On Saturday night, the Prairie Wrestling Alliance hosts PWA Adrenalize, the promotion’s final show in Edmonton prior to next month’s Night of Champions XVII. With a number of marquee matchups announced - including the unexpected return of the Western Lions following what was expected to be a lengthy hiatus - Adrenalize promises to be yet another stellar showing from Alberta’s longest-running independent wrestling promotion.
With the Prairie Wrestling Alliance just over a month away from one of it’s biggest shows in its history, let’s get caught up to speed with all the current goings-on around the PWA.
PWA Adrenalize Match Card:
Match cards are subject to change
- Brayden Parsons vs. Kenny Stryker
- Maxton Flexwell vs. Mephisto
- Zoë Sager vs. Kylie Morgan
- The Western Lions (Michael Richard Blais/Brandon Van Danielson) vs. The Millennial Rebels (Kenneth Anthony/Colton Kelly)
- PWA Mayhem Championship Match (2-out-of-3 falls) - “The Thickness” Reid Matthews© vs. “Spaceman” Beri Grayson
- #1 Contender Match - The PWA Original Marky vs. Sheik Akbar Shabaz
Sheik, Marky to Meet One-on-One
PWA Champion Michael Allen Richard Clark isn’t currently advertised for a match at Adrenalize; however, that doesn’t mean there won’t be title implications on Saturday night. Two former champions will face off on Saturday as The PWA Original Marky takes on Sheik Akbar Shabaz in a match to determine the #1 contender to Clark’s championship.
Since Marky’s return to the PWA at the Resolution Rumble, both he and Shabaz have been inseparable - for better or for worse. The two both tagged together earlier this year and battled in the classic TLC Fatal Four-Way at PWA18 in which Shabaz emerged victorious. However, this marks the pairs’ first one-on-one matchup since the PWA Original’s return. Marky has been relentless in his pursuit of the PWA’s top title since returning to the promotion; however, this also represents Shabaz’s first step in reclaiming the championship that he never should have lost just under a month ago. It’s an unstoppable force against an immovable object, with the only guarantee being of an excellent match.
The Thickness Defends
Saturday night will also see the PWA Mayhem Championship defended in a 2-out-of-3 falls match between challenger “Spaceman” Beri Grayson and reigning champion “The Thickness” Reid Matthews. Matthews has been on fire since claiming the title from Kenneth Anthony in February; an instant classic at the 18th-Anniversary show against blood nemesis Colton Kelly established the King of Thick Style as one of the premier talents in the PWA, and he’s been every bit the fighting champion advertised. However, Grayson has been gaining steam since debuting late last year; in fact, his Mayhem Championship opportunity represents his second title match in less than a week following an unsuccessful challenge for the RCW Commonwealth Championship last weekend in Gibbons. Additionally, the stipulation could potentially favour the more agile Grayson should the match go on longer than expected. Could the Spaceman get his first taste of championship gold? Or, will the Thickness veteran savvy lead to his hand being raised on Saturday?
Singles Action
A number of marquee singles matchups will take place on Saturday night, including the aforementioned Marky/Shabaz and Matthews/Grayson matchups.
A first-time matchup with huge Night of Champions XVII implications will take place on Saturday night between the League’s Brayden Parsons and Kenny Stryker of the Above Average Joes. Following their victory over Bodybreak last month, Stryker and his partner, Aiden Adams, are set to take on Parsons and Davey O’Doyle for the PWA Tag Team Championships at Night of Champions. On Saturday, the winner of the Parsons/Stryker match will get to select the stipulation for next month’s title match. It’s as close to a must-win matchup for Stryker as can be; with the League’s Kylie Morgan giving the faction a numbers advantage that’s already sure to factor into June 22nd’s championship bout, the right to select the stipulation for the battle could not only level the playing field for the Above Average Joes but tilt the scales in their favour.
Speaking of the League’s manager, both she and Zoë Sager have quickly made names for themselves as two of the fastest-rising stars in Alberta’s women’s scene. The pair of Storm trainees have faced off against each other in tag team action; however, this will represent the first singles clash between the two. Personally, it’s a match I’m incredibly interested in; Morgan’s incredibly savvy for someone who so recently debuted, while Sager’s never-say-die attitude has not only established her as a fan favourite across Alberta but a feared in-ring competitor. It’s hard to bet against someone who’s consistently pushed Kat Von Heez to the limit, but Morgan’s wily instincts have proven exceedingly effective thus far through her wrestling career.
Finally, Maxton Flexwell will take on the monstrous Mephisto in what can only be described as the biggest test of his emerging career. Flexwell’s been incredibly impressive since debuting in the PWA, with stellar performances in both a PWA Commonwealth Championship scramble at the 18th-Anniversary show and a Tag Team Championship shot with Mo Jabari under his belt. However, Saturday’s matchup is his first real opportunity to establish himself in singles action. In Mephisto, Flexwell is challenging a two-time PWA Champion in his own right, and someone also looking to prove himself following an extended absence from the promotion. With someone as ripped as Flexwell, a David vs. Goliath matchup isn’t a perfect comparison for Saturday’s singles action, but it’s not inaccurate, either.
The Western Lions Return
Perhaps the most surprising addition to the PWA Adrenalize card is the advertised matchup between the Millennial Rebels and the Western Lions.
The future of the Lions has been one of the most talked-about subjects in independent wrestling since Michael Richard Blais‘ announcement last month that both he and Brandon Van Danielson would be taking a break from the promotion for the foreseeable future. However, a ruthless beatdown and subsequent haircut at the hands of Kenneth Anthony and Colton Kelly inspired both the Western Lions to make an appearance in Calgary on May 4th and Edmonton commissioner Thaddeus Archer III to book a match between the Lions and the Rebels. While it was uncertain that the match would take place, Blais confirmed recently that the Western Lions would, in fact, be in Edmonton. Not only will two pairs of blood rivals now face off on May 18th, but two of the most dominant factions in PWA history. Buckle up, wrestling fans - this should be a doozy.
Tickets for PWA Adrenalize are still available through the PWA office, as well as at PWA sponsors Paws: The Cat Cafe and Variant Edition Comics. Tickets will also be available at the door for an increased price.
Last 5:
- Conversations With Love 15: A Conversation with Cody Chimera
- Last Week in Alberta Wrestling: May 7 – 13, 2019
- Dirty, Inc: How Mike Jones Built an Alberta Wrestling Empire
- RCW Recap and Reactions: 16th-Anniversary Show, May 4, Edmonton
- Something to Prove: tagSTRUGGLE’s Journey Back to the Top
