IAPW Folks & Things We Enjoyed 2k22, Part 1
Last year we thought it would be a great idea to pay things forward and bring some eyes over to the people in wrestling and our lives in general, who are doing cool things and maybe get some more eyes on those people. So we created a Holiday Buyers Guide for 2k21. Well things happened, as they always seem to do, and we did not get this out in time. So instead of the shopping guide, Doug and I are just going to give you some names of some folks and companies we think you should keep an eye out for. These are folks that we not only have enjoyed, but also think do the right thing by everyone involved in professional wrestling. In part 1 we are acknowledging the wrestlers and promotions in that we really think fit the bill, and need to be highlighted. If you’re interested in other things we enjoyed last year check this out.
Wrestlers & Promotions:
Wrestlers:
This is definitely a biased list, as most of these wrestlers have come through our area in the last year and we just appreciate being able to see them live. However, these are also folks who have passed the eye test in the ring, insanely charismatic in their own ways, and seem to be legitimately good humans. Oh by the way, this is in no particular order, and we really appreciate everyone who steps in the ring in order to entertain our dumbasses.
Bryan Keith
If you don’t know Bryan Keith, now is the time to do so. Keith has been tearing up Texas for awhile, and now has been making his way up to the Great Lakes, Great Plains, and West Coast regions where he has been lights out. The man has insane abilities in-ring, and in the next few years should be one of everyone’s favorites on weekly TV if not sooner. He also just absolutely killed the West Coast this last weekend wrestling an insane match against Black Taurus for West Coast Pro, and then made it to semifinals in PWG’s annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament. This right here folks is the man.
Heidi Howitzer (aka Wrecking Ball in WOW)
Howitzer is brash, truly grating, and just will not shut the fuck up and that is why we love her. Whenever she is near the ring all focus goes to her, and if starts to drift elsewhere she will make sure it comes right back. This has proved to be a recipe for success as it has allowed Heidi to have an outstanding year, in which she has run wild all over Texas, the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and Las Vegas. This all capped off with now being a part of Women of Wrestling (WOW), and a match in Korakuen Hall on January 4, 2022 for Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW) with one of her tag team partners, Max the Impaler.
Cody Devine
Not a whole lot can be said about Cody other than he’s a real piece of shit. Literally he fucking sucks, he whines constantly, blows obnoxious plumes out his vape “rig”, cheats whenever he can, has a false sense entitlement, and just has a stupid face. This is a guy that no one could ever get behind or root for, which makes him absolutely fantastic. Doug and I have been watching Cody in the Denver area since we first started going to shows, and he has always provoked nothing more than guttural hate from the both of us. Throughout the years we have watched him get better and better in the ring, while all the while wanting him to get his comeuppance each and every time. He is a huge sleeper talent in the Denver area, and once healthy again needs to be on everyone’s radar locally, regionally, and nationally. #BookCodyDevine
West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)
West Coast Wrecking Crew (WCWC) is the next big time American tag team, and I mean that with all of my heart. WCWC has been prominently featured as part of Team Filthy in New Japan Pro Wrestling’s United States promotion, NJPW Strong, and the preeminent tag team to wrestle on the west coast wrestling for West Coast Pro, Prestige, Lucha Libre and Laughs, Hoodslam, Defy, and made their Pro Wrestling Guerrilla debut. Both Isaacs and Jorel Nelson are amazing performers in the ring. They both have amazing strength, agility, stamina, foot work and presence. If I was to describe their style I would say hunky strong-style.Their matches are hard hitting, fast paced, and well executed. However, they are not just two guys out there trying to beat the hell out of the other team, they are also insanely charismatic, and have no problem making a match fun.
I have been a fan of Royce since the first time I saw at a Lucha Libre and Laughs show nine or so years ago. He stood out to me that night above all of the other “locals” as far as presence, look and footwork. He has always been Doug and I’s boy, and being able to see him have the year that he has had as a tag and singles competitor (NJPW G1 Tour with Tom Lawlor, GCW Bloodsport, and a match against Minoru Suzuki at Lucha Libre and Laughs) is truly amazing.
Both Royce and Jorel have accomplished so many amazing things in the last year, and knowing that this is only the jump off point is really exciting to see.
- Jorel Nelson
- Royce Isaacs
- Merchandise- New Japan Store
- Merchandise-PWT
Sandra Moone
The Rock was happy that Sandra enjoy’s Applebees beverages featuring his spirits. That’s it, that is all I have to say. I should also mention that Sandra is easily one of the best wrestlers I witnessed live this last year. Her and Dark Sheik had an incredible, technical match last year at Lucha Libre and Laughs, that I consider to be one of the best matches I have ever witnessed live. Sandra has spent most of her time in the Las Vegas desert, however she also made multiple appearances for West Coast Pro, Prestige, Hoodslam, Without A Cause (WAC) in the west, and she is also used regularly for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) all around the midwest. Moone is an insane worker, who is definitely putting in the time and work to really hone in the craft of professional wrestling, and in a year or so could be very much a household name.
Dark Sheik
2022 was the year of Dark Sheik. If you were to look at a GCW card in the last six months it almost always featured Sheik near the top of the card. While currently working as part of Thrussy with Allie Katch, and Effy, she is a part of one of the best stories going in wrestling. Doug and I have been lucky to see her live multiple times, and each and every time she has had one of the best matches of the night. Everything Sheik does in the ring makes sense, has a purpose, and is a part of the story, a true wrestler. If you go back to the archives we covered her match against Joey Janela in “GCW’s Devil in a New Dress”, which was one of our favorite homeworks from last year, listen here. Oh, and she also runs Hoodslam, which is probably one of the most “eccentric” promotions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Howletts (Anaya & Hoodie)
The Howletts, Anaya and Hoodie Howlett, are pure beef. Our history with them is very similar to that of Royce Isaacs of the West Coast Wrecking Crew, we saw them a handful of years ago in Denver, and knew there was something there. The Howletts are just a force in the ring, every movement is full of destruction and pure power. Both Hoodie and Anaya have been up and down the western states in the past, but currently base themselves out on the Great Plains. They are also both trainers at KC Pro Wrestling Academy in Kansas City.
- Anaya
- Hoodie
- Merchandise-PWT
Blake Christian
I went on and on and on about Blake Christian here about his early 2022. Blake started out strong last year, and never really seemed to slow down whatsoever. I made a proclamation in my piece about Blake possibly being the next Will Ospreay, and I still stand by it. Blake at age 25, has all the building blocks to be an international superstar, and he is putting in the work to get there. While currently signed with Ring of Honor, he has had plenty of opportunity to wrestle great talent under the AEW umbrella, as well still making shows for some of the most predominate independent promotions in the nation (NJPW Strong, GCW, Black Label Pro, West Coast Pro, Revolver, Warrior Wrestling, etc.).
Austin Reddick
Austin Reddick is a hunk. But not only is Reddick a hunk, but he is a damn fine wrestler to boot. We were introduced to Austin this year, and were blown away by his abilities in the ring. I personally always look at footwork (I’m a creep) in the ring as it tells me about the wrestler’s proficiency and ring awareness, and Austin’s footwork is amazing. While Reddick is certainly great at his craft, harnessing a modern Funk style, he is also a great character. When he steps out from behind the curtain you know exactly who he is, and what he is out to do which is something that can be missing for some wrestlers. Austin should be a staple on all regional Rocky Mountain, and Great Plains cards.
Billie Starkz
There are a handful of youngins on the independents right now that have been garnering quite a bit of attention. Nick Wayne, Jordan Oliver, and of course Billie Starkz. To say that Billie eats, sleeps, and breathes wrestling is an understatement. While still a student in high school, Starkz has been a constant on major independent cards throughout the United States. She has been prominently featured in GCW, Black Label Pro, Revolver, AAW, F1rst Wrestling, West Coast Pro, and even made a trip to Japan to wrestle for TJPW. While Billie is certainly on most everyone’s radar right now, I just feel she needs a little recognition. Plus she is also one of the top wrestlers out there that I would love to see live.
Dak Draper
Dak is another one of those local guys that Doug and I saw years ago and were floored by his presence, and presence he has. The man is a literal physical specimen. If you were to ask someone you work with to describe what a professional wrestler looks like, they would almost certainly describe Draper. But Dak is not just a body guy. He is also incredibly gifted in the ring, hence his previous work in Ring Of Honor, and his current work in the NWA. Dak can easily be on your television soon, and if so we should be lucky to be blessed in his presence.
Konosuke Takeshita
Look, when I first came up with this list it was before our sweet boy got signed to AEW, and also definitely before that Danielson match so cut me some slack. There’s nothing really to say about Takeshita that hasn’t already been mentioned by everyone else. All I can say is that from the first time I saw him in a ring in the United States, I was absolutely gobsmacked. For me it was like witnessing Kota Ibushi, or Kenny Omega for the first time. This on top of the fact that he is easily one of the sweetest boys on Twitter just makes it impossible for you not to love him. Doug and I also reviewed a fantastic match of early Takeshita tagging with Tetsuya Endo in DDT against the aforementioned Ibushi and Omega. Listen here if you want.
Willow Nightingale
When it was announced this was my favorite TK signing of 2022 to AEW. Willow is someone who we started paying attention to in late 2021 with her appearances in SHIMMER, MLW, Beyond, and Ring of Honor. Willow continued to gain a lot of notoriety on the independent scene in 2022, without the GCW bump that many have used. The thing that stands out to me about Willow though is that she is different, but in all the best ways possible. She has the ability to get anyone in the crowd out their seat whether it be for her character, or her performance in the ring. She is a star.
Promotions:
The promotions that we are featuring here follow into two categories. They are either local to the Denver area and we have had a splendid time going to their shows, so we would highly recommend you go see them if you’re in the area, or they are promotions that became new to us last year and everything we have seen from them has been high caliber, and should get some notoriety.
Lucha Libre and Laughs
Lucha Libre and Laughs has been our home promotion since we started going to local shows. The shows at The O are always well done, and highly entertaining. LLL highlights local wrestling and comedic talent from around the Rocky Mountain Region, as well as both amazing national and international talent!
New Era Wrestling
New Era has been around the Denver area for eleven years and over that time provided a great family first experience. Running previously out of the beautiful Mile High Comics, New Era has found a new home at the Castle Event Center. New Era features excellent local talent from the Rocky Mountain Region, and provides an ongoing storyline similar to that of old Chikara shows.
Primos Premier Pro Wrestling
Primos is the longest running independent promotion in all of Colorado, and without it there would not be much of a scene in the region. Almost all of the homegrown talent in Colorado either trained at Primos’ Butcher Shop or came directly from Primos itself. Primos prides itself on being extremely progressive with its LGBTQ+ and women’s shows, and their annual deathmatch tournament, Slave to the Deathmatch.
West Coast Pro Wrestling
We are west coast bias, why? Well let’s face it, the west coast style has been the true style of independent wrestling for the last ten plus years. No matter where you are you see insane lucha/puro/catch/spot style pull in and hold crowd’s attention, and other than PWG, West Coast Pro is the premier exporter of this style. Every card they put on is a who’s-who of the hottest wrestlers on the international and national scene. Also the State Room is maybe one of coolest looking venues on the entire scene.
Enjoy Wrestling
This was a promotion that was just introduced to us this year, and while we are nowhere near any of their live shows we have been blown away by their ability to book talent, produce great matches, and create an amazing YouTube show. Enjoy, based primarily out of Pittsburgh, features some of the best independent and AEW talent with a highly progressive LGBTQ+ stance on what wrestling can and should be. It is our favorite promotion that ran along the East Coast this last year.
