IWA 28th Anniversary Review (10/04/2026)

By Mick Robson

(Image credits: IWA/New Photography Studios)

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I made the trip to the St John’s Park Bowling Club for their 28th Anniversary show this past Friday night. My first IWA show was actually their 25th Anniversary show in the same venue- a gorgeous, massive club, at least by my lowly Wollongong standards. So this was a nice full-circle thing to attend. 

IWA are the longest active Aussie wrestling promotion around, and have really found their place, constantly touring with family friendly pro wrestling at a ridiculously cheap price- $5 for members, $10 for non-members. It’s not really viable for me to sign up to all these different clubs, living so far out of the area, and if I picked up every single club membership, my wallet would be overflowing with cards... so take my $10! 

The IWA roster are among the best in the country, featuring talents that can be often seen on PWA, Newy Pro, among other top NSW-based promotions. So plenty of bang for your buck to be had here. 

Let’s do this! 

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Match 1: 5 Minute Challenge- Vinnie Vain vs. Jesse Lambert 

I really enjoy Vinnie Vain’s work. Such an effective, smarmy heel with a great look. I wish he’d get more opportunities on bigger platforms. He draws heat from the moment he steps through the curtain, and enhances it further with a pre-match promo promising to get his first win in IWA. He also makes note of boxing champion Billy Dib in the crowd, and gets quite dark, saying that he doesn’t want to make Billy’s kids orphans. Oof. This sets the stage nicely for the uber-popular Jesse to answer the challenge. 

Vinnie looks to set the pace early, using agility and athleticism along with a healthy dose of aggression and arrogance. He hits a leaping leg lariat, as well as a slingshot Fameasser to put the P plater on the back foot. He goes to that well one too many times though, and lands on his ass, missing Lambert. This gives Jesse the opportunity for a comeback, and the young man from Perth nails a huge Stunner, followed by a victory roll for the win!

Winner: Jesse Lambert (at 3:51) (Note: I didn’t time every match, but they had a 5 minute timer on the screen) 

Thoughts: Vinnie’s gonna have to wait a little longer for that elusive first IWA victory, but this was a lot of fun. Maximising their minutes with plenty of action packed in a short timeframe, with established character dynamics that the crowd was very invested in. Fun start. 

Post-match, Rob Oxley tries to get an interview with Billy Dib, but an angry Vinnie intervenes. He challenges Dib to get in the ring, which he agrees to. The ref looks to jump back in the ring for an impromptu match, but Oxley waves him back. The wrestler and boxer have a little face-off, before Dib throws him to the mat with a waistlock takedown. “He’s added some grappling!” the live commentary exclaims. We have Ed Lock on play by play, but I didn’t catch the colour commentator’s name. Anyway, nice little moment. I feel like a big knockout punch would’ve been a bigger, more crowd pleasing moment, but Vinnie and his jaw are probably thankful it didn’t go down that way! 

Match 2: Bullet Battle Royal- The Anomaly vs. Killa Kye vs. Kaye E Prince vs. Lachy the Tradie vs. Andy Boa 

This battle royal features some up-and-coming talent looking to break through, with the winner getting a future title shot. Very happy to see my boys from Rock N Roll Wrestling, Killa Kye & The Tradie getting a shot here. 

We also have “The Cash Train” Andy Boa, who I understand has also gotten involved with RNR during my time away, as well as training at PWA. He looks to offer some cash to the other participants, presumably to allow him to win, but Kaye drops him with a flying knee instead. They pair off, throw hands and attempt to throw each other over the ropes. Tradie hits a beautiful slingshot German suplex- shout out Duke Hanson- to up the excitement level. The eccentric Anomaly drops him with a kick to the head before taking a handspring back elbow from Killa Kye. These boys are showing out here! 

Kaye is the first man eliminated following a Killa Kye kick. Tradie looks for a standing Lionsault on Anomaly but is intercepted with a headbutt- awesome looking spot. And it’s tools down for the Tradie as he gets thrown out. Boa jumps back in after being out from the opening knee, and immediately gets tossed up, over and out by Kye. Down to Anomaly and Kye. It looks like Anomaly’s got it after a nasty Gory Bomb, but Kye hangs on, skins the cat and pulls Anomaly out with a headscissors to win it! 

Winner: Killa Kye 

Thoughts: I don’t normally rate battle royals that highly, but this mini one was excellent, with the young guns of IWA throwing in some flashy and impressive offence. I feel like the future of Aussie wrestling is in good hands with the likes of Killa Kye and company. 

Match 3: IWA Heavyweight Championship- “Cowboy” Chris Abbott vs. Randal (c) 

Randal has had a death grip on that IWA title, holding onto it through any means necessary over the last year or so. The people don’t like it, or respect it, but they have to accept it. 

Abbott is on his game, landing some hard hitting offense like his signature Rough Rider. He also avoids Randal’s finish, the Kamikaze Cutter, on several occasions. Randal gains the upper hand through some underhanded tactics, but is beside himself when the Cowboy shows fighting spirit and continues to kick out. He blatantly knocks the ref out and goes to use the IWA Championship as a weapon. Abbott avoids it and locks in the Sharpshooter! Randal is writhing in pain and taps, as the ref comes to and calls for the bell. Abbott’s won! ... but only by disqualification, since Randal obviously hit him, so he keeps the title. 

Winner: Randal 

Thoughts: Bullshit finish, but the match was fun. One of the better ones I’ve seen Randal have, and Abbott seemed motivated for it as well. Two IWA mainstays and veterans, on the anniversary show, represented IWA and its legacy well. 

Post-match, Randal drops Abbott with the Kamikaze Cutter. Then, we get a promo on the big screen from the Tuckman! He calls out the crappy ways Randal continues to hold onto the title and makes a challenge for the title at IWA’s show at the Hudson Hotel. He offers to put his IWA career on the line as well. This furthers my theory that the Dropouts are signed to WWE, and they’re just wrapping up some of their Aussie commitments before heading overseas in early June. The next PWA Black Label on May 29 is entirely built around the Dropouts, and now Tuck’s career in another Aussie promotion is on the line in a similar timeframe? Come on. 

After Tuck’s promo plays, Cowboy drops Randal with the Rough Rider to end the segment on a high note. 

Intermission 

Match 4: Mana & Manoush (Marley Peleti & El Phoenician) vs. POMs (Tony Sin & Hari Singh) 

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating- when Ricky South, Jimmy Townsend and Kingsley all took off essentially at once to establish themselves in North America, I was a little worried for how PWA- and the larger NSW scene- would adapt. Then I saw Mana & Manoush and I realised I had nothing to worry about. These guys bring so much positive energy, both as characters and in the ring. Always a good time. 

The Pillars of Majesty are a well-oiled machine as a team though, and not afraid to get under the skin of their opponents and the fans in attendance. I copped a decent blast of water to the face from Sin’s aspergillum during his entrance. I now feel more pure and innocent, and less predisposed to swearing and violence... 

Mana & Manoush tried to keep a high tempo, moving around with flashy offense, while the POMS cut them off at every opportunity. A backbreaker/elbow drop combo gets a nice near fall for the POMS. The popular young guns fight on though, and it’s time to engage in some shenanigans, since being straight up won’t cut it. A roll up with the tights pulled lets the POMS prevail! Typical POMS... 

Winners: The POMS 

Thoughts: A fine match. They kept the people loud and there was a nice contrast of styles. I’ve seen Mana & Manoush in some absolute banger tag team matches lately, this was a slight comedown from what they’ve done against RANGAs and North Shore, but there’s no question their star is rising nonetheless. 

Main Event: IWA Trans-Tasman Championship- Title vs. Hair- Ty Thayer vs. Cosmo Cooper (c) 

High stakes in this one. Thayer is hesitant to engage in the early going as the crowd taunts him by chanting “bald! Bald! Bald!” 

Thayer’s got the size advantage here, and seems to borrow from the Mark Davis playbook, making Cosmo bounce off the ropes by running them hard himself, before turning the champ inside out with a clothesline. It’s not enough to beat our champ though. Thayer gets increasingly frustrated and dreads the thought of losing his cherished locks... but this makes him lose focus and he falls victim to a Samoan Driver. And still the champ, and GONE is Ty Thayer’s hair! 

Winner: Cosmo Cooper 

Thoughts: We get the pay-off we were looking for with Thayer getting a buzz cut, and Cosmo adds to his impressive run of title defences. Capping off the show in a crowd-pleasing way. 

Post-match, Thayer runs away, but is chased down and tied to a chair. Cosmo, along with fellow babyfaces Jesse Lambert, Killa Kye and Tradie, all shave Thayer’s hair. It takes a REALLY long time- probably part of the reason this had a main event slot. 

Overall Thoughts 

This was a fun show. Especially for the price, you can’t go wrong for a cheap night of family entertainment. Highlights were probably the IWA title match- dodgy finish aside- and the battle royal. Nothing was disappointing, everything hit what it needed to. It wasn’t the strongest IWA show I’ve seen, with the first half of the show pre-intermission being stronger than the second in my opinion, but still great bang for your buck on a Friday night. I mean, a night of wrestling entertainment for a couple of slaps on the pokies? Can’t go wrong! 

Overall Score: 7/10 

Until next time, take care.