FanSided previews the first round matches in the 2019 edition of the Battle Of Los Angeles tournament and predicts the outcome of the tournament.
Night 1
A-Kid vs Lucky Kid
This matchup features two European men making their PWG debuts.
Lucky Kid, the 11-year veteran, has quickly become one of the hottest wrestlers in Germany and the UK scene over the past two years. Kid has experience in high stakes tournaments as he was the winner of this year’s 16 Carat tournament in WXW, which many fans equate to be the European equivalent to BOLA. Kid has an explosive style and an unpredictable arsenal of moves so he should be difficult to scout. He’s a dark horse that could easily knock out some tournament favorites.
A-Kid has been proclaimed to be the best wrestler to come out of Spain. His work with his local promotion, White Wolf Wrestling, and his excursions to the UK have not gone unnoticed by international fans as A-Kid has been slated to be a big player in 2019 and 2020. He has recently made appearances on NXT UK and is apparently being looked as someone with high potential by the powers-that-be. A-Kid also has the prestige of having a 5-star rated match from Dave Meltzer when he faced off against Zack Sabre Jr. A-Kid may not make it far in the tournament but his matches will definitely be a must watch for indie wrestling fans.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Lucky Kid
Brody King vs Caveman Ugg
This is the definition of a hoss fight.
Brody King is no stranger to fans as this will be the big man’s second appearance in BOLA as he has become a mainstay of PWG. King came out of the Santino Bros Wrestling School, which also produced Jake Atlas and Eli Everfly, and was one of the biggest free agents in wrestling last year. King is a heavy favorite this year to go far and even possibly win the whole tournament. Anyone going up against King in the bracket should be looked at as the underdog.
Caveman Ugg is a new name to American fans but he has been quietly building his case to be one of the greatest wrestlers in Australia. A man his size hitting a Phoenix Splash is quite the sight and he may bring that mega move out against King. Ugg will be looking to show what he can do in front of a whole new audience and with nothing to lose he will be coming in as one of the most dangerous men in the tournament.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Brody King
Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
This battle pits two high-flying luchadors against each other.
Dragon Lee has quickly become a household name for international fans over the past few years as his rivalry with NJPW junior heavyweight Hiromu Takahashi brought him to the forefront of the wrestling world. One of CMLL’s most prolific talents will be making his PWG debut in BOLA this year as he hopes to add another prize to his resume. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion is going to be extremely hard to prepare for and anyone facing him in the tournament will most definitely have their work cut out for them.
Rey Horus, formerly known as Dragon Azteca Jr. in Lucha Underground, is a PWG regular and has really begun to separate himself from the pack with his high-flying maneuvers and insanely accurate offense. Horus gained notoriety on Lucha Underground but has since moved past his time there and has built up an independent reputation for himself. Horus isn’t looked at as someone who would likely go far in BOLA this year but PWG bookers are high on the man so a first- or even a second-round win is still in the realm of possibility.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Dragon Lee
Darby Allin vs Black Taurus
A mismatch on paper, but this match might just steal the whole show.
Darby Allin is the personification of an underdog. His small stature makes him easy to overpower but what he lacks in size he makes up for in passion. Allin first endeared himself to fans during his time with EVOLVE where he beat himself to a pulp with reckless abandon in matches with WALTER and Ethan Page. One of the best overall wrestlers in the world right now and with his TV debut with AEW impending, Allin will be looking to make an impact in this tournament.
One of the fastest-rising stars in 2019, Black Taurus has only had one match in PWG but it was rated five stars by The Wrestling Observer. Taurus is a heavyweight from Mexico who works primarily with AAA and has made 2019 his year with countless marquee matches and stellar performances. In a tournament full of heavyweights who can move well, Taurus does not get lost in the fold as his agility and strength is incredibly hard to match. Taurus could be a bracket-buster as the relative newbie to PWG looks to take home another big win.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Darby Allin
Jonathan Gresham vs Artemis Spencer
A man with everything to prove takes on the greatest American grappler in a very interesting match-up.
Artemis Spencer, the former DEFY Champion, a native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, is an 11-year veteran and is the sole Canadian wrestler in the tournament. Spencer is no stranger to big tournaments, though, as he participated in this year’s edition of Progress Super Strong Style 16 where he took on David Starr in the first round. Spencer is a unique mesh of a smash mouth style with a rope based offense and being one of the biggest mysteries in the tournament makes him hard to prepare for. His technical abilities are nothing to look down on but they will be put to the test against his first-round opponent.
Jonathan Gresham is hailed as the best technical wrestler in America and that moniker was not just handed to him. He backs up all the hype and praise. Gresham has always been looking to break out on an international level and these past two years he has started to achieve that goal. “The Octopus” will be looking to continue his ascent to the top of the wrestling industry with some big wins in the tournament. Gresham could easily get knocked out early but an appearance in the semi-finals or even the finals is not an impossible scenario.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Jonathan Gresham
Jeff Cobb vs Daisuke Sekimoto
This is a dream match that might end up registering on the Richter scale.
Jeff Cobb, the current PWG Champion, won BOLA last year and will be looking to have a repeat performance this year. A Ring of Honor roster member now, Cobb is having one of the best years of his career and a BOLA win would be a solid way to cap off 2019. Cobb does have more of an advantage this year as the amount of heavyweights in this year’s tournament has decreased since last year, but at the same time he has to face the biggest man in the tournament in Round 1.
Daisuke Sekimoto is the monster of the tournament this year. Sekimoto is a huge presence in Japan where he is a former BJW Heavyweight Champion, DDT Openweight Champion, Champion Carnival winner and BJW Tag Team Champion. What he lacks in height he makes up for in mass. An immovable hoss with an explosive arsenal of power moves, Sekimoto will be almost impossible to stop if he gets a rhythm going in a match. That being said as it is his PWG debut it would seem unlikely that he would go all that far in the tournament but as it is Sekimoto, fans should expect him to win at least a few contests and an early exit from the tournament would be highly unlikely.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Daisuke Sekimoto
Non-Tournament Matches
Joey Janela/Alex Zayne vs Tony Deppen/Blake Christian
GCW invades PWG in this highly anticipated tag match.
PWG has been chastised for seemingly “copying” GCW by bringing in lots of GCW main-eventers after they gained popularity in the game-changing company from the East Coast. But can fans really blame the promotion for booking four of the hottest acts on the scene today?
Joey Janela will be taking on Australian standout Mick Moretti on Night 2 of the tournament but for Night 1 he has to keep Moretti out of his mind and focus on Tony Deppen and Blake Christian.
Blake Christian is one of GCW’s latest discoveries and he is living up to the hype that has been placed onto him. A man who is set to become one of biggest high flyers on the indie scene will be looking to make his mark on an event that will give him a huge spotlight to shine under.
Tony Deppen won’t be making his PWG debut like his partner but he is still relatively new to the Reseda crowd and will be looking to continue his ascent to the top of the indie wrestling scene. Deppen, like Janela, will have to stay focused on the task at hand though and not let his mind wander to his opponent for Night 2, Pentagon Jr.
Alex Zayne is no rookie but he is a new face to Reseda and the international scene as a whole. Zayne made the leap to the international stage thanks to a 630 senton spot he pulled off at the GCW Backyard show back in July. Zayne will be looking to match Christian for high spots so expect him to put on one Hell of a performance.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Joey Janela/Alex Zayne
Lucha Brothers vs Bandido/Flamita
Two of the best tag teams to come out of Mexico fight to see who’s No. 1.
The Lucha Brothers are coming off several huge contests against The Young Bucks and after their last big win in the ladder match at All Out, the brothers look unstoppable. Pentagon and Fenix both have tournament matches on Night 2 but they will be looking to humble another lucha tag team on Night 1.
Bandido and Flamita are no strangers to tagging with each other as the two men have tagged in several promotions such as Dragon Gate and Progress. Bandido will be facing off against Laredo Kid on Night 2, but this tag match is Flamita’s only confirmed contest for the weekend. Both men don’t have a first gear and with a lot on the line in terms of pride, fans can expect both luchadors to leave it all in the ring.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Lucha Brothers
Night 2
Jake Atlas vs Jungle Boy
Two of the hottest rising talents on the American scene look to make an impact.
Jake Atlas made his presence felt when he participated in the Santino Bros student four-way match at PWG’s 2018 event Time is a Flat Circle. Atlas has made a name for himself on the international scene due to his explosive and unique set of moves as well as the fact that he is one of the first openly gay indie wrestlers. Atlas can easily be looked at as a dark horse for this year’s tournament.
Jungle Boy is one of the fastest rising stars in wrestling in quite some time. From local, small shows to GCW to PWG and now to AEW all within a year, the son of late actor Luke Perry is set to be a huge star in the wrestling world. Having four PWG matches under his belt, Jungle Boy is not a newbie to the Reseda crowd but this will be his first appearance in BOLA. Jungle Boy may not go far in the tournament this year, but to count him out entirely is not recommended.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Jake Atlas
Joey Janela vs Mick Moretti
“The Rapscallion” finds his way to California as he takes on one of PWG’s favorite sons.
“The Bad Boy” Joey Janela has quickly endeared himself to the PWG fans over the past few years. The Asbury Park native made a name for himself on the East Coast with wild death matches and dangerous spots but he has shown off his technical abilities and command of the ring in front of the PWG regulars. He’s another AEW signing that is set to be a household name in the the world of wrestling, but before that he has to face off against the most unpredictable man in the field of 24.
Mick Moretti is a new name to some but “The Rapscallion” is one of the top wrestlers in Australia and he has been quietly making moves towards the international scene. Moretti is a 10-year veteran with a pension for rule-breaking and cheap attacks. The man hailing from Dragontown, Australia, has built a reputation as an impossible to scout enigma and the PWG fans are in for quite the show when he drops in for his debut at BOLA.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Joey Janela
Aramis vs Rey Fenix
A last-minute replacement faces off against a PWG mainstay in what could be a show-stealer of a match.
Aramis is the BOLA replacement for Barbaro Cavernario, who sadly had to withdraw from the tournament. Aramis is a 10-year veteran out of Mexico who wrestles for IWRG and AAA. A high-flyer with a flair for the dramatic, this luchador will be the hardest man in the tournament to prepare for as he was the last participant announced for the event. Aramis will be looking to show that he isn’t just some placeholder for Cavernario and he can make it far in the tournament.
Rey Fenix, a long time mainstay of PWG and a member of the AAA Tag Champions, The Lucha Brothers, is a man who been in BOLA several times and has almost reached the finals on quite a few occasions. Fenix first gained notoriety in Lucha Underground and quickly made the transition to the US indie scene before signing with IMPAT and now AEW. Fenix is a solid pick to bet on going very far in BOLA this year.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Rey Fenix
Tony Deppen vs Pentagon
It’s AEW vs GCW in a dream match for indie fans everywhere.
Tony Deppen is one of the fastest rising stars on the American indie scene at the moment. The Pennsylvania native first gained notoriety as one of Game Changer Wrestling’s consistent roster members. His smash mouth style and aggressive nature has made Deppen a force to be reckoned with, so a first-round knockout can be viewed as highly unlikely. But Deppen’s Round 1 opponent is a man who is also known for his aggressive nature.
Pentagon is another PWG mainstay, like his brother Fenix, who jumped to the international scene due to his time with Lucha Underground. Pentagon has also been very close to a tournament win in previous BOLA tournaments but has never made it to the elusive finals. Pentagon is someone who fans can never count out in a format like this. Pentagon will most likely end up going pretty far in the tournament unless something unexpected happens.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Pentagon
Orange Cassidy vs David Starr
The most hated man in Reseda looks to pick up a win against the most unorthodox competitor in the tournament.
Orange Cassidy is quite possibly the hottest man in indie wrestling right now and with his imminent signing with AEW on the horizon, “Freshly Squeezed” will be looking to add another milestone to his indie career. Cassidy is the very definition of a “bracket buster” this year and he can’t be looked at as an easy exit by anyone.
David Starr is one of the most hated heels in PWG. When Starr isn’t portraying his “champion of the indies” unionizing character he is playing a straight, classic heel with an ego that can rival anyone in the business. Starr has the rare quality of being able to be booed in PWG and with that he can possibly go far and help put over an up-and-coming babyface or just simply exit the tournament early to put over Cassidy. But don’t count out the possibility that Starr could end up stealing the tournament much to the chagrin of the PWG faithful.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Orange Cassidy
Bandido vs Puma King
Two of the biggest names in lucha libre square off in a must-see contest.
Bandido was a finalist in last year’s BOLA tournament and came incredibly close to taking home the win. The 24-year-old is one of the hottest acts in wrestling today but his momentum has definitely cooled down since last year. But that being said “The Masked Bandit” should not be looked at as a pushover or a jobber in this tournament. Bandido definitely has the capability to bump some fan-favorites out of the tournament.
Puma King is the last addition to the BOLA field as a replacement for Laredo Kid. King has become a PWG mainstay this year with several solid matches under his belt. King has become an international player in every sense of the word this year as he has wrestled in the States, Japan, Ireland and countless other countries. King can be looked at as someone who most likely won’t go very far in the tournament but he has pulled out underdog victories before and could easily do it again.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Bandido
Non-Tournament Matches
Aussie Open vs The Rascalz (TC)
The hottest tag team in the UK looks to dethrone the current PWG Tag Team Champions.
Aussie Open have been making waves for years over in Europe as they are former Progress and Attack Pro tag team champions and the current WXW Tag Team Champions. The Aussie duo are coming off their NJPW debut at Royal Quest and a big win at BOLA and a new set of tag titles is exactly what the Australians could use to cap off a stellar 2019.
The Rascalz have been tag team champions for over 500 days after beating The Young Bucks and The Chosen Bros. The current stars of IMPACT will be looking to defend the tag titles they have guarded so carefully these past two years. But their reign has been long enough that The Rascalz can definitely be looked at as the underdogs in this contest as The Aussies are riding a tidal wave of momentum right now.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Aussie Open
Brody King & Jeff Cobb vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Jonathan Gresham
Two new tag teams look to keep their tournament momentum going in what is sure to be a hellacious tag match.
King and Cobb have very similar styles and can definitely be looked at as the favorite in this contest due to their size and brazen combat style.
Sekimoto and Gresham have complimenting styles with a nice mix of submission-based wrestling and strong style. This debuting team can be viewed as the underdog due to their clashing styles.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Brody King & Jeff Cobb
Night 3
The Dark Order vs Aussie Open
AEW juggernauts return home to take on the new team on the block.
The Dark Order, formerly known as The Super Smash Bros, are former PWG Tag Team Champions and will be looking to reclaim their old fighting grounds. The Canadiens made their name in PWG back in the day with matches against The Young Bucks and they won’t be looking to lose their first match back in their old company.
Aussie Open could be coming into this match as the current PWG Tag Team Champions if they beat The Rascalz on Night 2. If this match end ups being for the tag titles then the Aussies will be fighting on a whole other level as they look to keep one of the most prestigious tag titles in the business.
FanSided Predicted Winner: Aussie Open
Final Predictions
FanSided Predicted Finals: Brody King vs Jonathan Gresham vs Darby Allin
FanSided Predicted Winner of BOLA 2019: Jonathan Gresham