On Friday, April 19th, the night before Dreamwave’s Anniversary show, Uprising Women Athletes held Uprising 2. The event streamed live on IWTV.
We witnessed some of the best women’s wrestlers do what they do best. The show was headlined by a massive main event that saw Zayda Steel team up with Maggie Lee to face the Dreamewave Women’s Champion Brittnie Brooks and Billie Starkz. We also saw Megan Bayne go one-on-one with Masha Slamovich, Hyan square off with Miyu Yamashita, and so much more. Check out all of this and more in the full recap and review below.
Black Swan vs. Maki Itoh
Winner: Maki Itoh
This was an excellent opening match for the show. The crowd was majorly behind Maki Itoh in this match and she knows how to fire up the crowd like nobody else. Itoh quickly got the better of Black Swan when the match officially got underway. However, some vicious kicks from Black Swan would change the momentum in Swan’s favor. Swan bounces Itoh’s arm off the ring post and continues on the attack at ringside. Itoh tries to fight back, landing a big slam on the concrete floor on Swan.
Itoh continues back on the offensive when the two return to the ring. She attempts to go high risk, but Swan catches her with a massive kick and changes the tides of the match once again to go in her favor. After some more terrific back-and-forth action, ultimately, Itoh lands her finisher from the top rope and pins Black Swan to win the first match of the evening. Itoh continues to look incredible, and I hope to see Black Swan back soon because she is incredibly talented in her own right. The mystique Swan brings to every match is very fun to watch from a fan standpoint.
Jazmin Allure vs. Kylie Rae
Winner: Kylie Rae
In the next match of the evening, we see Jazmin Allure square off with Kylie Rae. Allure has had quite a progression over the past few years. It’s easy to see how good she’s gotten, and she has an incredibly bright future. However, on the other side of things, her opponent tonight is no slouch and it’s no secret how good Kylie Rae is. When the match officially begins, Rae tries to show some sportsmanship but Allure isn’t having any of it. The two women engage in a lock-up that sees Rae have to regroup in the corner.
Allure gains the upper hand, controlling the match for a good portion. Rae tries to switch the tides of this match, but Allure stops her in her tracks. However, Rae lands a series of clotheslines to finally change the momentum of this match. After some more fun back-and-forth wrestling, Rae lands a huge superkick to win the match. Both Allure and Rae truly showed up and showed out in this match. A lot to be happy about for both of them, and both of their futures are very bright.
The Hale Twins vs. Dani Mo & Emily Jaye
Winners: The Hale Twins
In the next match of the night, we see some tag team action. Briar and Sage, The Hale Twins, team up and look to pick up a statement win over Emily Jaye and Dani Mo. However, that will not be an easy task. The match starts with The Hale Twins denying handshakes and taking the fight to Dani and Emily. However, it was very short-lived as Dani and Emily used their unique offense to get the best of Briar and Sage. Mo throws Jaye out to the floor to take out both members of the Hale Twins.
Mo and Jaye remain in control for a good portion of the match. However, after the Hale Twins go to the outside to regroup, one of the twins distracts Jaye leading to the other attacking her from behind. All four women truly looked incredible in this match. Ultimately, when Jaye pins the wrong twin, the other one rolls her up to pick up the win for her team. Dani Mo and Emily Jaye are a very fun tag team and it’ll be fun to see them team up again. On the other side of things, The Hale Twins (who are impossible to tell apart) are both insanely talented. They also have the potential to go very far in the world of professional wrestling, especially using their “twin magic.”
No Disqualification match: Alice Crowley vs. Tara Zep
Winner: Tara Zep
Right before the match started, it was announced this match was going to be a no-disqualification match. Alice Crowley made her way down to the ring first, getting a lot of cheers from the Dreamwave faithful. Tara Zep gets a fair reaction in her entrance as well. This match starts quickly with Crowley trying to get some shots in before the bell. Instantly, Crowley breaks out the hardware, sending a door into the ring. Zep takes the fight to Crowley, beating her down in the corner. She then lands a suicide dive on Crowley and the two begin brawling at ringside. Crowley gets some big chops in on each other outside the ring before Zep tries to turn things around.
This doesn’t seem to work as Crowley lands a huge shot using a trash can to the skull of Zep. Crowley sets up chairs at ringside and the two competitors sit down and let loose with punches. Zep lands a huge suplex on Crowley on the floor before sending her back into the ring. From there, Zep gets a kendo stick and tees off on Crowley. After some more great action, ultimately, Zep sets up Crowley on the door in the ring and lands a huge elbow drop for the three-count. This was a fantastic no-disqualification match. Both Zep and Crowley crushed it and this was one of the best matches of the night.
Masha Slamovich vs. Megan Bayne
Winner: Megan Bayne
This was one of the most anticipated matches of the night. Masha Slamovich squared off with the Megasus herself, Megan Bayne. The match kicks off with a feeling-out process of sorts between the two competitors. The two land a double shoulder block on each other and neither woman moves a muscle. However, Bayne lands a huge takedown on Slamovich to take her off her feet for the first time. Slamovich follows this up with a massive clothesline of her own to take Bayne off her feet. Slamovich charges at Bayne in the corner, however, she eats a big boot. Bayne lands a huge clothesline on Slamovich to give herself some momentum in the early going.
Slamovich tries to fight back, to no avail. Bayne uses her power and expertise to keep Slamovich on the defensive. However, Masha fires herself up and lands some big offensive moves on Bayne in the corner. However, Bayne’s power proves to be too much for Slamovich. After some more incredible wrestling, ultimately, Bayne lands a huge F5 followed by a tombstone to win the match. This very well could have been the match of the night between two of the very best wrestlers on the independent wrestling scene today. Slamovich looked incredible, and since her return from Japan, this is a new Megan Bayne.
Shazza McKenzie vs. Trish Adora
Winner: Trish Adora
Following that incredible match between Slamovich and Bayne, Shazza McKenzie makes her way down to the ring getting ready for her showdown with Trish Adora. Both competitors are given a warm welcome by the Dreamwave faithful, and this is another highly anticipated match on the night. The match kicks off with some chain wrestling between McKenzie and Adora. Adora gains the upper hand using her unique submission offense to ground McKenzie. However, not be outdone, McKenzie locks in a unique submission hold of her own.
McKenzie and Adora engage in a chop-off, which sees Adora change the tides of the match in her favor with a big knee to McKenzie. After some more great wrestling, ultimately, Adora uses a unique roll-up after landing a big move to pin McKenzie for the three-count. Adora and McKenzie both looked good in this match. It was a very submission-heavy match, but that’s also not a bad thing in the slightest. Great showing by both women.
Zamaya vs. Mia Friday
Winner: Zamaya
Next, we saw Zamaya square off with Mia Friday. This is a “David vs. Goliath” match as Friday is going to have to dig deep to knock off the very powerful, Zamaya. However, this only marks Friday’s first match in Uprising, and a win over someone like Zamaya could mean a lot to Friday’s future in Uprising. The two lock in a collar-elbow tie-up to start the match, but Zamaya uses her power to send Friday flying into the corner. Friday tries again, but this time hits the mat face first.
Friday uses some of her speed and agility to best Zamaya in the early going. However, it doesn’t last as Zamaya quickly uses her power to put the match firmly in her favor. Friday fights back and scores a near-fall on Zamaya. Ultimately, however, Zamaya lands her finishing move on Friday to pick up the win. Friday had a great showing in this match, Zamaya continues to look as dominant as ever and this could spell bad news for the entire Uprising roster.
Hyan vs. Miyu Yamashita
Winner: Hyan
In the next contest of the night, we saw Hyan square off with Miyu Yamashita. This was another very highly anticipated match on the night as Hyan and Yamashita are a dream match for many. Hyan and Yamashita both are given warm welcomes from the Uprising faithful. The match starts with a collar-elbow tie-up between the two women, followed by some chain wrestling. After a feeling-out process of sorts, Yamashita hangs up Hyan over the top rope and lands a big running knee, gaining control of the match in the process.
When the match spills over to the ringside area, Yamashita continues to take the fight to Hyan. As Yamashita measures Hyan for a big kick, Hyan ducks, sending Yamashita leg first into the ring post. Hyan targets the leg of Yamashita to change the tides of the match in her favor. After some more great back-and-forth action, ultimately, Hyan lands a glam slam on Yamashita to win the match. This match was amazing and one of the top ones on the night. Both Yamashita and Hyan killed this match.
Uprising Alternative Championship: Janai Kai vs. VertVixen vs. Rebecca J. Scott vs. J-Rod
Winner: AND NEW Uprising Alternative Champion, Rebecca J. Scott
The next match of the night is arguably one of the biggest. For the first time, we are going to crown an inaugural Uprising Alternative Champion. This match features four of the best around today going at it in hopes of calling themself the first-ever Uprising Alternative Champion. Janai Kai, VertVixen, Rebecca J. Scott, and J-Rod are insanely talented, which makes this match mean even more. However, only one can win. The match starts with Rebecca J. Scott clearing house and standing tall.
J-Rod lands a huge German suplex on Scott to eliminate her from the equation for now. Kai and Vixen work together and get rid of J-Rod before facing off. Vixen lands a huge running elbow on Kai to get the match in her favor. However, J-Rod trips her up and makes her way back into the ring. This match was an incredible four-way back-and-forth match that saw each woman land some of their best shots. Ultimately, Rebecca J. Scott forces J-Rod to tap out to become the first Uprising Alternative Champion.
Viva Van vs. Emi Sakura
Winner: Emi Sakura
In the next contest on the night, we see another dream match take place. The “New Japan Bombshell,” Viva Van squares off with Emi Sakura. Van has been dominating the West Coast for quite some time now, and this match with Emi Sakura is a dream match for every New Japan fan. The match kicks off with Van going for a lock-up, but Sakura moves out of the way. Van plays some mind games of her own and calls for a test of strength. However, Sakura gains the upper hand, but Van quickly stops her in her tracks using some of her lucha-style moves to take down Sakura.
However, Sakura doesn’t stay down for long as she keeps on the attack over Van. Van fights back into the match and lands a huge “eat-defeat” on Sakura to change the momentum. After some more fun back-and-forth, Sakura lands her finishing move on Van to pick up the win. This was a fantastic back-and-forth match. Viva Van killed it, and Sakura continues to show why she’s a legend in the sport of professional wrestling.
Gabby Forza vs. Amira
Winner: Gabby Forza
This next one was a personal favorite of mine. Gabby Forza and Amira faced off in a fantastic match. Amira and Forza are very similar in style, with power and strength being at the forefront. The match starts with a collar-elbow tie-up between the two women. After a feeling-out process of sorts, Amira gains the upper hand. Amira attempts to slam Gabby, but Forza counters, and lands a big slam of her own for a two-count.
Amira lands a huge high-angle German suplex on Forza and continues on the attack. Forza turns things around, landing a few chops of her own on Amira in the corner. Amira lands a big suplex on Forza to continue to remain in control. After some more great back-and-forth action between the two powerhouses, ultimately, Forza puts Amira away with a spear and jackhammer. Both Forza and Amira had an excellent showing and continued to show why are they the two biggest powerhouses in Uprising today.
Dreamwave Women’s Champion, Brittnie Brooks & Ring of Honor Women’s Television Champion, Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel & Maggie Lee
Winners: Maggie Lee & Zayda Steel
In the main event of the night, we saw the Dreamwave Women’s Champion Brittnie Brooks team up with Billie Starkz to battle Zayda Steel and Maggie Lee. However, This is a huge main event that previews tomorrow night when Brooks puts the Dreamwave Women’s Championship on the line against Zayda Steel and Maggie Lee in a triple threat. Bliz is set to make his big entrance for Steel, however, Lee interrupts Bliz and makes her way down to the ring first. Steel comes out second accompanied by Bliz. Brooks and Starkz come out next and get a big ovation from the Dreamwave faithful.
The match starts with Maggie Lee and Billie Starkz as the legal competitors for their team. After some chain wrestling, Steel lands a blind tag and rips Starkz down by the hair from behind. Lee and Steel use some heel tactics to take the fight to Starkz in their corner. However, Starkz tries to fight back, to no avail. Starkz finally lands the hot tag on Brooks and Brooks comes in hot and ready to go. Steel saves Lee from Brooks’ finisher and all hell breaks loose between the four women.
After some more great action, ultimately, Starkz knocks out Brooks with a huge roundhouse kick, which leads to Steel hitting the unprettier on Brooks. This leads to Lee tagging herself in and hitting the moonsault to win the match for her team. The show ends with hell breaking loose between the three women ahead of tomorrow’s big championship match. From top-to-bottom, this was a very fun show.