Review: Pro Wrestling EVE WrestleQueendom 4
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
After 18 months away, and despite some minor hick-ups, Pro Wrestling: EVE returning to London with a BANG!
A huge return, a new champion crowned and an evening of entertainment that reminded us why we love this pseudo-sport that is pro-wrestling so much.
Yes, lots of things were different; some stars who we’re sure would’ve featured have been signed by the big promotions or moved back home during the pandemic; of course Covid protocols were made to be followed; and while the venue wasn’t the Res Gal, there was a distinct feeling that EVE was home.
It wouldn’t be a BritWres show without a late start, but after some minor technical issues the show was up and running.
The enigmatic, charismatic and flamboyant Lolo Brow was compere for the evening and brought a tirade of humour, energy and entertainment along for the ride.
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
EVE’s first match back in a year and a half saw Mercedez Blaze go up against Clementine - with both getting exactly the reaction they would’ve wanted.
Blaze was roundly booed while Clementine was cheered, perhaps more than she expected. Blaze won the contest and looks just as fierce as ever, while it’s clear that Clementine is a star slowly rising on the BritWres scene.
Next up, Alex Windsor made her long awaited return after four years out of the ring. But any sign of ring rust was not apparent, or expertly hidden, as she took on one of the best heels in BritWres in the form of Zoe Lucas.
And this match was played out perfectly, the returning face getting the win over the whinging heel. Lucas was left fuming whenever things didn’t go their way and Windsor was there to capitalise. Four years away? We’d barely believe she’d been away for four weeks.
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
It was going to be tough for Angel Hayze and Laura Di Matteo to top that match, but they certainly made a good go of it.
A crushing tombstone from the Italian won her the contest, but there was more to come from her - we’ll get back to that later.
Then came the much anticipated gauntlet match; in which Kasey Owens had to overcome five other competitors in order to retain her EVE International title.
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
And boy did EVE pull out all the stops to make the term ‘international’ matter!
The Irish Woke Queen Debbie Keitel was first up against Canada’s Maddison Miles. Both put on a cracking start to the contest and while Miles was defeated she hit Keitel with a massive superplex off the top rope and severely depleted her energy supplies.
That would prove telling as Keitel went up against the next competitor, Emersyn Jayne. The Scot looked mightily impressive as the countered everything Keitel had and Debbie lost her coffee high by the end, nearly falling asleep while having Jayne in a sleeper hold.
Jayne then had to take on America’s Hyan. These two put on a hard-hitting contest which could have easily been match of the night had it been a simple singles contest.
Jayne pulled off a huge shock as she eliminated the Heart of Shimmer champion, then turned her attention to Nightshade.
The English star couldn’t counter Emersyn either and was herself eliminated from the contest. After eliminating three competitors there was just one more star for Emersyn to beat - the champion Kasey Owens.
This then became a true hardcore contest with chairs, tables and thumbtacks galore. The brutal finale Jayne and Kasey put on is what truly made this gauntlet the match of the night.
Both put their bodies on the line to entertain the capacity crowd and it was Owen who came out on top after putting Jayne through a table from the top rope.
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE
Then it was time to RUMBLE!
After impressing earlier in the night Laura Di Matteo was out at number one and was joined by Zoe Lucas.
For a brief time Di Matteo became Brock Lesnar, eliminating Lucas and number three Maddison Miles almost immediately.
But her run would come to and end with the ring ending up packed. Alexxis Falcon, Kira Chimera, Debbie Keitel, Ava White, Natalie Sykes, Clementine, Gia Adams, Lana Austin and Amira Blair ALL entered the ring before another elimination was made.
Ava White may have been making her EVE debut but she immediately became a heel as she stopped the epic dance party being held by Clementine, Sykes and Keitel in the middle of the ring - why Ava, why?
The dancing must’ve tired Keitel out though, despite her chugging three coffees on her way to the ring, as she was then eliminated.
KT Hawkins and Mercedez Blaze entered and Blaze was dominant for a long time - eliminating White, who had dared to taunt her. That’s what you get for ending a dance party.
The rumble also saw some huge returns! Sammi Baynz, Erin Angel, Darcy Stone and most shockingly Jayla Dark all returned to the ring with a bang!
The biggest singalong of the night, up to that point at least, went to Jetta who entered at 24 to a huge reception, what did you expect? Jetta, you’re the best!
29 saw Leah Owens move from the commentary desk to the ring in another epic return, but it was sister Kasey who would spoil her big moment.
In chaotic scenes Leah was immediately eliminated by Kasey, Kasey was then dumped out by Di Matteo and in revenge Kasey illegally took the Italian out of the rumble.
It is Laura Di Matteo who gets our Performance of the Night award after winning earlier and then entering at number one in the rumble and lasting a ridiculous amount of time.
Then came the champion, Rhia O’Reilly, at number 30 and she was in no mood to mess around. She eliminated Ronnie Knocks and Natalie Sykes straight away before Jayla Dark and Livvii Grace also went out.
The final four were the fantastic quartet of Rhia, Erin Angel, Jetta and Nightshade. The classic two-on-two dynamic (Rhia and Nightshade vs Erin and Jetta) didn’t last long as Nightshade and Angel were eliminated to leave us with TWO.
Rhia was nearly eliminated but was saved by her Uprising stable-mates Grace and Nightshade, but she wasn’t the only one with help.
In a thrilling conclusion, Rhia thought she’d dumped Jetta out and won the rumble, not realising that Erin Angel had set up a chair to ensure Jetta only had one foot touch the floor.
The Princess Diana of pro wrestling would take advantage of the distracted champ to dump her out and WIN the rumble.
The room ERUPTED! Jetta has been a key member of EVE since its inception and now is finally getting a run with the top title.
The look on Jetta’s face as she celebrated in the ring was absolutely heartwarming, but it was a little surprising when she left the ring so quickly - that’s because EVE had one more trick up its sleeve.
Skye Smitson came to the ring in no mood for any celebrations, having been stuck in traffic all she wanted was a fight!
And who would answer that fight…The Gambler.
Credit: Pro Wrestling EVE/ROSH photographer
The moment when the room realised that the much teased star was Charlie Morgan was a moment we’ll never forget!
After announcing her retirement in 2019 we never knew if we’d see Charlie Morgan wrestle again, and to see her back in the ring was the greatest return we could’ve hoped for - and that includes the likes of CM Punk and Becky Lynch, sorry WWE and AEW.
She beat the hell out of Skye and it was amazing to watch. The two wrestlers standing tall at the end of the night were Morgan and Jetta and if that alone doesn’t make this one of the shows of the year then we’re not sure what does.
Great work EVE.
