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No longer rookies: How Dragon Gate used 2020 to shape its future

The Story of HipHop Kikuta, SB KENTo, Sora Fujikawa & Taketo Kamei  In the back: Madoka Kikuta & Kento Kobune In Front: Sora Fujikawa & Taketo kamei Prepared for the future On December 22. 2019 Dragon Gate trainees Kento Kobune and Taketo Kamei has their debut match in Dragon Gate. No longer trainees, rookie members of the Dragon Gate roster. About six months later Madoka Kikuta and Sora Fujikawa follows along as they have their debut match (delayed a bit as Covid-19 shuts down Dragon Gate's operations) and becomes rookie members of the roster.  From what you see with many other promotions, in particular with Japanese promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling, you would expect these four to remain at the bottom of the totem pole for quite a while. It almost seems like an unwritten law of wrestling, that you need to go through the motions of being a rookie or a young lion, fighting your fellow rookies and be the fall guy with the veterans, then go on an excursion or s...
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Determination, thy name is Ender Kara

  credit: Johan Falkenström Determination, thy name is Ender Kara I was late to the party and I fully admit that. I had not heard of Ender Kara until early 2020. And that was despite of Ender living in my neighboring country of Sweden, coming over to Denmark often to wrestle before Covid-19 shut all of that down. Looking back it feels like I must have lived under a rock when you've got a talent like Ender Kara succeeding in your country while you have no idea. But then I learned and I have been keeping my eyes on him ever since, because I can feel that he is going to become something special in time. I don't know when, which year will be his breakout year  or in which promotion or region of the world. I just know that sometime in the future Ender Kara will find success, he is just that much of a hard worker. Ender Kara with Katsuyori Shibata at NJPW's LA Dojo The Journey The story of Ender Kara in the wrestling business begins in 2017, when he makes his debut for Let's ...

The Four Horsewomen of Scandinavian wrestling

  The Four Horsewomen of Scandinavian wrestling.  As professional wrestling is still somewhat of a young industry in Scandinavia the different nations find themselves needing to share wrestlers. And it becomes much more of a need when it comes to female wrestlers. Of course, there have been female Scandinavian wrestlers to take not of such as Jenny Sjödin. On the Danish side of things, I've always felt that it lacked in the female department. Luckily, I can then look to the Swedish neighbors to see four women that are what I, for lack of a better term, would refer to as the Four Horsewomen of Scandinavian wrestling.  Consider this an introduction to the four and where to find them. credit: Peter Troest Betty Rose When "The Pinup Punisher" Betty Rose comes to the ring, smiling ear-to-ear, enthusiastically waving to the crowd and in general coming in with a happy-go-lucky attitude. One cannot help but be infected with the positive attitude that she brings with her. As ...

From apostle to apostate: The story of Emeritus

From apostle to apostate: The story of Emeritus The stage is set for 2021. BODYSLAM! champion, Peter Olisander has to face perhaps the greatest challenger of his reign as BODYSLAM! champion as his former apostle, Emeritus looks at him with fire in his eyes. But how did it come to this? How did Emeritus go from being a devout follower of Peter Olisander and his Truth Movement, and to be an unbeliever looking to claim the BODYSLAM! championship for himself?   credit: Hans Kristian Hannibal-Bach The Truth Movement August 22nd, 2015. The first show from BODYSLAM! Pro Wrestling is held. BODYSLAM! 1: Fynne vs. Tank. On this show Emeritus Midnight makes his pro wrestling debut defeating Killer Karlson. Besides his valet, Hailey, Emeritus seems to be a quite lonely soul. Satisfied with residing in dark and gloomy places lit up by candles, the darker it is the more at home Emeritus seems to feel. Almost a year later, on December 17th, 2016, Peter Olisander makes his debut on ...