Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Philippines. PWR was founded in December 2013, and closed on September 14, 2022.
History Professional wrestling in the Philippines started in 1989 through the short-lived show called "Pinoy Wrestling". It aired on national television via PTV-4, with character actor Johnny Revilla as host and ringside reporter comedian Jimmy Fabregas. Its roster consisted of locally trained wrestlers such as Joe Pogi, King Cobra, Macho Franco, Caloy Bakal, and Max Buwaya. There were also tag teams such as The Smoky Mountain Brothers, The Bakal Boys, and Dr. Q's henchmen The Brusko Brothers, Kamikaze Kid and Roboto. Women wrestlers like Aerobica and Pinay Wonder and midgets such as The Mikrobyos and The Tureritos were also featured. Other wrestlers include Juan Duwag, Waway The Wild Man, Turko Turero, Pinoy Ranger, Sultan Bato, Iggy Igorot, Lawin and Zorro. The show was discontinued in the early part of 1990.
In 2012, the idea of forming PWR was born in a Facebook group. Wrestling fans from different parts of the country linked up and were added to the group to establish a wrestling company, discuss fantasy bookings, and conceptualize characters and gimmicks. This came about despite pro wrestling not being as popular in the Philippines since the end of the WWF Attitude Era in the late 1990s and early 2000s as well as the exposure of kayfabe. The upstart promotion got an assist from veteran American pro wrestler Joe E. Legend, who helped them in the preparations.
Sometime between late 2013 and early 2014, the group was contacted by a Japanese promoter Ankei Tamashiro doing a show in the Philippines for WNC-Reina, where two of the main attractions were former WWE and ECW superstar Tajiri and half-Filipina triple crown champion Shuri Kondo. The Japanese promoter's representative in Manila found PWR's Facebook page and asked the group to assist them in setting up and promoting the show in the country. These events further encouraged the group to pursue the idea of setting up the first-ever wrestling promotion in the country.
The pioneer batch of aspiring professional wrestlers were officially trained by an American pro wrestler Josh Bauserman, whom they met in Manila during the early stages of planning. The founders credit Bauserman for teaching them everything about pro wrestling, from in-ring maneuvers to backstage activities.
In recent years, PWR has expanded its reach, with international wrestlers such as Billy Suede and Koto Hiro performing for circuit while its own roster of wrestlers participates in inter-promotional matches abroad.
In 2017, WWE officials were in attendance during PWR Live: Bagong Yugto solidifying PWR's presence in the international community.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Like many sports promotions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, PWR cancelled their planned live events for the rest of 2020, for the safety of their performers, staff, and crew, as well as that of the "Revo-Nation" (PWR's nickname for its fans and audience). As of March 2021, it has yet to hold a live event due to ongoing restrictions on public gatherings in the Philippines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On March 12, 2020, PWR announced that the Path of Gold event, originally scheduled for March 22, will not push through. Their performance at the intermission of that year's Rakrakan Festival (which was itself rescheduled to April, from February, and later cancelled) eventually did not take place as well. PWR's flagship event Wrevolution X was likewise cancelled. PWR President Red Ollero, in an episode of the promotion's "Wrestle From Home" Facebook show, said that Wrevolution X was supposed to be held on May 31, 2020.
In a separate interview in an episode of the Wrestling-Wrestling Podcast, Ollero said that he had considered holding shows without a crowd in an undisclosed location, but that hasn't really come to fruition yet due to the country's quarantine protocols.
PWR also originally planned in 2020 a sequel to the PWR Special: Homecoming event. Ollero revealed in the October 5 pilot episode of PWR's Philippine Wrestling Podcast that "Homecoming 2" was supposed to happen at the SM SkyDome.
While it wasn't able to hold live events yet, PWR sought to continue connecting with their fans online through the "Wrestle From Home" Facebook show from March to June 2020 and the Philippine Wrestling Podcast from October to December 2020. PWR also made available the PWR Special: Homecoming (2019) event for streaming through the virtual events space Stream from May 31 to July 31, 2020.
Events The promotion held its inaugural event called Renaissance on September 27, 2014, at the Makati Cinema Square Arena, Makati.
PWR then held subsequent events to complete its calendar: Terminus, Vendetta, Path of Gold, and Wrevolution X, which is considered to be PWR's WrestleMania equivalent.
On August 15, 2015, PWR held an event called PWR Live, still at the Makati Cinema Square Arena. Multiple events named PWR Live have been staged since.
To date, 2 PWR shows have been aired on television (on tape delay) via TV5: Terminus (2014) and PWR Live (August 2015)
On February 5, 2016, PWR held a house show at the LBD Sports Arena in Candelaria, Quezon, its first outside Metro Manila.
List of events
2014 Event Date Venue Location Main eventRenaissanceMakati Square ArenaMakati"The Senyorito" Jake de Leon vs. "Classical" Bryan LeoTerminusBombay Suarez and Jake de Leon vs. Bryan Leo and Main Maxx
2015 Event Date Venue Location Main eventVendettaMakati Square ArenaMakatiJake de Leon vs. Chris PanzerWrevolution XJake de Leon vs. Bombay Suarez for the inaugural PWR Championship Jake de Leon (c) vs Bryan Leo (Bryan Leo cashes in his title opportunity as promised by Mr. Sy)PWR LiveBryan Leo (c) vs Jake de Leon for the PWR ChampionshipRenaissanceBryan Leo (c) vs. Jake de Leon vs. The Apocalypse for the PWR ChampionshipPWR LiveiAcademy AuditoriumMakati"Classical" Bryan Leo (c) vs. Mark D. Manalo for the PWR ChampionshipTerminusBryan Leo (c) vs. Ralph Imabayashi for the PWR Championship
2016 Event Date Venue Location Main eventPWR Live: Road to VendettaiAcademy AuditoriumMakatiRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. The Apocalypse in an open challenge for the PWR ChampionshipPWR on Tour: Quezon Invasion (house show)LDB Sports ArenaCandelaria, QuezonRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Peter Versoza in an open challenge for the PWR ChampionshipVendettaiAcademy AuditoriumMakatiRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Bryan Leo for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: Manila MadnessTanduay Covered CourtManilaKen Warren (c) vs Bombay Suarez vs Chris Panzer for the PHX ChampionshipPWR Live: Road to Wrevolution XBF Homes Covered CourtParañaqueThe Royal Flush vs Jake de Leon, Ralph Imabayashi and Chris PanzerWrevolution XiAcademy AuditoriumMakatiBryan Leo (c) vs Jake de Leon vs Ralph Imabayashi for the PWR ChampionshipPWR on Tour: Batanes Beatdown (house show)June 24, 2016BatanesJake de Leon (c) vs Bryan Leo vs The Apocalypse for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: The ShawDownJuly 30, 2016500 Shaw Zentrum Events PavilionMandaluyongJake de Leon vs Main Maxx in a non-title PWR Champion vs PHX Champion challengePWR at Asia Pop Comic Con 2016 (house show)August 26–28, 2016SMX Convention CenterPasayDay 1: Jake de Leon (c) vs Ralph Imabayashi for the PWR Championship Day 2: Jake de Leon (c) vs Ken Warren for the PWR Championship
Day 3: Jake de Leon (c) vs The Apocalypse for the PWR ChampionshipRenaissanceOctober 8, 2016Bayanihan CenterPasigJake de Leon (c) vs John Sebastian for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: Suplex SundayNovember 13, 2016Jake de Leon (c) vs John Sebastian in a Bacolod Bullrope Match for the PWR Championship
2017 Event Date Venue Location Main eventPWR Live: Bagong YugtoVenue 142 Events PlaceQuezon CityJohn Sebastian (c) vs Jake de Leon for the PWR ChampionshipPath of GoldBayanihan CenterPasig20-person Path of Gold Match. Winner gets to challenge either the PWR or PHX Champion.PWR Live: MainitJohn Sebastian (c) vs Main Maxx for the PWR ChampionshipWrevolution XJohn Sebastian (c) vs Chris Panzer for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: ResbakFoton ShowroomMakatiChris Panzer (c) vs John Sebastian in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Unfather's Day show (house show)Eastwood MallQuezon CityChris Panzer (c) vs Billy Suede for the PWR ChampionshipRenaissancePlayland, Fisher MallQuezon CityChris Panzer (c) vs Ralph Imabayashi vs Jake De Leon in a Triple Threat Match for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: Bakbakan sa BayanihanBayanihan CenterPasigChris Panzer (c) vs Billy Suede for the PWR ChampionshipPWR at Asia Pop Comic Con 2017 (house show)August 25–27, 2017SMX Convention CenterPasayDay 1: Billy Suede (c) vs Chris Panzer for the PWR Championship Day 2: The YOLO Twins (c) vs The Network for the PWR Tag Team Championship
Day 3: PHX Championship tournament finalPWR Live: Sugod!September 3, 2017Power Mac Center SpotlightMakatiBilly Suede (c) vs Chris Panzer vs Ralph Imabayashi in a Triple Threat Match for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: OktoberplexOctober 8, 2017Chris Panzer (c) vs John Sebastian in a Lumberjack Match for the PWR ChampionshipVendettaNovember 5, 2017Ubusan ng Lahi: Team Sy vs. Team Sebastian for control of PWR
2018 Event Date Venue Location Main eventPWR Live: Kingdom ComePower Mac Center SpotlightMakatiChris Panzer (c) vs. Ralph Imabayashi for the PWR ChampionshipPWR Live: Holding Hands While WrestlingVenue 142 Events PlaceQuezon CityRederick Mahaba and PWR Champion Ralph Imabayashi vs. Miguel Rosales in a Handicap MatchPath of GoldPower Mac Center SpotlightMakati20-person Path of Gold Match. Winner gets to face any champion in PWR.PWR Live: Trapik500 Shaw Events PavilionMandaluyongMiguel Rosales, Chris Panzer and Ken Warren vs. Ralph Imabayashi, Rederick Mahaba and Mike Madrigal in a 6-Man tag team matchWrevolution XiAcademy AuditoriumMakatiRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Miguel Rosales in a Title vs. Career Match for the PWR Championship: Had Rosales lose, he is forced to be retired.PWR Live: Re5peto500 Shaw Events PavilionMandaluyongKen Warren (c) vs. Mike Madrigal in a Three Stages of Death Match for the PHX Championship.PWR Live: Way Of The ChampionPower Mac Center SpotlightMakatiRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Koto Hiro w/ Nina for the PWR Championship.RenaissanceRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Main Maxx w/ Mr. Sy for the PWR Championship.PWR Live: HomefrontJake De Leon (c) vs. Tengu for the PHX Championship.PWR Live: Shake, Rassle & Roll500 Shaw Events PavilionMandaluyongRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Mike Madrigal for the PWR Championship.VendettaPower Mac Center SpotlightMakatiRalph Imabayashi (c) vs. Mike Madrigal vs. Mainstream Mahaba vs. Vlad Sinnsyk in a Fatal-4 Way match for the PWR Championship.
2019