Free Match Friday Archives - Page 3 of 3

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Awesome Kong at WWR

March 22, 2019 by Philip Lindsey

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our free match is the main event of WWR The Show Must Go On featuring Deonna Purrazzo and Awesome Kong.

Recently, Deonna expressed her frustrations with hecklers who chant “Marty Scurll” at her during matches an NXT live events. She has amassed quite the list of accomplishments in just five years. So, it’s easy to understand why she would want to be recognized for her hard work; not who she’s dating.

At The Show Must Go On, the Virtuosa took part in a classic David vs. Goliath style matchup with the legend, Awesome Kong. There is always something so compelling about seeing a smaller athlete try to overcome a bigger physically imposing opponent. This match was no exception.

Initially, Kong rushed Purrazzo, forcing her to use her quickness to evade. Eventually, Deonna tried to go for a crossbody but Kong quickly overpowered her and tried to wear her down with holds. In response, the Virtuosa started targeting her bigger opponent’s limbs.

What made this match more interesting is Kong didn’t rely on the usual style of wrestling for someone her size. She used her strength as an advantage. But she also used her experience to pull off some crafty reversals to combat Deonna’s technical prowess.

In the end, true to her namesake “the Fujiwara armbar specialist” countered a two-handed chokeslam and transitioned into the armbar to win via submission. It was a gutsy underdog win for Deonna Purrazzo.

Afterward, she gave a passionate speech. Coincidentally, she addressed a girl in the back, who claimed she got where she was because of her boyfriend. “I hope you’re watching because even if my boyfriend helped me along the way he didn’t just win that match,” she exclaimed. “I did.”

Check back in with Diva Dirt next week for another great free match from the world of independent women’s wrestling. You can find even more matches AND support independent women’s wrestling over at ClickWrestle.

Tenille Dashwood vs. Bea Priestley at SPW

March 16, 2019March 15, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our free match is a stellar scrap between Tenille Dashwood and Bea Priestley at Southern Pro Wrestling.

Tenille Dashwood is about to run out her contract with Ring of Honor. It’s possible she will sign a new one, of course, but it’s just as possible she’ll walk away from ROH and into the warm embrace of All Elite. Certainly, it’s what many are hoping for. If she does jump ship to AEW, we may soon see a rematch of this week’s free match, Dashwood’s only previous meeting with New Zealand’s Bea Priestley, who recently signed with the upstart promotion.

For many a wrestling fan, especially in North America, the distinctions between the nationalities of Dashwood, an Aussie, and Priestley, a Kiwi, may well seem trivial. But in front of a hungry Invercargill crowd, both women play to the fierce, albeit friendly, sports rivalry their homelands have shared over the years. I can hardly think of a better bit of pandering than Dashwood choking Priestley with an All Blacks jersey.

Tenille Dashwood largely dominates the match, and fair enough. Her repertoire is simple, effective and well-done. She knows a lot of moves, she can do them well, and she makes them fit her character. It sounds like basic stuff, but honestly so many wrestlers of all genders get to main event giant pay-per-views without nailing this stuff down. I truly mean it as the highest praise when I say Tenille Dashwood proves herself an extremely competent and technically sound wrestler in this match, even if she doesn’t do anything flashy. Flashy is great, but it’s not everything.

Priestley acquits herself well as the home favorite, playing the wounded deer to Dashwood’s komodo dragon. (Komodo dragons are extremely cruel to their prey, it’s messed up. Don’t look into it if you’re squeamish.) Lots of people hate leg matches and others based around someone targeting a body part, but too bad, because this is a great leg match and you should watch it. Dashwood works Priestley’s knee over without giving it an obnoxious amount of attention and Priestley sells the knee handicap well without coming off non-credible. Just a well-balanced, well-executed match. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Kris Wolf vs. Little Miss Roxxy at NORTH Wrestling

March 8, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our free match is an unorthodox match-up between Kris Wolf and Little Miss Roxxy at NORTH Wrestling.

Kris Wolf announced her retirement last month on her YouTube channel, citing a variety of health problems as a result of a series concussions, including blackouts, memory issues and loss of vision. She will finish out her currently scheduled tour dates and then leave the ring for good. With the announcement earlier this week that Pro-Wrestling: EVE will host a special “Kris Wolf Retirement Show” to celebrate her career in April, it felt only right that this week’s Free Match Friday should spotlight one of the most wonderful wrestlers to grace women’s wrestling this millennium.

This match is everything that made Kris Wolf one of the most charismatic and beloved women’s wrestlers of the modern era. She’s silly and weird, yeah, but she’s also quick and cunning and vicious in the ring. Because, you know, she’s a wolf. You get it. She literally stalks Roxxy around the ring, takes a big bite out of her leg and wipes her ass on her, and it’s all just fabulous stuff. She also targets Roxxy with so many groin attacks that the male commentators get flustered about how to describe what’s going on, which is hilarious.

None of this is to take anything away from Little Miss Roxxy, who gives a great performance of her own. Without giving anything away, she pulls off a pinning combo at one point in the match that’s honestly a little mind-blowing. I can’t imagine having that level of precision at anything, and Roxxy pretty much does it blind. But as good as she is, Kris Wolf walks away with this match, and the audience’s heart.

Shanna vs. Emi Sakura at AWW Breaking Point 2013

March 1, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our free match is a legendary bout between Shanna and Emi Sakura at AWW Breaking Point 2013.

One of the things that makes wrestling such a magical art form is that, in the hands of its most skilled performers, an all-time great match can be turned out at the drop of a hat. This match was originally supposed to be Shanna vs Kay Lee Ray, but Ray was sidelined with a last-minute injury. Emi Sakura happened to be in England that weekend for a title defense at EVE, and she graciously agreed to fill in for Ray in what ended up as one of the best independent women’s matches ever.

I know that’s a big claim, but I defy anyone to watch this match and tell me this isn’t two masters of the craft at the height of their powers. Lots of wrestlers sacrifice some precision to deliver moves with more speed and therefore more brutality. But both performers pull off a litany of devastating moves with perfect form at breakneck speed. Sakura absolutely wrecks Shanna early in the match with a swinging neckbreaker that would be the highlight of most women’s matches in any of the major promotions. But it’s just a taste of what’s to come.

Emi Sakura is rightly considered a living legend of women’s wrestling, and she’s on incredible form here, from the biggest spots to the smallest details. She kicks out of a pin like it’s life or death. Shanna is almost as brilliant, at least enough to look credible against Sakura. Her ring awareness is astounding, as demonstrated in two nail-biting rope breaks, and she lays out her opponent with a discus forearm off the ropes at one point that looks a million bucks.

But I don’t want to give away too many spots. Half the fun of this match is how dynamic and spontaneous it feels, how the spots grow organically out of the flow of the match, yet still manage to surprise. (Also, not to veer credit away from the wrestlers, but the ref does an amazing job counting what feels like the closest near fall in history. It’s really something else.) This Wolverhampton crowd clearly had no clue who Emi Sakura was at the top of the match, but by the end, both performers get a standing ovation, and rightly so. I can’t praise this match highly enough. Just watch it.

Jokey vs. Holidead at Rising Sun

February 22, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our free match is a fierce contest between Jokey and Holidead at SUN Rise with Heart.

Jokey is a rising star in independent women’s wrestling, one of the breakout talents of Italian Championship Wrestling and currently performing for Insane Championship Wrestling under the ring name Aivil. (Aivil is, like, a demon possessing Jokey, or something, it’s awesome). She’s versatile, pacey and light on her feet in the ring, comfortable in the air and has a great sense of character. This match begins with Jokey giving Holidead a balloon and then punching her in the face, and there’s little better could sum up her harlequin-inspired character than that.

Holidead, a little older and a lot more seasoned than Jokey, plays the role of veteran well in this match, sitting down on an audience member for a rest at one point. She is the classic power match to Jokey’s agility, effortlessly catching her in mid-air, and has that veteran ring awareness. She more than manages to put Jokey over without making herself look weak in the process.

It’s lovely that this show, organised to raise money for charity, featured two women in the main event and the match gives both performers plenty of time to show off their skills. Jokey is a great seller who loves the crowd as much as the crowd loves her. Holidead fits the heel role like a glove and makes herself look incredibly powerful. It’s just a great little match.

Nyla Rose vs. Takumi Iroha at Marvelous

February 20, 2019February 15, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Killer Kelly vs. Valkyrie at GWF Revolution 6

February 20, 2019February 8, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Jordynne Grace vs. Priscilla Kelly at WWR

February 20, 2019February 1, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars, and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. This week, our … Read more

Isla Dawn vs. Ivelisse at AWE ROAR

March 20, 2019January 18, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Queen of Insanity at ICW Fear & Loathing XI

February 20, 2019January 11, 2019 by Dean Buckley

Free Match Friday is a new weekly feature from Diva Dirt. Every Friday, we’ll spotlight a great indie match available to watch for free online. Some of the best wrestling in the world is happening in high school gyms and sports bars and even, occasionally, in an appropriate venue for a wrestling match. For the … Read more

DIVA DIRT

Navigation

popular topics