Southern Pro Wrestling

Last updated
Southern Pro Wrestling
AcronymSPW
Founded2015
Headquarters Invercargill, New Zealand
Founder(s)Troy Crosbie
Marc Perry
Website spwrestling.co.nz

Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW) is a New Zealand professional wrestling promotion. Since the promotion's formation in 2015, it has promoted regular live events throughout the country predominantly in Invercargill and Queenstown [1] In 2018, SPW held the biggest live independent wrestling show seen in New Zealand for over 27 years, the 2018 Southern Rumble, which was held at ILT Stadium in Invercargill in front of 1,200+ in attendance. [2] SPW has led to a resurgence of the popularity and mainstream media coverage of professional wrestling in New Zealand. [3] The 2019 Southern Rumble event was held again in ILT Stadium, with similar attendance numbers. [4] SPW currently has over 30 full-time employees. [5] In March 2019, SPW signed a deal with New Zealand's largest free-to-air broadcaster, TVNZ with an audience of 2 million people. [6] 22 June 2019, marked the return of New Zealand pro-wrestling on TVNZ for the first time since On the Mat ended 35 years prior. [7] [8] [9] [10] On 24 August 2019, the 2019 Southern Rumble event aired on TVNZ Duke and was viewed by over 40,000 people. [11]

Contents

Founders

Troy Crosbie and Marc Perry are the founders of SPW. [12] Perry was trained by WWE legend Lance Storm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and since then has wrestled and performed across New Zealand. [13]

Marc Perry was trained by UK World of Sport legend Steve Logan and former WWE superstar Drake Maverick. He has wrestled all over the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and NZ and worked with well-known international wrestlers. He has taken part in WWE Tryouts and performed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. [5]

Notable Appearances

Various well-known international wrestlers have made appearances in SPW such as Travis Banks, [14] Tenille Dashwood, [15] Bea Priestley, [15] Jimmy Havoc [16] and Will Ospreay. [17] Travis Banks appeared in SPW at the Southern Rumble on 13 July 2019, despite being under contract with WWE on its NXT UK brand at the time. [18] The 2019 Southern Rumble event was a cross-promotional event with Melbourne City Wrestling (MCW) [19]

Championships

Current champions

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)Date wonEventPrevious Champion(s)
SPW New Zealand ChampionshipCool Guy SkyAugust 9, 2025Southern Rumble (2025)Azza
SPW New Zealand Tag Team ChampionshipMichael Richards and Nico BellAugust 9, 2025Southern Rumble (2025)Black Light District
(Saboor & Corey Beams)

[20]

SPW New Zealand Championship

SPW New Zealand Championship
SPWTitle.jpg
Details
PromotionSouthern Pro Wrestling
Date established17 March 2016
Current championAzza
Statistics
First championShane Sinclair
Most reignsK9 (3)
Longest reignWill Power (637 days)
Shortest reignKane Khan (<1 day)

The SPW New Zealand Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW). The inaugural champion was "The Shooter" Shane Sinclair, who defeated "Hooligan" Marcus Kool & "Powerhouse" T-Rex in the tournament final at the Fight For Gold event in Invercargill.

Title history

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Shane Sinclair17 March 2016Fight For Gold (2016) Invercargill 193Shane Sinclair won a 6 man tournament, defeating Marcus Kool & T-Rex in the tournament final.
— Vacated 18 June 2016————Shane Sinclair had to vacate the title due to being present for the birth of his first child.
2Marcus Kool15 July 2016 Southern Rumble (2016) Invercargill 1224Marcus Kool defeated T-Rex in a Southland Street Fight for the vacant title.
3T-Rex24 February 2017Fight For Gold (2017) Invercargill 1246T-Rex cashed in his Fight for Gold contract and defeated Marcus Kool.
4JK Moody28 October 2017Halloween Haunting (2017) Invercargill 1259JK Moody defeated T-Rex.
5Kane Khan14 July 2018Southern Rumble (2018) Invercargill 1<1Kane Khan defeated JK Moody in a TLC match.
6Will Power14 July 2018Southern Rumble (2018) Invercargill 1105Will Power defeated Kane Khan.
7Kane Khan27 October 2018Halloween Haunting (2018) Invercargill 2140Kane Khan defeated Will Power.
8Marcus Kool16 March 2019Queenstown Wrestlefest (2019) Queenstown 2119Marcus Kool defeated Kane Khan.
9Slex13 July 2019Southern Rumble (2019) Invercargill 1105Slex defeated Marcus Kool
10Shane Sinclair26 October 2019Halloween Haunting (2019) Invercargill 2287Defeated Marcus Kool and Slex in a Triple Threat Elimination match.
11Jamie Tagataese8 August 2020Southern Rumble - Night 2 (2020) Invercargill 1364Won the 20 Man Southern Rumble match the previous night, earning a championship match against Shane Sinclair. Jamie Tagataese went on to defeat Shane Sinclair in a singles match. [21]
12Will Power7 August 2021Southern Rumble (2021) Invercargill 2637Will Power defeated Jamie Tagataese.
13K96 May 2023Battlelines (2023) Invercargill 3175K9 defeated Will Power in a Last Man Standing Match.
14Cool Guy Sky28 October 2023Halloween Haunting (2023)Invercargill1364Cool Guy Sky defeated K9
15Azza26 October 2024Halloween Haunting (2024)Invercargill1287Azza cashed in the Fight for Gold Briefcase after Sky was assaulted by the Black Light District following his title defence in the main event. Azza successfully pinned Sky to become the new champion
16Cool Guy Sky9 August 2025Southern Rumble (2025)Invercargill228+Cool Guy Sky defeated Azza.
List of combined reigns
RankChampionNo. of reignsCombined days
1Will Power2742
2Shane Sinclair2380
3Jamie Tagataese1364
4Marcus Kool2343
5JK Moody1259
6T-Rex1246
7K9/Kane Khan3157+
8Slex1105

SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championship

SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championship
SPWTagTeamTitles.jpg
Details
PromotionSouthern Pro Wrestling
Date established3 March 2018
Current championsBlack Light District
(Saboor & Corey Beams)
Statistics
First championsNZXT
(Mason Daniels & Michael Richards)
Longest reignTHE NZ MEGA POWERS
(Cool Guy Sky & Will Power)
(764 days)
Shortest reignNZXT
(Mason Daniels & Michael Richards)
(49 days)

The SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championship is the top professional wrestling tag team championship title in the New Zealand promotion Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW). The inaugural champions were NZXT (Mason Daniels & Michael Richards), who defeated the CruiserMates (Falcon Kid & Liam Fury) at the 2018 Fight For Gold event in Invercargill.

Title history

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1NZXT
(Mason Daniels & Michael Richards)		3 March 2018Fight For Gold (2018) Invercargill 149NZXT defeated Down to Fight to become the inaugural champions.
2CruiserMates
(Falcon Kid & Liam Fury)		21 April 2018Battle Lines (2018) Invercargill 1217CruiserMates defeated NZXT.
3Detention
(Ryder & Sky)		24 November 2018Fight Nights 10 Invercargill 1161Detention w/Professor Palmer defeated CruiserMates.
4Deadly Sins
(JK Moody & Kane Khan)		4 May 2019Battle Lines (2019) Invercargill 1112Deadly Sins defeated Detention.
— Vacated 24 August 2019Fight Nights 12———Deadly Sins moved from SPW to seek out opportunities abroad. As a result of being unable to defend the titles, they were forced to vacate them.
5Power Tools
(Will Power & Hammer)		26 October 2019Halloween Haunting (2019) Invercargill 1140Power Tools defeated Detention in the tag team tournament final.
6CTRL
(Carnage & Jake Shehaan)		14 March 2020Queenstown WrestleFest (2020) Queenstown 1328CTRL defeated Will Power & "Human Love Machine" T-Rex
7THE NZ MEGA POWERS
(Cool Guy Sky & Will Power)		5 February 2021Fight For Gold - Night 1 (2021) Invercargill 1764THE NZ MEGA POWERS defeated CTRL Jake Sheehan & Carnage
8The Golden Light
(James Shaw & Ryder)		11 March 2023Fight For Gold (2023) Invercargill 1511The Golden Light defeated THE NZ MEGA POWERS
9Black Light District
(Saboor & Corey Beams)		3 August 2024Southern Rumble (2024) Invercargill 1371Black Light District defeated The Golden Light
10Michael Richards and Nico Bell9 August 2025Southern Rumble (2025)Invercargill128+Micheal Richards and Nico Bell defeated the Black Light District in a triple threat tag match which included Pat Schisk and Jamie Tagataese.

[20] [22]

Southern Rumble History

The Southern Rumble is SPW's biggest event. A Southern Rumble event has been held every year since 2016.

Southern Rumble (2016)

Southern Rumble (2016)
Promotion SPW
Date15 July 2016
City Invercargill, New Zealand
VenueInvercargill Working Men's Club
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
First		Next →
2017
No.Results [23] [24] Stipulations
1Brook Duncan defeated Curt Chaos (w/Miss Rivers) Singles match
2No Face defeated LigerSingles match
3Will Power defeated HammerSingles match
4The Deadly Sins (JK Moody & Kane Khan) defeated Privileged (Charlie Roberts & Curtis Castlewood) Tag team match
5Slade Mercer defeated 13 others to win the Southern Rumble Southern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
6Marcus Kool defeated T-Rex Southland Street Fight for the vacant SPW New Zealand Championship

Southern Rumble (2017)

Southern Rumble (2017)
Promotion SPW
Date22 July 2017
City Invercargill, New Zealand
VenueInvercargill Working Men's Club
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
2016 		Next →
2018
No.Results [25] [26] Stipulations
1 Will Ospreay defeated Shane SinclairSingles match
2Hammer defeated Marcus KoolSingles match
3 Bea Priestley defeated Ashlee SpencerSingles match
4TK Cooper defeated Taylor AdamsSingles match
5T-Rex (c) defeated Jakob CrossSingles match for the SPW New Zealand Championship
6JK Moody defeated 19 others to win the Southern RumbleSouthern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Southern Rumble (2018)

Southern Rumble (2018)
Promotion SPW
Date14 July 2018
City Invercargill, New Zealand
Venue ILT Stadium
Attendance1,200+ [2]
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
2017 		Next →
2019
No.Results [2] [27] Stipulations
1Marcus Kool defeated Will Ospreay Singles match
2 Tenille Dashwood defeated Bea Priestley Singles match
3CruiserMates (Falcon Kid & Luke Fury) (c) defeated NZXT (Mason Daniels & Michael Richards) 2 out of 3 falls tag team match for the SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championship
4T-Rex defeated Gino GambinoSingles match
5Kane Khan defeated JK Moody (c) Tables, ladders, and chairs match for the SPW New Zealand Championship
6Will Power defeated Kane Khan (c)Singles match for the SPW New Zealand Championship
(Fight for Gold cash-in match)
7Kane Khan defeated 19 others to win the Southern Rumble20-man Southern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Southern Rumble (2019)

Southern Rumble (2019)
Promotion(s) SPW
MCW
Date13 July 2019
(aired 24 August 2019
on TVNZ Duke [28] )
City Invercargill, New Zealand
Venue ILT Stadium
Attendance1,200+ [2]
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
2018 		Next →
Southern Rumble - Night (2020)
No.Results [29] Stipulations
1Falcon Kid defeated KingiSingles match
2Will Power defeated Gino GambinoSingles match
3Lochy Hendricks defeated Shane SinclairSingles match
4Kellyanne defeated Indi Hartwell Singles match
5Deadly Sins (JK Moody & Kane Khan) (c) defeated The South Pacific Power Trip (TK Cooper & Travis Banks)Tag team match for the SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championship
6T-Rex defeated Dowie JamesSouthland Street Fight
7Slex (c) defeated Marcus Kool (c) Winner Takes All match for the SPW New Zealand Championship and the MCW World Heavyweight Championship
8JK Moody defeated 19 others to win the Southern Rumble20-man Southern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Southern Rumble (2020)

Southern Rumble - Night 1 (2020)
Promotion SPW
Date7 August 2020
City Invercargill, New Zealand
VenueInvercargill Workingmen's Club
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
2019 		Next →
Southern Rumble - Night 2 (2020)
No.ResultsStipulations
1TK Cooper defeated Will PowerSingles match
2Jake Shehaan (w/Amber Saint) defeated Cam KaibaSingles match
3Rangi defeated Charlie RobertsSingles match
4T-Rex defeated Marcus KoolSingles match
5Shane Sinclair (c) defeated NIWASingles match for the SPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
6Jamie Tagataese defeated 19 others to win the Southern Rumble20-man Southern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
Southern Rumble - Night 2 (2020)
Promotion SPW
Date8 August 2020
City Invercargill, New Zealand
VenueInvercargill Workingmen's Club
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
Southern Rumble - Night 1 (2020)		Next →
Southern Rumble (2021)
No.ResultsStipulations
1Will Power defeated T-RexSingles match
2Charlie Roberts defeated Albino RhinoSingles match
3CTRL (c) defeated Cool Guy Sky & NIWA, Detention and Rangi & Vinny Dunn Fatal Four Way Tag Team Elimination Match for the SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championships
4Cam Kaiba defeated Liam FurySouthland Street Fight
5Marcus Kool defeated TK Cooper Singles Match
6Hammer defeated Professor PalmerSingles Match
7Jamie Tagataese defeated Shane Sinclair (c)Singles Match for the SPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Southern Rumble (2021)

Southern Rumble (2021)
Promotion SPW
Date7 August 2021
City Invercargill, New Zealand
VenueInvercargill Workingmen's Club
Southern Rumble chronology
← Previous
Southern Rumble - Night 2 (2020)		Next →
—
No.ResultsStipulations
1THE NZ MEGA POWERS (c) defeated the Knights of Mayhem (w/Sabrina)Tag Team Match for the SPW New Zealand Tag Team Championships
2Jaxon Cross defeated HammerSingles match
3T-Rex defeated Charlie RobertsSingles match
4NIWA defeated Marcus KoolDog Collar Chain Match
5K9 defeated 19 others to win the Southern Rumble20-man Southern Rumble match to determine the number one contender for the SPW New Zealand Championship
6Will Power defeated Jamie Tagataese (c)Singles Match for the SPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Television and streaming

SPW programming is available in New Zealand on the TV channel, TVNZ Duke available on Freeview, Sky and Vodafone TV. Additionally, SPW shows are available online through TVNZ OnDemand (Not currently as of 13/08/2022). Furthermore, SPW provides a subscription video on demand service SPW On Demand with standalone Android and iOS apps, as well as via Pivotshare. [30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cagematch.net - Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW). 8 May 2020
  2. 1 2 3 4 Events - SPW Southern Rumble 2018. 3 May 2020
  3. ↑ Athletes move south as wrestling grows in popularity. 19 February 2018
  4. ↑ Southern Rumble 2019 a MASSIVE success!. 15 July 2019
  5. 1 2 About Us. 3 May 2020
  6. ↑ Wrestling On The Edge of the World’ Returns to TVNZ DUKE in 2020 25 January 2020
  7. ↑ Wrestling Special. 3 May 2020
  8. ↑ Watch: Pro-wrestling making a massive comeback in the deep south 7 May 2019
  9. ↑ Southern Pro Wrestling Signs Deal With TVNZ Duke. 30 March 2019
  10. ↑ WWE star Travis Banks back home and determined to honour The Bushwhackers' legacy. 5 July 2019
  11. ↑ TVNZ 2020. 10 May 2020
  12. ↑ Cagematch.net -Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW). 8 May 2020
  13. ↑ A Brief History Of: Southern Pro Wrestling. 9 April 2019
  14. ↑ Travis Banks Returning to New Zealand For SPW. 22 May 2019
  15. 1 2 SPW Southern Rumble 2018. 8 May 2020
  16. ↑ SPW Fight Nights 11 - HAVOC. 18 January 2019
  17. ↑ SPW Fight Nights ft Will Ospreay. 15 February 2018
  18. ↑ Otago Daily Times - SPW. 13 July 2019
  19. ↑ NZPWI - SPW Southern Rumble 2019. 14 January 2019
  20. 1 2 "Championship Titles". Southern Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  21. ↑ "SPW Southern Rumble 2020". What's On Invers. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  22. ↑ "SPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  23. ↑ Cagematch - SPW Southern Rumble 2016. 15 July 2016
  24. ↑ Kayfabia - SPW Southern Rumble 2016. 15 July 2016
  25. ↑ Cagematch - SPW Southern Rumble 2017. 22 July 2017
  26. ↑ Kayfabia - SPW Southern Rumble 2017. 22 July 2017
  27. ↑ Kayfabia - SPW Southern Rumble 2018. 14 July 2018
  28. ↑ Watch SPW Wrestling Special . 24 August 2019
  29. ↑ Cagematch - SPW Southern Rumble 2019. 13 July 2019
  30. ↑ "SPW On Demand launches on Pivotshare". NZPWI. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
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