REVIEW: Purpose Wrestling - Rainbows and Hand Grenades

THIS was not your average Purpose Wrestling show. Yes, it was at the Merton Arts Space, yes it was run by the same crew, but there was something more to it.

This show was being run in aid of AKT, a charity which supports young members of the LGBTQ+ community who are experiencing homelessness, or are is hostile home environments. All the proceeds from the show went to charity, with wrestlers even putting their merch sales towards the cause as well.

The show also featured a whole host of wrestlers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. It was truly a heartwarming show to be part of - and that’s without even mentioning what happened in the ring.

The show was being hosted by Safire Reed. Safire was originally meant to be wrestling on the show but injury meant she couldn’t compete. It was great to see her take up hosting duty and for her first time doing it she did a really great job!

New Vision (Kurt Rayne & Kidd Devon) vs Act Two (Benjamin Harland and Jack Knudsen)

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

This was my first time seeing New Vision is action, meanwhile Act Two are a tag team who have slowly been climbing the ranks in BritWres and look to be set for big things in the future.

This was a decent enough opener, both teams showed plenty of agility and athleticism in the ring. I was impressed by New Vision and their tag work, they’ve got plenty of skill but working on their crowd work would benefit them greatly.

Meanwhile, as the more established team of the two, Knudsen and Harland were the clear fan favourites and got the majority of the cheers and chants. You can see they’ve got their partnership pretty well down at this stage and really enjoy having fun with the crowd and their opponents.

It was New Vision that got the win, somewhat surprisingly I might add, and a decent enough reaction to said victory. I wonder if this win will lead anywhere for them in Purpose.

Helen Charlotte Campbell vs Joao Milao

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

While I’d heard of both of these competitors in the past this was my first time seeing either of them in action.

It was a decent match up between two wrestlers with very contrasting styles. Joao is very flamboyant and agile in the ring, while HCC is a powerhouse athlete who uses strength to overpower Joao for most of this bout.

While Joao fights boldly HCC uses some devious tactics in order to get the upper hand. This includes the classic low blow and ref distractions.

And it’s those tactics that see HCC get the victory in convincing fashion. It’s another solid bout, but I think if suffered crowd wise from the fact they were both new to the fans. But those are things that will naturally change the more exposure they get.

Ring Ratz (Harley Hudson and Tyler Adams) vs Sunshine Machine (Chuck Mambo and TK Cooper)

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

This is the match that I’d most been looking forward to when the card was announced and it certainly did not disappoint. Hudson and Adams played a brilliant heel pairing, getting furious with the crowd as they sided with TK and Mambo.

There was plenty of great in ring work, but it was the comedy dynamic in this match that made it so special. The two teams worked with each other brilliantly, getting the crowd involved and laughing from the very start.

Adams and Hudson are great as a heel pairing, complaining about every little thing that goes against them. Harley in particular is extremely vocal in her displeasure at the fact that Sunshine Machine just won’t go down for the count.

While I’ve seen Harley a few times and always been a fan of her work I’d not seen Adams in action before. They have growing skill and a great character that with more work could see them become a big name.

It makes sense that as the Purpose regulars it’s Sunshine Machine that win the match up, taking in the cheers from the crowd as Hudson and Adams go (not so quietly) to the back.

Amira vs Riley ‘Thee’ NBF vs Skye O.Shure vs Tony Wright - Fatal Four-Way

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

Following a short break it’s time for a fatal four-way that promises to liven the crowd back up - and it delivers on that brilliantly.

This match is a tale of the three faces - Amira, O.Shure and Wright - against the devilish heel Riley. There’s a classic four-way dynamic to this, everyone gets their moment and chance to put their spots in.

Amira is having loads of fun, trying to instigate numerous dance-offs during the bout; Skye and Tony seem up for it but Riley uses those opportunities to attack people while their backs are turned.

It’s brilliant to finally see Tony Wright in person. He’s based up north and so is rarely seen at shows in London, it’s really welcome to see him get this opportunity.

But, in truth, this match is really the story of Skye and Riley, the two main rivals. They put on some classic match ups and really have great chemistry. This match could be the start of the making of both of them.

It’s Skye who wins by rolling up Riley, and he, Tony and Amira celebrate with a dance around the ring to celebrate Pride Month as a heartwarming close to the contest.

Skye Smitson vs Billy Haze

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

After the raffle - which I once again didn’t win (it’s a fix) - it’s time for our MAIN EVENT! Skye Smitson vs Billy Haze, and it’s amazing to see both of them getting their moment in the main event spotlight, especially on a show as special as this.

It’s a really nicely worked main, with both of them going at it full pelt. There’s a moment where myself and the people I was sitting with, including a few other Grapple Theory reviewers, had to move as Skye and Billy brawled by us. Billy went for a big kick on Skye while she was sitting down and missed, causing him to go flying into the second row of seats - it was pretty brutal.

As the pair continue to brawl around the venue, and in the ring too I guess, the crowd is split pretty evenly. Skye is the more heelish or the two, but she’s still so over that it’s hard for at least 50% of the crowd to cheer against her.

Skye gets the win and a brilliant ovation, but the night isn’t fully over. Skye gets on the mic and in a rare drop of character speaks openly and honestly about the evening, about the representation of LGBTQ+ wrestlers and about her delight at how the evening has showcased the up and coming talent on the scene.

She gets a warm round of applause as the other wrestlers come to the ring and everyone cheers - it’s a truly heartwarming moment and one that makes me so proud of the scene we have.

Overall this was a really fun show naturally it was a little different to the shows Purpose normally run but it was very enjoyable and the fact it was all for such a good cause makes it all the more worth it.