MCW Anniversary 2026 Review (21/02/2026)

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Let’s do this! 

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We’re looking at Melbourne City Wrestling today. One of Australia’s premier independent wrestling promotions, it is a top-notch product, although not one I’ve been able to follow as closely as the NSW promotions, as I’m based near Sydney. I thought their Anniversary show, the first of 2026, was a good time to jump back in! 

The show begins with a well-produced recap video of MCW’s last event, Endgame. Then the camera goes to the Thornbury Theatre and the commentary team before quickly throwing to our opening match! (Quick note, the production, particularly the audio, is greatly improved from when I last checked out MCW. Hopefully, they can get it down for live streams- the show aired on YouTube last Tuesday, a few days after the actual show). 

Match 1: MCW Intercommonwealth Championship- JJ Furno vs. Adam Brooks (c) 

My first MCW saw Brooksy steal the show with Slex in a match for this very championship! (New Horizons 2018, the night before WWE Super Showdown) The commentary team put over Brooksy’s accolades and his international experience- very recently appeared on TNA. He was also signed to ROH pre-pandemic, and it’s something of a miracle that he’s not under contract to a major company. 

A technical start as they engage in chain wrestling. They trade sunset flip attempts in a show of agility as they’re very evenly matched here. Furno gets fancy with a springboard but Brooks counters with a backslide for a near fall. Shay Kassidy would be proud. Furno takes control following a running knee and a leaping kick in a corner, using his height and long limbs to his advantage. He tries to get fancy again with perhaps a springboard arm drag, but Brooksy shoves him and he crashes and burns. Veteran presence. Brooks follows up with a vicious suplex into the turnbuckles.  

A suicide dive follows, putting the champ firmly in control. Lots of aggressive striking and grinding down Furno. The young challenger eventually fires back with a springboard spear! Slow to cover so only gets a 2 count. Brooks tries to fight back with a powerbomb but Furno reverses into a rana, followed by a flip dive to the outside!  

Back in the ring, a 450 splash misses for Furno, he rolls through and goes for a springboard, but is caught with a backstabber, followed by a sit-out powerbomb for a great near fall. A frustrated Brooks starts laying in the strikes harder. Furno comes back with a springboard stunner then hits the 450. It hurts his own midsection and Brooks is able to kick out again! Furno is favouring the midsection and can’t follow up, so Brooks capitalises with a shotgun dropkick, followed by the Swanton! And still! 

Winner: Adam Brooks (at 12:37) 

Thoughts: An excellent start to MCW’s 2026. Brooks is always top tier, and as the commentary said, “we may have seen a star born” with Furno. Interesting to see the veteran champ Brooksy be so rugged and aggressive, when I recall him being flashy in previous years, much like JJ Furno was in this title challenge. Seemed like Brooksy facing his younger self and winning through grit and experience. Great action and storytelling throughout. 

Match 2: MCW Tag Team Championship- The ICONS (Lucky O’Leary & Tony Villani) vs. Water Rapids (Mitch Waterman & Ryan Rapid) (c)  

From what I can gather, the ICONS are the main heel stable in MCW, aligned with the crooked General Manager, Rocky Menero.  

Water Rapids work over the assistant GM, Villani in the early going. O’Leary tries to help and gets sent with a big boot/German suplex combo. Stereo flip dives to the outside and the champs are rolling, but O’Leary gets a shot back with a big clothesline on the floor. An opportunistic Villani puts the boots to Waterman back in the ring. The powerhouse O’Leary tags in to continue the beat down on Waterman.  

Ryan Rapid eventually hot tags in and immediately ups the excitement with a springboard moonsault on both ICONS! Elevated implant DDT absolutely spikes Villani! Falcon Arrow gets a near fall that probably should’ve been 3... was O’Leary late in making the save? Anyway, we roll on. ICONS with a neckbreaker/powerbomb combo on Rapid and Waterman makes the save in time.  

Waterman tags in and staggers Villani with a tornado kick, then Rapid runs across the stage, dives into the ring and hits a leaping cutter! Crazy! O’Leary in and clotheslines Rapid off the apron, who takes the Paul London bump. O’Leary goes to the outside to attack Rapid some more, but in the ring Waterman spin kicks Villani and gets the 3! 

Winners: Water Rapids (at 9:06) 

Thoughts: The ending felt a little out of nowhere, and there was a bit of a mess with that should-have-been a 3 count, but otherwise high-octane action with never a dull moment. Speed of the Rapids against the power of O’Leary and Villani’s weaselly presence was a fun dynamic. 

Post-match, the Dropouts (The Tuckman & Scott Green) appear on the screen to issue a challenge to the Water Rapids. That is, unless WWE sign them after their recent tryouts! 

Match 3: Edward Dusk vs. Matt Hayter 

Hayter is announced as “the best wrestler Stevie Wonder’s ever seen”, “1000 pounds of pure ego”, and “Zaria’s favourite wrestler”. I’m not loving guest ring announcer Bharat Sundaresan, but those are some great lines! 

There’s a lot of clear animosity in this one. Quite different to the comedic shenanigans of the other week at PWA Colosseum. Hayter does go for the running dick attack, and is stopped by Dusk using the testicular claw, but we quickly get back to serious action with some brutal chops. Dusk looks for the Wicked End but Hayter grabs the ropes. He takes control with a hot shot on the ropes, followed by a hair pull slam. Any means necessary. 

Lots of trash talk and trading hard shots. Dusk drops Hayter with a forearm and starts raining down blows. Dusk then hits a wild inverted superplex! Hayter somehow kicks out and the battle rages on. Hayter goes for a springboard tornado DDT but is blocked, and Dusk launches him with a German suplex! Hayter fires back with a knee and scores with the tornado DDT for another great near fall. A Spear from Dusk gets a long 2 count. 

Dueling chants, with a lean towards the egotistical Hayter. They fight on the apron and Hayter hits a Dudebuster on the edge of the ring! Brutal. Dusk somehow gets back in the ring and Hayter hits a pair of moonsaults- but Dusk still kicks out! He blocks a superkick, looks for the Wicked End, Hayter with a victory roll- 2 count. They tussle and Dusk goes for it again- and gets it! 

Winner: Edward Dusk (at 15:53) 

Thoughts: At show’s end, I had this as my match of the night. A loaded card, with a lot of great matches, but the intensity and effort of this one was off the charts. The swing of crowd support was interesting, but both guys made it clear why they’re among the top talents in the country. Awesome, thrilling match. 

Match 4: MCW Women’s Championship- Erika Reid (c) vs. Shay Kassidy vs. Caity Luxe 

Shay is OVER as hell with the MCW crowd. Love to see a Sydney talent that over interstate. The GirlyPop Sensation is going worldwide, ladies and gentlemen! 

Caity jumps Shay without an entrance then takes it to Erika and the match is on! Shay re-enters the fray with her signature boots. Caity takes down Erika with a hangman’s neckbreaker and the crowd is on her case. She claws at Shay’s face, pulls Erika’s hair, clearly not above dirty tactics. 

Erika takes down Shay with Eat Defeat. Caity drops Shay with a swinging neckbreaker after some back and forth. Caity lifts Erika in a fireman’s carry but it looks like Erika counters with a stunner? Erika and Shay with a double down. Caity grabs the ring bell and cracks Erika with it! Shay ducks it and drops Caity with a boot. Shay with Angel’s Wings on Erika... and we have a new champion! 

Winner: Shay Kassidy (at 5:48) 

Thoughts: VERY quick but the ladies made the most of their minutes and the crowd was with it. Caity got across what a vicious heel she can be, and I’m so happy for Shay! She's put in the work, and built the confidence and ability in all aspects, and now reaping the rewards with a major Australian title. 

Post-match, a furious Caity Luxe grabs the ring bell to attack Erika, and GM Rocky Menero comes out to stop things. He says, “you want to destroy my girl Erika... well, do it.” Caity blasts her with a steel chair. Great camera shot of Rocky literally turning his back on Erika as she looks up at him distraught. Strong angle. 

Match 5: The Physicals (Jimmy Castle & Johnny Jetts) & The Clydesdale vs. Anth Cava, Lucas Fantasia & Jesse Lambert 

Anth Cava has major problems with the Clydesdale. I’m not really familiar with him, but he looks so smug and punchable. You know how some people just have punchable faces? Yeah, that’s the Clydesdale. 

The “Red Hot Dale” refuses to start, so the Physicals attack Cava. Cava bowls them down with shoulder blocks and tags in Lambert, who mows them down with clothesline. Fantasia in and the “Mayor of Twink Town” gets an early near fall off a single leg dropkick. Babyfaces in control and the heels powder. Clydesdale pulls out a trio of face shields that read W.A.N.K- let’s see if I have this right- Wrist-based Assault Negation Kit? Apparently that’s what it means. It actually blocks a Fantasia attack and Clydesdale hits a clothesline for a 2 count! 

The Physicals beat down Fantasia. Clydesdale gets his shots in too. Lucas eventually gets the tag to Cava, who knocks down the Physicals and gets a shoulder block on the Dale, who scampers to ringside. Spinebuster on Castle. Fallaway slam on Jetts. Tags to Lambert, and now Dale comes in, hitting a Jackhammer for a near fall. A triple team attempt with the Physicals is reversed, and Clydesdale takes a headbutt to the nuts. Wassup? A trio of atomic drops scores for the good guys!  

Lambert dives with a cross body but accidentally hits Fantasia. Cava restores control and looks for the Cava Rack, but gets distracted. Clydesdale is chatting up Cava’s mum at ringside. She throws water in his face and he plants a kiss on her! She throws more water and talks smack- although she’s smiling big the whole time. Cava is furious and charges at Clydesdale. “That’s no way to treat your future father!” yells Simon Takla on commentary. Gold. In the ring, the Physicals drop Lambert with a double superkick. Clydesdale gets back in the ring and Cava clocks him- and he falls right onto Lambert for the win! Wait, he was legal that whole time? 

Winners: The Physicals & The Clydesdale (at 11:51) 

Thoughts: Fun six man, some comedy value, and definitely furthered the feud between Cava and Clydesdale. Is Cava’s mum a bad actor, or does the “Red Hot Dale” just have that much animal magnetism? 

A video package airs for the Thorpe vs. Jarvis championship main event. Jarvis refers to himself as “the punching bag for the ICONS” in the historical recap. I remember him as a pretty effective heel, so I’m guessing he’s gone babyface semi-recently based off this? 

Main Event: MCW World Heavyweight Championship- Jarvis vs. Robbie Thorpe (w/ Rocky Menero) (c) 

Also, he’s bald now? Hey, it worked for Kurt Angle. Wrestling Machine Jarvis incoming. Did a little digging and saw it’s because he’s got alopecia. Unfortunate but hey, he’s rocking the look. 

Strong “fuck you Rocky” chants for our GM. Thorpe, our physical specimen of a heavyweight champ, is oozing confidence from the moment he stepped out into the Thornbury Theatre. 

Jarvis at a major size disadvantage, but immediately hits a shotgun dropkick. He needs to use his speed and agility to have any hope here. He hits a suicide dive on Rocky Menero- strong preemptive measure there. The distraction allows Thorpe to take advantage though. He grabs a steel chair- this isn’t no DQ, is it?- but Jarvis ducks and hits a superkick. Rocky shoves the ref and earns himself an ejection from ringside. Go Edwin! Jarvis sits Thorpe on the steel chair and cannonballs through him! Back in the ring for a near fall. 

Thorpe stops a springboard attempt and pancakes Jarvis. A beal across the ring follows. Very clear size and power advantage winning out for the moment. Jarvis tries to fight back but gets turned inside out with a sleeper suplex! A couple of big leg drops- brother- get the champ a couple of near falls. He gets too cocky and goes for a running springboard leg drop from the stage- and misses! Jarvis starts to come back and hits some leaping high kicks that rock the big man. Springboard cutter, followed by a handspring stunner, gets Jarvis a near fall. 

Jarvis looks for KL Gold, but Thorpe drops him with a clothesline. Gutwrench powerbomb follows for a late 2 count. Thorpe looks for another powerbomb, but is countered with a rana, followed by KL Gold! Jarvis looks for a top rope elbow, but Thorpe pulls ref Edwin in the way! Strike exchange and both men go down for a long time. Thorpe eventually gets to his feet first. He picks up Jarvis- and gets caught with an inside cradle for a VERY close 2 count! Thorpe goes for a powerbomb and gets hit with a Code Red for another 2! Jarvis goes for a schoolboy- feet even on the ropes, back to his old heel ways!- but still just 2.  

After a battle, Jarvis finally hits the top rope elbow drop- but STILL a kickout at 2.99! Jarvis hits a spin kick... but Thorpe falls out of the ring! The ref goes out to check on him, and Rocky runs back out- but eats a kick as well! Thorpe gets back in, blocks a Jarvis kick and locks in the chickenwing! With his nose pouring blood, he wrenches on the hold- badass visual- and Jarvis has no choice but to tap. 

Winner: Robbie Thorpe (at 21:13) 

Thoughts: I watched this event twice- once last week to just enjoy it, and again today to actually break it down. On a second watch... I still think Dusk vs. Hayter was my favourite match of the show, but the quality of this one was right there with it. Admittedly, I came into this not super familiar with Jarvis, but he absolutely won me over with this performance. Endless heart and tenacity against the bigger man. Thorpe has an incredible look, presence and swagger, and Jarvis wrestles with an intensity of someone double his size. Melbourne wrestling is in good hands with these two at the forefront.

Post-match, Rocky Menero puts the boots to Jarvis, and Adam Brooks makes the save, clearing the GM and the champ from the ring. He gets on the mic and says, “We are sick of this ICONS bullshit!” He has a proposition- March 28, at New Horizons, “me and Jarvis, vs. you two flogs, and you put that title on the line!” Not the world title... but Rocky’s title as General Manager. Rocky accepts, but on the condition that if Brooks and Jarvis lose, one of them is banned from MCW for life. 

A gloating Thorpe and Menero go backstage. Thorpe talks about how they’re undefeated as a team. Rocky says, “oh no, I’m not wrestling, I’ve got a partner.” He makes a call and Duke Hudson/Elliott Sexton picks up! Massive way to end the show. 

Overall Thoughts 

This was an excellent, varied show. As far as straight up wrestling bangers, Brooksy/Furno, Dusk/Hayter and Jarvis/Thorpe all fit the bill. You had the storytelling of the ICONS and the corrupt GM Rocky Menero through the show. Also a bubbling feud with Cava and Clydesdale, and we had some comedy goodness there too. The only slight negative was the women’s division only getting 5 minutes, but even then, they made the most of it and we had a newsworthy title change, with Shay Kassidy seemingly poised to take over the country at this rate. Plus, the post main event shenanigans being a major hook for the next show, and even though I wasn’t as familiar with some of the Melbourne-based wrestlers as I’d like to be, MCW Anniversary definitely made me want to check them out some more, so job well done on all fronts. 

Overall Score: 9/10 

Until next time, take care.