Aussies Abroad: Mania heartbreak and success in Japan
Welcome back to another installment of Aussies Abroad, where we look at the Aussies making a name for themselves in international rings and the pro wrestling world.
Let’s start this week’s coverage with the latest news straight out of WrestleMania weekend from Adelaide superstar Rhea Ripley. Despite her best attempts at regaining her championship title in recent months, the tension between herself, Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair came to a boiling point at Mania, with the three powerhouses going head to head for the belt. The match saw some technically impressive moves from Ripley, but her quick thinking and sheer brutality were unfortunately not enough for her to snatch the belt. Ripley was able to break up an attempted pin to Sky by Belair following a KOD and followed it up with an attempted riptide to Belair. Belair struck back with a harsh whip and another KOD to Ripley, but Sky broke things up at the last minute with a moonsault from the top rope to pin Bianca for the belt. Things got even messier on today’s RAW when Ripley interfered with a conflict between Roxxanne Perez and Giulia, who interrupted Sky’s match. Ripley scared the crew out of the ring and handed the belt back to Sky, but not before letting it linger in her hands for a few seconds longer than it needed to.
Mania weekend also saw fellow Adelaide powerhouse bring the roof down with her first WWE Ladder Match for the Women’s North American title. The match saw her tag team partner Sol Ruca, Thea Hail, Izzi Dame, Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice go head to head. Zaria, as expected, really shone in this match, and bought the heat with her sheer power and strength advantage, including a spot where she sent Hail (who was on top of the ladder) flying out of the ring, and her attempt to continue climbing the ladder despite being in a chokehold from Vice. The match though was not without heartbreak for Zaria fans, when she came face to face with Ruca for the belt. The two paused for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes before Ruca sent Zaria crashing back into the ring. We Adelaide fans were on the edge of our seats for the whole match, and are looking forward to seeing where the girls take their partnership next.
Over in AEW, Aussie favourite Harley Cameron also had an impressive match last week alongside her tag teammate Mercedes Mone against Julia Hart and Kris Statlander. Australian fans have loved watching Cameron come up the ranks and really show off her skills in AEW this past year, and this match was no different. Despite not being able to pick up the win, Cameron still brought the Aussie heat to the ring. It was unfortunately some harsh hits from Hart and Stadlander that saw them dominate much of the match and pick up the win.
Last week’s Wrestlecon Memorial SuperShow saw the Australian Shane Haste join his TMDK teammates in an epic main event match. The six-man tag team match saw some impressive spots, and Haste was definitely able to show off to international audiences. It was eventually a submission from Sabre that picked up the win for TMDK.
Fellow Aussie Shazza McKenzie has also been absolutely killing it internationally, picking up a huge win against Nixi XS with PoderMania in a recent last-man-standing match. She has also been working with Uprising Women Athletes, AAW and Championship Wrestling from Memphis all in the past month. She has since been included in the latest lineup announcement from House of Heat ProWrestling in Indiana.
Over in Japan, Adelaide favourite Kira Summer has continued her work with TJPW, with recent matches against some of the country’s best in women’s wrestling. Chris Vice picked up a huge win in Osaka last week with the Anti-GLE team against the boys of G-rize. Vice has been making quite the name for himself with the GLEAT team, and it is great to see him pick up another international win. Robbie Eagles has also been continuing his work with NJPW, last week with a match also in Osaka against Master Wato, Oleg Boltin and YOH. Erika Reid also made her Japan debut with an incredible match with Just Tap Out against Mizuha. The Aussie favourite was able to pick up a massive win in her first match in Japan, and we can’t wait to see where she’ll go next.
The iconic Adelaide tagmates the Parea have also been making a name for themselves internationally since their Ring of Honour debut earlier this year and are now taking bookings in the US. It is great to see even more Adelaide talent go above and beyond!
Powerhouse Lena Kross has also since opened bookings in the US, and last week competed in two massive matches with SPARK Joshi Puroresu Of America and Game Changer Wrestling. She competed with GCW in a massive Clusterf*ck Battle Royal that lasted a grand total of 139 minutes and featured just about every local and upcoming international talent and fellow Aussie star Frankie B. Kross has been a rising star for the past few years in Australia, quickly making it to the top with the best names in local wrestling. Aussie audiences can not wait to see her continue to make a name for herself internationally.
News Writer + Aussies Abroad. Based in Adelaide and winner of the 2023 CPA Young Journo of the year, has been a news and arts journalist for a number of years working across radio and print, but has decided to take her wrestling addiction to PWDU. You can find her at any local wrestling night across the state with a beer in-hand and a front-row ticket to the action.
