REVIEW: Wrestle Island - Red Light, Green Light
Wrestle Island: Red Light, Green Light
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Birkenhead
Sunday, December 19
Reviewer: Hannah Bee (@beeheynah)
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the wrestling is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go…
...let's take a trip to the famed Island, yes?
Travelling long distances for shows I'm keen about has been my brand this year, and I've decided that it was nothing but fitting to pencil in Wrestle Island - “Red Light, Green Light” as my last show of 2021!
Being this was my first time in the promotion and with half of the card I have yet to see in action, I was so pumped to witness what the hype was all about.
The journey to St. Anne's Parish Centre was looking bleak, with the streets outside surrounded with a thick fog. This didn't help the fact that I found the Scouser accent so thick that I got confused between Platform Eight and Platform A!
All the desolation from the outside was contrasted the moment you step in the doors though, seeing as the venue was all decked out for a great time. They definitely understood the assignment — merry and bright.
You notice the sense of community even before you get to your seat, but it was the welcoming kind! It took me little to no time to cozy up thanks to the friendly people in my section and to the accommodating staff who guided my headless chicken self!
Women’s Championship Presentation
Opening up "Red Light, Green Light" was the Women's Championship title presentation to Alexxis Falcon, who had won it against Jayde before the pandemonium of the last two years happened.
She started talking about having a cracking 2021 in wrestling, and her plans in the promotion in the upcoming year — wanting to challenge Warren Banks, the Wrestle Island Champion.
But not without defending her Women's title, the Iron Queen added, she was a fighting champion.
Her call for challengers was answered by Harley Hudson, Power Up Briefcase in hand. Harley made her intentions of cashing in known, and Alexxis replies with Hudson being the next big thing, although still not up to par with her.
But nothing in wrestling goes smoothly, as Lucia Lee comes out to attack Harley last minute, very much early for their match-up later on. Falcon, ever a star, fends Lee off and gives her challenger a helping hand.
RP Davies vs Pitbull
Credit: Wrestle Island
Billed as a match of different styles of wrestling — grappler vs. striker — they did a swell job of showcasing the best of both styles.
Compared to when I saw RP Davies in OPW's inaugural show, he seems more confident in his abilities, which translates to his moves looking more "sure", if it makes sense.
Everyone is deafeningly rallying behind the striker, mostly because of Pitbull's formidable presence. Whilst Pitbull was dominating most of the match, Davies managed to get a Superman Punch in for the win. Their clash warmed the crowd better than a heater on a winter night!
Violent Gentlemen's Society (VGS) vs Conor Clyne, Charlie Brennan, and James Reid
Credit: Wrestle Island
I would love to give big props to VGS for using their debut match to showcase their cohesiveness and viciousness to the Wrestle Island fans.
It started formulaic, and it took a while before the crowd went behind Clyne and co., but absolutely nothing that an outside dive from Charlie Brennan can't fix!
The Violent Gentlemen's Society came out on top thanks to an interference from a masked man, and the crowd came out of it invested with VGS' next Wrestle Island target.
Joey Hayes vs Scott Oberman
Credit: Wrestle Island
I have honestly heard their names being mentioned around for months but this was the first time I saw their work! This is one of the reasons why I love travelling to shows far from home whenever there's a chance — I get to discover gems that are otherwise hidden from home.
Joey played the cool, calm, and collected veteran all too well whilst Scott did well of a job to break him. The audience was having a hard time going hard on booing Oberman though, due to both of these men just putting up a tremendous job out there, not pulling punches.
Their pacing was otherwise impeccable, and their storytelling was *chef's kiss*. The old guard in Hayes might be able to think on his feet, but Oberman was relentless, which got him the win.
Needless to say, this has been my understated favourite match of the afternoon. I would absolutely love to see both of them in 2022, in another live show I hope!
Red Light, Green Light Scramble Spectacular - Lance Revera vs Drill vs Big T vs Ethan Kelly vs Lucy Sky
Credit: Wrestle Island
Wrestle Island has been known for their fun, innovative stipulation matches which makes their product the one to watch. Where in the UK will you see matches made in inspiration of “Squid Game” anyways?
I wish that the stipulations were explained a little bit better, as a lot got lost with the ground rules of the event. Nonetheless, it became clearer as the match progressed, with striped shirt royalty James Greenwood reffing the match overall, and the Wrestle Island GM (who is wearing a mask with a hole, anyways!) validating and finalising "Red Light, Green Light" eliminations.
This scramble was full of highlights, and no one looked out of place during the match, but the match definitely made stars out of Big T and Lance Revera, the two featured heavily throughout.
In true Revera fashion, he gets rid of the huge competition with his sneaky antics, eventually getting the win and a title shot in a year’s time.
Harley Hudson and the Von Engelands vs Lucia Lee, Kyle Kingsley, and Declan McCarthy
Credit: Wrestle Island
Fresh off the heels of their spectacular win of the New Wave Pro’s Tag Team Championship in Indiana, the Von Engelands were back home for the holidays to cap off their tremendous year of wrestling.
Wrestle Island being their last stop in their tour, it was evident that they were well determined to give everyone a great show. As this was, personally, the match I anticipated the most, seeing this made the four and a half train journey worth it!
With Lucia attacking Harley earlier on the show, their brutal rivalry was heavily featured in the match, which the crowd ate up. I especially love how Lucia interacted with the crowd!
The other competitors in the match were pushed back a bit to the background of the match, but it was evident that this was being used to move the women’s rivalry along more than anything else.
In the end, Declan was left in the dust by his teammates to fend for himself, which Hudson used to pour her frustrations with Lucia out.
Even with my little nitpick, I very much enjoyed seeing the last stop of Von Engeland’s UK tour, and is very hyped on how Lucia and Harley’s bad blood will course through 2022.
Terry Isit vs Joe Kessler
Credit: Wrestle Island
With Terry being one of my favourite people I discovered in 2021, and with his previous knee injury, I was well excited seeing him wrestle again!
It was weird seeing him as a face, especially since he plays the Troublemaker so well, but I welcome the change!
Meanwhile, this was the first time seeing Kessler, but it took little to no time for me to get behind him and his relentlessness to bring Isit down.
Unfortunately, the crowd was less hyped during this match, especially since there were a lot of matches in the card that already had a “dirty” finish, which diminished the impact of the interference of Kessler’s goons.
Nonetheless, this was a tremendous showing of technical prowess of both men, and was delightful!
The Squid Game Sole Survivor Scramble - Brian Aideson vs Hustle Malone vs Sean Only vs Carlos Zamora
Credit: Wrestle Island
Another match inspired by the hit Netflix series, another hit with the crowd. Knowing of Carlos Zamora and his stint with Philippine Wrestling Revolution before the pandemic hit and of Hustle Malone and his Protagonist persona, I knew that I was in for a banger of a scramble.
Brian Aidenson was originally scheduled to be in the Red Light, Green Light match earlier in the night, but he was added to this contest instead when Jayde unfortunately pulled out of the show.
This match was a bit clearer, although it was better explained in Wrestle Island’s social posts about the match. It was simple - you can eliminate people once per way in the whole match.
Everyone was having fun clowning around under Hustle’s expense (“my balls!”) but everyone soon regrets it when he utilised his clever tactics to get the win, starting with letting his opponents submit Aidenson, then getting my pick Zamora get disqualified with his clapper.
The crowd started to get deafeningly loud with the Eddie Guererro spot, and didn’t try to hide their disdain when Hustle pinned Sean Only and Greenwood raised his hand for everyone to see.
Wrestle Island Championship Match – Dan Evans vs Warren Banks vs Kameron Solas
Credit: Wrestle Island
Wrestle Island fans were very receptive with Warren Banks’ recent win of the title, and were having the time of their lives booing Dan Evans as he entered the ring.
It was evident that Solas and Warren both wanted to batter Evans themselves, which became the main conflict of the main event.
All of them brought it in the match and I am honestly out of words to describe how wonderful this showing was. The action spilled all over the outside and the stage, much of the delight of the kids in the front row!
You can see how pained Kameron was when Evans pulled Greenwood out of the ring whilst pinning the Champion. Dan Evans proved that he wasn’t easy winnings, having held off both competitors most of the match.
In the end, Warren won the match after a vicious spear to both his opponents and walked away with the belt. All three men, meanwhile, walked away with high regards with their impeccable showing.
As “Red Light, Green Light” comes to a close, the people in attendance were given a treat of a peek of what’s in store for the upcoming year.
Alexxis Falcon comes out not just to congratulate Banks for retaining his championship, but to make sure that he knows that she intends to make true with her words. Looks like this interaction alone justifies another trip to the Island!
Overall, this was a great introduction for me to what Wrestle Island could offer! With a stellar product, a friendly crew and attentive management, plus an all-too welcoming community of fans, it was evident why they are well-talked about even outside the Merseyside!
There were sound issues and logistical hiccups here and there, but this doesn't take away the magic that "Red Light, Green Light" had.
Looking forward to my next Island getaway in 2022!