REVIEW: Pro Wrestling EVE - Halloween Forever
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
Pro Wrestling EVE: Halloween Forever
Big Penny Social, London
Friday, November 1, 2024
Reviewer: Jamie Walker (@walker_this_way)
There are times when a nice, long match card can really hit the spot. But at Halloween Forever the team at Pro Wrestling EVE proved that a card doesn’t need to have 7+ matches and a four hour run time to give you everything you need.
Four matches, loads of fun and some cool surprises made for what was arguably EVE’s strongest show of 2024.
From the off this was destined to be a show filled with laughs and the awesome Amira, who was guest hosting tonight, started the trend as she came out dressed as ‘Princess Moore Deng’.
Now I don’t know about you, but I never really needed to see a Disney version of the adorable Pygmy hippo that’s taken social media by storm. And yet Amira pulls it off to perfection, dancing around the room and showcasing her amazing mic work.
It should be said that Amira has really shone this year, especially on the mic, and if there’s anyone who loves wrestling more than her I’m not sure I want to meet that person.
She has the time of her life, dancing to all the entrance music and even twerking with the burlesque dancer who comes on later in the show. She’s such a gem.
Meanwhile, in the ring things were about to get even crazier.
The Gals (Debbie Keitel and Anita Vaughan) vs Safire Reed and Zizi - Trick or Treat match
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
A show called Halloween Forever is bound to have some epic costumes. But as The Gals, Debbie Keitel and Anita Vaughan, come out to the Time Warp there seems to have been crossed wires. Debbie is dressed amazingly as Magenta from Rocky Horror (hence the Time Warp music) but Anita has the wrong idea, coming out in a grey tracksuit…she’s watched the wrong Rocky!
They go back through the curtain and redo their entrance to the Rocky theme as her, Debbie and the crowd recreate the iconic running up steps scene, but around the ring. Debbie then says because Anita got her full entrance so does she. So they go back behind the curtain and reappear for a full Time Warp intro.
This whole entrance put together goes on for SEVEN MINUTES, but it’s hilarious for every single second.
And things get even better when their opponents Zizi and Safire Reed appear dressed as Crocodile Dundee and an ACTUAL crocodile! The only shock here is that is was Safire in the croc outfit and not Zizi - who would’ve made it a trio of animal dress ups in her career if she’d done it.
And as you’d expect with those kinds of entrances, this match is just bonkers and fun.
There’s a skipping rope, Anita and Croc Safire boxing and Debbie shocking the crowd by killing Zizi’s pet spider - side note; Zizi’s Australian accent is pretty good, I wonder what Charli Evans thought while she was backstage.
A truly insane match to kick things off but it takes a turn as Safire unboxes a signed print of Charlie Morgan before ripping it up. Cue a HUGE pop as Charlie appears from the back and squares off against Safire before hitting her with a huge super kick!
This gives Debbie and Anita the opening they need to take the win and once again Safire is - in her words - ‘screwed’ out of a win.
As a warm down after that madness there’s a brilliant Burlesque/Hula Hoop act courtesy of Strom Hooper which is a lot of fun.
Before the next match, Skye Smitson comes to the ring. She explains that she wanted the open spot in the main event, due to Session Moth Martina’s injury, to show Alex Windsor that she’s sorry for the events that transpired the previous show.
Nina Samuels then appears, arm in a sling, and says Skye will get her shot at the EVE title in December but that she should stop caring about the fans. She then goads Skye to attack her, which she doesn’t, before Nina attacks Skye instead and the pair have to be separated.
Lucy Sky vs Nightshade
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
Lucy Sky and Nightshade had set this match up at the last show and it’s clear the animosity has continued as Sky attacks Nightshade before the bell even rings.
The pair battle out into the crowd, the fans disperse as the pair throw each other into the chairs on the floor before getting their own steel chairs out from under the ring.
This match is hard hitting from the off, Lucy goes flying into the chairs, Nightshade gets suplexed into the chairs on the other side, they batter each other from pillar to post, it’s brutal.
The best part, neither woman will lay down and accept defeat. There are so many times the match appears to be over only for a last second kick out to happen.
This is an absolute war between two powerhouses, beefy as hell!
In the end Nightshade does manage to keep Lucy down for the count but to be honest, in the bigger picture, the result is almost irrelevant.
This match showcased the very best of both women, I’d say it’s the best singles match either have ever had in their careers. They both shone, they both came out looking like winners and showed a side to them that had largely been hidden.
Thank you Lucy! Thank you Nightshade!
After that chaos the break was much needed but there would be more to follow in the second half.
Aleah James vs Kasey Owens
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
The returning Aleah makes her entrance as a pumpkin, complete with matching orange gear underneath. And while her look is great it’s nothing compared to Kasey’s (sorry Aleah).
Kasey comes out to the band Ghost, dressed not as a Ghost but as the band’s imposing frontman Papa Emeritus IV. This is easily the outfit of the night, Kasey slays and looks so cool and imposing. It might be the best fancy dress I’ve ever seen at a wrestling show! It’s one of the moments of the night!
Credit: Patrick W. Reed
The match itself is really solid, both of these women are so underrated and just a pleasure to watch. They both deserve to be so many more places and have so many more opportunities!
Before the main event Safire Reed comes out, fuming that she was cost another chance for a win earlier in the night.
She tears into the fans; “you used to love me, you said I was the next rising star” - she’s pissed. And then she takes it too far, turning her anger onto Amira.
There’s harsh words on both sides; Amira calls Safire a “little bitch” while Safire responds by implying that Amira has only been given opportunities because of her relationship with Michael Oku.
And then they come to blows! Security and EVE staff are sent rushing out the separate the pair and they tear into each other! The crowd wants the fight to continue but Dann Read won’t allow it…at least not yet. This sets up the match for the next show where the former best friends will finally be able to get their hands on each other.
Medusa Complex (Charli Evans & Millie McKenzie) & HATE (Konami & Momo Watanabe) vs Top Shagger and Her Donny (Kanji & Emersyn Jayne), Alex Windsor & Skye Smitson
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
And before you know it it’s main event time and what a match to close on! Eight incredible women going hell for leather in an absolutely insane contest.
Too be honest any words I write here won’t do it justice, go and watch this match for yourself it’s really bonkers!
There’s a spot where everyone takes it in turns to dive to the outside, everyone gets their moves in and is given time to tell a story and it just works so well!
It’s a pleasure to see Medusa Complex back! Charli Evans and Millie McKenzie always have fun in the ring, but when they’re together there’s just a look of pure joy on their faces. Whether they’re beating someone up or just joking around on the ring apron. You can tell they love being together.
It’s also brilliant to see not one but two members of HATE in the ring, a rare treat but one that shows how Stardom produces some of the most talented women in all of wrestling.
On the other side Kanji and Emersyn shine as usual, they’ve been having a ball with this new gimmick in EVE. And come on we both know that Alex Windsor and Skye Smitson are two of the best on the scene at the moment!
The latter two seem to be pretty in sync, despite their result run ins, but the end of the match shows that fragility in trust is still there.
As Alex has I believe Konami (but it may have been Momo, my memory escapes me) in a sharpshooter, Skye tries to run interference. But it doesn’t go to plan as she’s sent tumbling into ref Oscar.
With him down the other four take advantage and use some heelish tactics to win the contest. As they head to the back, maybe it’s just me but Alex doesn’t seem at all pleased with Skye. But will she have her back in December when Skye finally gets her shot at Nina Samuels and the EVE title.
Closing thoughts
This was a great show from EVE. I’d probably say their best of the year, and that’s saying something.
Like I said at the start; it showed perfectly how you don’t need to have loads of matches in a card for it to be a good show. Four matches, two burlesque acts and loads of chaos - it was perfect.
The main event was incredible, the opener was hilarious and Lucy vs Nightshade was one of my favourite matches of the year.
If EVE can close the year out even stronger on December 6th then this could well be their best year in business post-Covid and one of their best ever.
