Hello Wrestling Friends, JCH here as part of our awards season we wanted to highlight the people we’d seen for the first time this year, obviously we couldn’t have it as a true award as it was different for all of us, so here are the people who caught our attention for the first time in 2018.
Our nominations follow... we recommend you check out these wrestlers!
JCH - MADISON EAGLES
I don’t watch a lot of Indy wrestling on TV, I’m very spoilt here in London and have three promotions I attend regularly as well as others that tour in and a lot more that I want to get to in the future.
The benefit of this is I am often happily surprised by someone I’ve never seen before even if they are an established talent. This year I had the pleasure for the first time of seeing Madison Eagles wrestle. As a bonus it was at Pro Wrestling Eve She-1 - so I got to see her wrestle four times in two days!
If you read my She-1 recap piece, then some of this will be repeating myself! The combination of her music and look created an aura before the bell even rang and I wasn’t disappointed when it did. In the opening match she bent Jamie Hayter every which way she did with a series of great submissions with fluid transitions and the vicious kind of one inch kick thing where she holds up and waits for the opponent to uncover looks violent.
Just fantastic and after hearing her announced for the SHIMMER show over Mania weekend, I am 95% sure I will going now. I need to pick up some M.E merch! Also my new dream match is Madison Eagles vs Zack Sabre Jr.
Quick mention to the Super Smash Bros who I saw in Attack! just before Christmas. They were a bloody great tag team who absolutely smashed it (sorry) when I saw them. Also one of them had the best abs I’ve seen at the Dome since Matt Riddle, February 2017.
ROSS - SHINGO
I had never seen him before and his NJPW debut was a big deal -I bloody love a mask reveal. Especially when it's a Sting mask to reveal Sting wearing a Sting mask.
His facials are amazing and being a ‘big guy’ in the junior division makes him look devastating in the ring. I love old school squashes and at times seeing him rag doll those smaller guys reminds me of Sid beating up ham and eggers.
I immediately loved him and am excited for his future in the company. Also, wrestlers that use no lower case letters are always bad ass. I might pick them extensively in the 2019 pick ems... (edit: I didn't pick KUSHIDA, and I won with Ishimori at WK13 - sometimes I lie.)
PETE - DANIEL BRYAN
Now, I have obviously seen him wrestle a lot before but 2018 was the first time I saw him live in person. He didn’t even wrestle, just put Big Cass in a heel hook - but it was really cool being able to see that.
The news that he had been cleared came out of nowhere for me but I knew I had to see him at the first opportunity I could. Next time I’ll see a full match live in person!
DOM - “BORN IN AMERICA, BUT MADE IN YOUR MUM” KRIS WOLF
How could this not be my favourite new wrestler I saw in 2018? I managed to get to the last two shows of the Pro Wrestling EVE She-1 tournament and didn’t really have an idea about what to expect.
I was absolutely blown away by the unique atmosphere in the Resistance Gallery, but one new face really stood out and that was Kris Wolf. If you had said to me that there was a gimmick in 2018 where a wrestler actually “is” a dog, I'd probably have turned my nose up in disgust until I saw Wolf.
She’s a ball of energy, hilarious and an incredible athlete. A hidden gem of the British Independent scene. I think for anyone else who hasn’t seen her, the best way I could describe her work is like the song Ambling Alp by Yeasayer or the film Home Alone; It’s pretty much impossible not to smile during a Kris Wolf match!
SHADOW - KEITH LEE
I saw Keith Lee at Epic Encounter which was my first big UK live event. After seeing the likes of Matt Riddle, Will Ospreay, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. and Travis Banks for the first time and being absolutely amazed I didn't think anything would be too eye-opening in the main event when Tomohiro Ishri and Keith Lee came out.
I Just thought it would be a couple of big old guys, who would work the crowd but not really do any moves to write home about. How wrong was I?! Keith Lee performed moves that I have never seen a 300 plus pounder pull off.
I was stunned by the man's agility and pace for his size. Next thing I know, I am chanting as loud as possible about basking in his glory with the rest of the crowd!
RYAN - JEFF COBB
Jeff Cobb was immense at CHAOS. Powerful & agile throughout the match. Even came back out after the show with a busted nose after a 450 from James Drake!
REV PRO ROB - GREAT O'KHARN
You talk about your Psalms, your John 3.16 - Well Grey 3.16 says “AND STILL UNDEFEATED”
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love the variety of this and it shows how much fun wrestling can be in so many different ways...
Keep having fun wrestling fans - and check out all these great wrestlers if you get the chance!
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