Australian Women's Wrestling/OPW Announcement: By Cam Vale

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AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WRESTLING

By Cam Vale

An important topic is Women’s Wrestling, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, plus a big announcement in line with OPW previous events around elevating women’s wrestling.

Some context – as a rookie wrestling promoter, I need to note my background is other sports, leading sports like hockey, baseball and an AFL club. So, my lens is more what I have seen work and succeed in sports for women, and how they improve the product.

In hockey the Hockeyroos (W) were equal value as the Kookaburras (M) in terms of winning, commercial value, selling tickets, etc. as one prime example. We had two assets as a sporting entity, how do we use them to achieve equal success on and off the pitch in this case.

Without dwelling on others’ views of women’s wrestling, my view coming into wrestling was OPW would have an equally strong focus on women’s wrestling with men based on what works in sport and what my experience as a sports executive was telling me would work.

In our first two events at OPW we achieved the following:

IMPACT Downunder 2023 in Wagga, the main event night one IMPACT Men’s Title, the main event night two the Women’s World Title which was the “money” night of Saturday night, with IMPACT World Champ Deonna Purrazzo defending against Gisele Shaw. So equal priority to both world titles in making them main events on separate nights.

Note – Biggest sales Sunday Meet and Greet in Wagga at this event were equal between Deonna and Moose.

⦁ Starrcast Downunder 2024 in Ballarat, two shows – H.E.R headlined by Mickie James night one and then Bret Hart Australian Stampede night two, so again equal priority and also noting:
⦁ Debut of Women’s Tag Team Titles presented by WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano, crazy it took so long for women’s tag titles to be created.
⦁ An All women’s card H.E.R – including referees, ring announcers, which was critical to Visit Victoria sponsorship of the event, the first event like it in Australian Wrestling history.
⦁ Most watched match online by double the next match on either night, was Delta v Jordynne Grace for the TNA World Title.

So, I am simply using factual evidence – not wrestling subjective opinion, in what has worked for OPW, and the reality is a great balance is best. And in my involvement with Melbourne City Wrestling – who can deny how big a draw Delta was, as my wife Samantha reminded me constantly and well done to her on her success. Throw in Steph De Lander, Indi Harwell ….makes sense to invest in Australian Women’s wrestling again based on facts alongside the talented male athletes in this country.

Women wrestle differently than men as a wise, young international female wrestler told me this week. Like in tennis at the Australian Open, it will depend on the match ups that day what is the feature match, wrestling should be the same.

TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT – BELLE OF THE BRAWL

To further extend on the OPW brand and our events driving women’s wrestling, we can announce an all-women’s Rumble for our Ballarat show – “Belle of the Brawl” for Sunday June 22nd, the winner getting a future OPW Women’s title match, and winning a stunning necklace worth thousands of dollars – they can keep or cash in for a future title shot.