Mask vs. title match and hardcore violence headlines South Africa’s Champions Pro Wrestling last show of the year
South Africa is the home of Africa’s most established and internationally successful pro wrestling scene. The country has produced multiple wrestlers that have competed in the world’s top wrestling promotions and gone on to have successful international pro wrestling careers.
One of the most successful promotions in South Africa over this time period, dating back to the 1990s, is Champions Pro Wrestling. CPW, which was formerly known as World Wrestling Professionals, has had a great deal of success in South Africa, elsewhere on the African continent having held a huge event in Lubumbashi in the DRC, and abroad in India. The promotion has attracted thousands to some of their bigger events, have worked with internationally known pro wrestlers and has produced weekly wrestling television for their shows in both South Africa and India.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented CPW from holding any of their huge events featuring international stars, the company has still managed to have a nice and productive 2021. CPW closed out their 2021 calendar in Bergbron, South Africa on December 18th with an outdoor joint show with another one of South Africa’s top promotions, African Punishment Wrestling Association.
Ananzi sends Alex Desire crashing through a ladder during a ladder match between the two. Photo courtesy of Champions Pro Wrestling’s Facebook page.
The outdoor year end finale featured four bouts that appeared to all feature some really good wrestling and some dangerous violence from all involved.
The first match of the night featured The Dangerous Game RJ going one on one with Tappery Martinez.
RJ launches himself from the second rope with Tappery Martinez on his shoulders, looking to connect on a second rope Death Valley driver. Photo courtesy of the CPW Facebook page.
The Most Dangerous Game doled out a lot of punishment in this one and was regularly on offense. Tappery Martinez fought back at times but it ended up not being enough. The Most Dangerous Game would go on to win the bout by submission.
The second bout of the four bout card featured Wiese and Matthew “The Assassin” Hammar doing battle.
Wiese looks to powerbomb Matthew Hammar on the unforgiving ring apron. Image courtesy of Champions Pro Wrestling’s Facebook page.
Wiese and the Assassin were able to trade some offensive blows throughout. Despite a valiant effort, Matthew Hammar was unable to overcome the big size mismatch that Wiese presented him with. The size advantage allowed Wiese to deliver some immense punishment, eventually forcing the referee to stop the bout and award Wiese with the victory.
The match stakes and violence both escalated from here on the second half of the card. In the first match in the second half, The LoudMouth would put his CPW All Africa Title on the line against Super Dragon. If Super Dragon were to lose the match, he would be forced to unmask, bringing an end to a 12 year run under the mask that helped him become one of the biggest names on the South African wrestling scene.
Super Dragon takes flight, launching himself onto a helpless LoudMouth outside of the ring. Image courtesy Champions Pro Wrestling’s Facebook page.
The action in this match got wild with several weapons being used and a good deal of high risk offense being employed. Fluorescent light tubes, thumbtacks, the steel ring steps and more got involved in this match as both men tried every trick in the book to try and ensure that they would hang on to their coveted property. In the end, The LoudMouth was able to get the upper hand, defeating Super Dragon and forcing the beloved wrestler to unmask. Luckily we were able to grab video of this match and you can watch it below.
The night’s main event featured a grudge ladder match between Ananzi and Alex Desire. Often times in pro wrestling, a ladder match is won by the wrestler who is able to scale the ladder and grab a title, briefcase or something else that’s suspended above the ring. That wasn’t the case in this match. Instead, the ladders were included solely to be used as weapons and to make the match more dangerous.
Alex Desire looks to land a moonsault on Ananzi as he lays helpless atop a ladder that is suspended over the ring ropes. Image courtesy of the CPW Facebook page.
The ladders were very successful in their purpose as this match was chock full of death defying maneuvers and painful moments. Alex Desire began to take a great deal of punishment as the match went on, finding himself in a position where he could no longer defend himself as Ananzi beat on him with a ladder. At this point, his corner threw in the towel, bringing an end to the match. This match was as wild as it looked and you can check out the highlights below.
CPW ended the year on a high note with their December 18th event and is surely looking forward to 2022 with the hope of being able to move forward with some of their larger events and bringing in some international talent. Let’s just hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will finally start cooperating with some of those plans.
