Pro Wrestling EVE held two events to celebrate International Women’s Day. The first event was “Women Behaving Badly” on Friday, March 6 and the second was “Wrestle Queendom VIII” on Sunday, March 8.

Wrestle Queendom was the largest attended all-women’s wrestling event in Europe and was held at Indigo at The O2 in London.

The first night starts out with Amira singing a song about Harley Cameron. Amira has been incredibly entertaining lately and is set to face Harley at Wrestle Queendom. Amira is joined by her new found assistant, Cassius. Harley comes out to interrupt the song and takes out Cassius and Amira. This sets up one of the most entertaining matches on Sunday’s show.

The first match of the weekend is a non title match, where the EVE Tag Team Champions, LALLIE (Hollie Barlow and Lana Austin) take on two of the top young women on the American West Coast in Johnnie Robbie and Miko Alana. Miko has the least experience in this match, and I am really impressed with her, as she looks like she belongs in the ring with these veterans. Robbie lays some kicks into Hollie and gets into it with the fans. There is something about Johnnie Robbie’s combos that look so smooth. LALLIE keeps on getting better as a team every time I see them. Lana hits a roaring elbow as Hollie dives to the outside and LALLIE picks up the win. 

Nobody’s favorite, Nina Samuels, with Abi by her side takes on everyone’s favorite, Lil Marz. Marz is little and quick and so fun to watch, and Nina is just mean. Nina has so many ways to bend the rules and tricks to get the advantage over the young Marz. Marz is able to keep up with the veteran, but Nina gets the win with Starstruck.  This was a really fun, good vs evil match.

A couple big hitters are out next, as former AEW Champion Jamie Hayter takes on former EVE Champion, Miyu Yamashita. This is a first time match up, and they start  out with some grappling. They then exchange kicks, which may not be a good decision by Hayter, as not many can trade kicks with Miyu. They fight to the outside, which is more Hayter’s territory. Miyu does a really cool kick where she jumped off of the wall. The 30 minute time limit expires right after Hayter hits Off With Her Head. The producer, Will Osprey, comes to the ring and says that he will give them 5 more minutes. They have some very hard exchanges, but time runs out again as Miyu is laying in some really nasty kicks and it is ruled a draw.

French Art (Cory Zero and JGU) return to EVE after a very impressive debut to take on Dani Mo and Melissa Fierce. French Art is really impressive and their double team work is incredible. They are great at antagonizing their opponents and the fans. There is a fury of action and all four wrestlers are down. Skye Smitson and Violet Nyte come to the ring and attack all four wrestlers, bringing an end to the match. 

In a tag team match that pits singles opponents on Sunday’s card against each other, Alex Windsor and AZM take on Safire Reed and Syuri. These are four of the best in the world going against each other. There is constant action to the extent that it sounds like there are car crashes in the ring. In the end, Windsor is able to get the win for her team with a sit down power bomb. We will see if this will give Windsor momentum for her NJPW Strong title match on Sunday against Syuri. 

In the main event, Anita Vaughan takes on DASH Chisako in a falls count anywhere match. Vaughan tries to keep it a traditional wrestling match, but that doesn’t last long. Vaughan sets up a table, but DASH kicks it into her. They both use weapons in the ring. Vaughan slams DASH onto a chair on the outside. DASH dives on Vaughan on a chair to pick up the win.

I thought this was a fun show to get you ready for the main course that is Wrestle Queendom 8. My favorite matches on this show were the opening tag match between LALLIE and Johnnie Robbie & Miko Alana and Jamie Hayter against Miyu Yamashita. I would love to see Johnnie Robbie and Miko Alana back in EVE, either as a tag team or as singles and would really like to see Hayter and Miyu face off again to get this settled. 

We open Wrestle Queendom 8 with Sudden Death 16, where the winner can compete for any EVE championship. The rules for this match are similar to AEW’s Casino Battle Royals, where you can win at any time by pinfall or submission, but in this match you can also eliminate people by throwing them over the top rope.

We start with Miyu Yamashita and Jamie Hayter, quite a way to start the match and the show. Neither one wants to back down from the other, just like neither gave an inch in their previous two matches in EVE. DASH Chisako goes right after Miyu and they face off for the first time ever. Anita Vaughan is the next to come out. Hayter and Vaughan exchange strikes. That is a match I would love to see. The powerful Lucy Sky returns to EVE. Former AEW and EVE champion, Nyla Rose, enters the match. The crowd is very into Nyla Rose, as she destroys everyone. Alexxis Falcon enters the match. Aluna returns to EVE after a lengthy absence. A crowd favorite everywhere she goes, Lil Marz comes running out with a confetti crossbody. One of the best women in Europe and across the globe, Emersyn Jayne comes into the match and throws some bodies around the ring. Hayter and Miyu battle it out on the apron and eliminate each other. Princesse Lauriana enters the match, then a surprise and one of everyone’s favorite wrestlers, YUU. We thought YUU was retired! Yuu and Nyla Rose battle it out as Molly Spartan enters the fray. We have some hard hitters in the ring and Nightshade adds to it. Oh gosh, Abi is out next, she tries to eliminate multiple people to no luck. The Hoss girls beat up Abi and the EVE legend Charlie Morgan is the final entrant. We have Charlie Morgan and Yuu coming out of retirement for Wrestle Queendom. Molly Spartan looks really impressive as she gives Emersyn an over the head suplex to eliminate Emersyn. Abi eliminates DASH, which doesn’t end well for Abi, and DASH puts her on a table after Abi is eliminated and jumps off a ladder, crashing through Abi. Alexxis Falcon is able to catch Charlie Morgan with a spinning DDT for the win. This was a really fun match an a great way to start the show for new and old fans alike. Personally I was very excited for the returns of Yuu and Charlie Morgan.

We are not slowing down at all, as the next match is Safire Reed against AZM. The crowd is just as even as the wrestlers are. Both of these competitors are young, quick and loved by the fans. We didn’t have commentary for the first two minutes and I didn’t even notice because the action was so fast. It finally slows down a little bit after Safire hits a flying head butt. AZM hits a stomp in the corner, then a flying double stomp off the top. Safire may be the more powerful wrestler in this match, as she has really impressive suplexes and lariats. They go back and forth and AZM hits a Canadian Destroyer, then rolls into a variant of a safety belt pin for the win.

We determine the #1 contenders for the tag titles in a 4 way match as Nyte Skye (Skye Smitson and Violet Nyte) take on Melissa Fierce & Dani Mo, Aliss Ink & Chantel Jordan, and French Art. French Art has been incredibly impressive in their first two matches in EVE. Nyte Skye is a new team, but look like a cohesive unit. They are very violent and don’t care if anyone likes them. There was bodies flying everywhere, ending with Dani Mo coming off the top. French Art are impressing once again. French Art goes for a pin, but they are not legal, Violet Nyte is. Nyte Skye hits a Brainbuster/Dropkick combo to the head for the win.

Amira Blair with Cassious and a cardboard cutout of Zoe Lucas make their way to the ring. Then out comes half of the AEW tag team champions, Harley Cameron. Amira sings a song about her match complete with shirtless dances. It is incredible. Harley answers with a song of her own. Harley says they should team up and sings “Sweet Caroline”, but is attacked by Amira. Amira beats Harley with an Amira puppet. Harley answers with a puppet of her own. Cassius goes to spray Harley with his hairspray, but hit Amira and Harley rolls her up for the win. After the match we have a duet of “Never Gonna Dance Again” and we all agree that this was a 16 star match.

The AEW TBS championship is being defended as Nina Samuels (with Abi in her corner) takes on Willow Nightingale. Some one-up-menship is going on, as they each try to play mind games and control the momentum. Nina outsmarts Willow and maybe bends the rules a little bit to take the advantage. Abi tries to help Nina, but the ref catches her and kicks her out. Nina hits a really impressive cartwheel knee. Willow challenges Nina and they exchange strikes in the middle of the ring, ending in a huge lariat from Willow. PERFECT 450 from Nina Samuels, but Willow kicks out. Willow hits a huge pounce followed by a Doctor Bomb for the win. Great match between two veteran wrestlers.

Another title match is next, as AEW’s Alex Windsor challenges Syuri for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. The crowd is split as the two fight on the outside. Windsor is bigger and I would presume stronger, but Syuri has some really powerful kicks and knees. Syuri comes off the turnbuckle with Alex’s arm and continues to put pressure on it when they get to the mat. No one keeps the advantage in this match for very long. Alex hits two Lariats and Made in Japan for the win to become the NEW NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. I was not expecting that outcome, but Alex deserves every title and accolade that she gets.

The EVE Tag Team championships are on the line as Australia’s best, Jessica Troy and Charli Evans, challenge LALLIE (Lana Austin and Hollie Barlow). Jessica and Charli’s gear look amazing, as Charli is fire and Jess is ice. Hollie and Charli facing off is really fun, as its one of the sweetest wrestlers against one of the most intimidating. LALLIE is working incredible as a team, but Jess and Charli are two of the best wrestlers in the world. LALLIE is a crowd favorite, but Charli has such a history in EVE the fans cannot help but cheer her too. I feel like this is the best version of Lana Austin that we have seen. She has collected many titles, but I don’t know if we have seen her as complete of a wrestler as she is now. Some really fun and innovative spots as all four women are in the ring.

After a really hard hitting battle LALLIE gets the win after Hollie hits a stunner off the ropes and Lana hits Jess with a discus forearm for the win. This was a really great match with four incredible wrestlers with very different styles and personalities. Hollie has to be one of the most improved wrestlers in the past year. She had taken some time off of wrestling and now has become not only Lana’s partner, but an very integral part of the EVE Tag Team Champions who just defeated two of the best wrestlers in the world. Unfortunately, after the match, Nyte Skye ruins their celebration and attacks them on the ramp on their way to the back. 

We keep the big title matches coming, as Charlie (formerly known as Dakota Kai) returns to independent wrestling to challenge Kris Statlander for the EVE International Championship. They start out quick as they both hit big moves on the apron. Statlander seems to be a step ahead of Charlie, which may be a little ring rust from Charlie and just that Statlander is on another level at the moment. Charlie hits a destroyer off the turnbuckles, then a face stomp with Statlander hanging from the ropes. Charlie comes off the turnbuckles again, but Statlander catches her and hits her with a tombstone piledriver. Statlander is not able to get the pin, so Statlander answers with three tombstones for the win.

The main event is Session Moth Matina challenging Rhio for the EVE Championship. While the crowd might have been split in other matches, they are clearly behind Martina in this match. Martina comes out firing and both wrestlers try to end the match early. Rhio brings kendo sticks into the ring, but Martina uses them against her. Rhio hits Martina in the head with a trash can and Martina starts bleeding. Martina fires back, but Rhio picks her off the turnbuckle and hits her with a muscle buster. Rhio grabs some thumbtack bats and hits Martina with them. Martina comes back, but Rhio brings an end to that by throwing a chair at Martina’s head. Rhio hits her with an air raid crash onto a chair, but Martina keeps fighting back. Rhio dumps tacks into the ring, but she is the one that lands on it. Martina sets up a table, but this backfires on her, as Rhio puts her through the table with a package piledriver. Martina kicks out of the pin attempt to Rhio’s shock and Rhio goes for a submission. Martina avoids a chair shot and hits a flurry of offense, she goes for the pin, but Alexxis Falcon pulls the ref out of the ring. The ref goes down and Alexxis Falcon joins Rhio in beating Marina, but Nightshade comes out for the save. The rest of the heels help Rhio, but here comes Hayter, Kasey, Charlie Morgan, Erin Angel, Jetta, Alex Windsor and Millie McKenzie. They all come out to help Martina. Love seeing Millie give a suplex to Lucy Sky. Martina hits her friend’s moves, and her move, the Jager Bomb for the win. This was a great way to end Martina’s story, a great way to end EVE’s biggest show and a great way to showcase EVE past, present and future.

EVE has always been great at combining great wrestling with great storytelling that emits emotions and this weekend of shows showcased all of that. This weekend showcased some of the best women in the world, from women who are on TV every week to some women you may not have heard of before. I hope that this momentum can continue and Wrestle Queendom 9 can be even bigger.