By Jay Cal
In the neighborhood of the 3200 block of S. Olympic Blvd, something incredible is happening, something that rarely happens. A promise is being met. This promise is that of promoting professional wrestling…a wrestling revolution. Every Sunday at 5:00pm. , this revolution is not being televised, nor is it being talked about on Internet Message Boards, but it is happening…and you are missing it.
Some wrestling promoters in Southern California seem to be struggling with the delivery of the promise that Pro Wrestling has to offer. With what passes for wrestling these days and the people that promote it, it was refreshing for me to check out NWA Pro Wrestling. Their recent presentation made it a fine day to be a fan. NWA Pro stays true to the National Wrestling Alliance theme of promoting the old school approach in wrestling while actually using wrestlers who can…wrestle.
David Marquez and company have been quietly promoting the revolution of Pro Wrestling for the past four years. Based in Santa Monica , CA , the Inoki Dojo has gone through a metamorphosis of sorts since its original inception. The Dojo was first created as a place for future New Japan wrestlers to train and current wrestlers to hone their craft. In the course of four years, the Dojo has had many aliases and has seen many fantastic wrestlers compete for its fans. It is not only a place to learn the craft, but a place to exhibit the wrestling ability learned. On Sunday, the Dojo’s white walls are covered with black material, the wrestling mats are rolled out end to end of the building, and a wrestling ring is center stage. Cameras roll and fans are energized as the wrestlers exhibit their skills…and you are missing it.
The style of wrestling is not limited to one specific type. The card I attended showcased former New Japan Jr. Heavyweight and NWA Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Black Tiger wrestle Durango . Durango is a luchador known for his high-flying arsenal, in what was essentially a junior heavyweight wrestling clinic. In a match worthy of the adulation usually reserved for a Ring of Honor or Pro Wrestling Guerrilla match, Durango and Black Tiger battled back and forth matching move for move. The finish entailed Black Tiger using his newly debuted Black Tiger Suplex for the pin. Also on the card was “The Machine Gun”, Karl Anderson. “The Machine Gun” was to defend his title, the NWA British Common Wealth Championship, against a returning Chad Wicks. Wicks had recently wrestled for the WWE.
Other matches included a very exciting six-man lucha tag team match, a notable tag team match that featured wrestlers who were all very large, and a main event that saw the return of Minoru Tanaka and Rocky Romero battle against Alex Koslov and Puma. The show was very much worth the fan friendly price of 10 dollars. The main event ranked right up there with some of the greatest main events that I’ve ever witnessed in Southern California . There was not a single fan not applauding the efforts of the four men involved in this spectacular main event.
What differentiates NWA Pro with most wrestling in Southern California ? A group of promoters who have been involved in the business for quite a while, wrestlers who have been trained to actually use skill and talent, and an intimate venue. Ultimately, NWA Pro delivers on the promise of being far more than a good wrestling show. With that, make sure that this is the revolution that you WILL be watching, and most importantly, supporting.
