his winning ways.
The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel) vs. Stronghearts (CIMA, T-Hawk & El Lindaman)
A huge 6-man tag team that sees the full Rascalz trio from IMPACT Wrestling stepping in the ring with Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) squad Stronghearts, led by Japanese veteran CIMA. This has all the makings of match of the night.
Bárbaro Cavernario vs. Templario
Two of CMLL’s brightest stars face off one on one on Saturday night, as Bárbaro Cavernario, the reigning Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion, faces off against Templario in lucha libre action.
Jonathan Gresham vs. Daga
Ring of Honor‘s Jonathan Gresham locks up with IMPACT Wrestling’s Daga in an international dream match. Gresham has long been one of the best technical wrestlers in the United States and he faces one of Mexico’s top exports of the past year in Daga.
The North (Ethan Page & Josh Alexander) vs. Space Pirates (Shane Sabre & Space Monkey)
It’s an Alpha-1 reunion of sorts, as four Canadians face off in tag team action. The North are the reigning IMPACT World Tag Team Champions and they’re facing off against some fellow Canadians who have been making their own impact in the US Midwest in the Space Pirates duo of Shane Sabre & Space Monkey.
Bully Ray vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
Ring of Honor‘s Bully Ray has been antogonizing Brian Pillman Jr. for weeks now on Social Media, and on Saturday the Extreme legend faces off against one of Major League Wrestling (MLW)‘s biggest stars, in the Hart Foundation’s Pillman Jr.
War of Attrition for Warrior Women’s Championship: Tessa Blanchard (c) vs. Ray Lyn vs. Taya Valkyrie vs. Kylie Rae vs. Big Swole vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Madison Rayne vs. Britt Baker
Tessa Blanchard has her work cut out for her as she heads into a War of Attrition match to defend her Warrior Women’s Championship against some incredibily tough competition. Chicago’s own Kylie Rae is probably the favorite to win the gold, but there’s plenty of fight in the other women involved – Madison Rayne is a 5x IMPACT Knockouts Champion, Taya Valkyrie just had the longest Knockouts reign in history, Big Swole is now making waves in AEW alongside Dr. Britt Baker, and Tasha Steelz is a new face in the rebooted NWA. Ray Lyn may not have the accolades of the other women, but don’t discount her – she’s a longtime veteran of Ohio Valley Wrestling, RISE Wrestling, International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), and Women of Wrestling (WOW, as Chantilly Chella). She did a tour in Japan last year with Sendai Girls as well.
War of Attrition Match for the Warrior Championship: Andrew Everett vs. Alex Zayne vs. Black Taurus vs. Aramis vs. Sam Adonis vs. Lance Archer vs. Michael Elgin vs. ???
Former IMPACT World Champion Brian Cage was the inaugural Warrior Champion, but due to injury, he’s been forced to vacate his title. The second War of Attrition match will see the crowning of a new champion, with Cage on hand to present the belt. Andrew Everett has refound his groove after a few years with IMPACT, while Alex Zayne had a breakout year in 2019 with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). Mexico has two entrants in the match, as AAA’s Black Taurus and freelancer Aramis both make the journey to Chicago to find gold. Sam Adonis returns as well as NJPW’s Lance Archer and IMPACT’s Michael Elgin, to round out a fierce field for the War of Attrition.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. You can watch Warrior Wrestling 8 live on FITE.tv.
