When looking back at 2023, it may be recognized as the year of the challenger.
A total of nine new Champions have been crowned this year, one of the most chaotic turnovers in company history.
The Victory Pro Wrestling Championship
The year began with Mike Anthony, newly crowned Champion from 2022, defending the title in a best of three Falls contest against Jack Tomlinson. This was a stipulation contest, with each competitor picking their stipulation for one fall. The third fall stipulation, if needed, would be determined by the Commissioner of Victory Pro Wrestling Kevin Fulton.
The first fall was determined by Jack Tomlinson, who chose a clean standard wrestling match. Jack would win the first fall via submission. Fall number two would be a no qualification match, as requested by Mike Anthony. Chaos would reign as Mike Anthony would pick up the win and even the falls.
The third fall, as determined by Commissioner Fulton, would be a winner-take-all triple threat match. The fans were confused as were Jack and Mike. Eric James would enter the match as a fresh competitor but would still struggle until finally covering Mike Anthony to secure his third Victory Pro Wrestling championship reign.
In August, after defending the title against several competitors, Eric James would meet Jack Tomlinson at the Gold Rush Rumble. In a clash that could set the stage for the future of the company, it would be Jack Tomlinson making history as the youngest ever two time champion in VPW.
In November, there was controversy at insanity with champion Jack Tomlinson defending the title against Bryce Donovan. After trying to play mind games with the challenger, a series of events designed to create confusion almost cost Donovan.
Referee Steven Dumeng would be knocked out in the contest, leaving no official to supervise the match. Dante Drago would join his Delta House partner Jack Tomlinson in a 2 on 1 attack on Donovan. A chair would be set up in the corner, referee John Ryan would be brought to the ring by Drago, and Jack Tomlinson would fail to pick up the win.
Referee Ryan would also be hit, stunned enough to be distracted as Jack Tomlinson sent Bryce Donovan into the setup chair in the corner. Donovan however would reverse and send Jack head first instead. Referee Ryan was able to recover in time to count the fall and crown Bryce Donovan as the new Champion, but referee Dumeng would contest the call as he saw Jack Tomlinson sent into the chair. It would be ruled by VPW management that Referee Ryan replaced Referee Dumeng in the contest, therefore his official ruling would stand.
The Victory Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships
Shook crew reigned for 245 days as Victory Pro Wrestling tag team champions. However due to a severe injury, Bryce Donovan and Bobby Orlando were forced in February to vacate the championship. A tournament took place, starting at VPW notorious in February and ending at Blood Sweat and 17 years, with Security Inc meeting the Even Stevens at the anniversary show. Steve Somerset and Steven Azure would claim their second Championship reign as Victory Pro Wrestling tag team champions.
In July of 2023, they would meet the Rat Bastards. During that contest, their manager Johnny Collins unintentionally cost them the match, giving the Rat Bastards their first championship reign in VPW.
The New York State Championship
Dezmond Cole would prove to be a workhorse with a commanding 488 day reign as New York state champion. However that reign came to an end in June of 2023 to VPW newcomer Leo Sparrow in a contest where Referee Steven Dumeng would stop the contest due his observation that Dezmond Cole was unable to continue.
The Son of the Sun would reign as New York state champion until September 9th after losing the title back to Dezmond Cole in a vicious I Quit match. However, moments later as Cole was celebrating his win, Dante Drago, the winner of the 2023 Gold Rush Rumble, immediately challenged, and defeated, Dezmond Cole to claim his first New York state championship Reign.
The Victory Pro Wrestling Women’s Championship.
Valentina Vasquez claimed the Victory Pro Wrestling Women’s Championship in December of 2021, and continued to reign as Champion for an impressive 666 days. Vasquez would face incredible talents like Clara Carreras, Little Mean Kathleen, Anastasia Morningstar, Gabby Gilbert, the Notorious Mimi, Brittnie Brooks, Kelsey Reagan, and Nahir Robles before falling to the Unwilting Tatiana in Octobers’ Hallowed Ground event.
In what was supposed to be a triple threat contest featuring Tatiana, Valentina, and the Unforgiven Salem, it was soon discovered that Salem was attacked while on the way to the ring, allegedly by Valentina. Tatiana and Valentina would clash, but Salem made her way to ringside and connected with a running knee, stunning Valentina enough to give way to Tatiana capturing the championship.
The Championship Future of Victory Pro Wrestling
The chaos continues in 2024 with Bryce Donovan teaming with Bobby Orlando and Stephen Azure to meet Delta House Jack Tomlinson, Nick Robles, and Dante Drago after a controversial ending to VPW Disorderly Conduct. Jack has his eyes set on becoming Champion once again, as Donovan looks to secure his dominance and place in the annals of VPW history.
In February, a new top Contender will be named for the New York state championship, as the winner of the King of New York will have an opportunity to meet Dante Drago. To date, JJ Doze and the Artist Jake Lang have been announced as competitors. Doze recently challenged Drago and would love had the opportunity to run it back. Lang drew number 20 at the Gold Rush Rumble and was the last person eliminated. He would love an opportunity to complete his masterpiece against the winner of the rumble and the eventual New York State Champion Dante Drago.
The tag team division is hotter than it’s been in a very long time, with new tag teams dying to get their opportunity to defeat the Rat Bastards. With new tag teams in VPW like The Working Class and Pretty Wild, and with several established teams like Security Inc and Cain Industries, the list of competitors is already long but new tag teams have been reaching out to get in line for their opportunity. The Rat Bastards have defended the championships in and out of Victory Pro Wrestling, as they look to pave their way into VPW history.
The Women’s Championship, finally out of the grasp of the forever champion Valentina Vasquez, now has a new champion and new opportunities. The returning Clara Carreras has already set her sights on a championship match, and several other competitors have been itching to return to prove their weight.
Brittnie Brooks felt robbed of her opportunity to take down Tatiana in a triple threat; could she capture the title in a one-on-one contest? And what about the upcoming debut of the Gnomie Gabby Forza? This young Powerhouse is in her rookie year and has already made waves in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and New Jersey. February marks her first opportunity in Victory Pro Wrestling. Could she be the one to end Tatiana’s reign, or will the Unwilting Era continue?
What will happen when Victory Pro Wrestling returns to Pro Game Athletics in Bay Shore Saturday night February 16 for the first wrestling event on Long Island in 2024 VPW 172: The King of New York?
VPW PRESENTS THE KING OF NEW YORK
Saturday February 17 | Pro Game Athletics in Bay Shore
THE KING OF NEW YORK TOURNAMENT RETURNS
Twelve competitors will compete for the prestigious King of New York and an opportunity to challenge for the New York State Championship. Already announced…
- The Artist Jake Lang
- The Igniting Dynamite JJ Doze
- Da Big Boofa Dezmond Cole
- The Asgardian Beast Kaide Lothbrok
- El Magnifico
- Buffa Aayooo
- The CEO of Cain Industries, Adam Cain
- Absolute Alvin Alvarez
- Brother Greatness
- Dr Sleep Anthony Gangone
- The Sensei Dee Vibe
- The Voodoo God Bonez
NO HOLDS BARRED SIX MAN TAG TEAM BATTLE
VPW Champion Bryce Donovan, Bobby Orlando, and Stephen Azure team up against New York State Champion Dante Drago, Nick Robles, and the Cinematic Genius JGeorge!
VPW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Pretty Wild challenges The Rat Bastards
VPW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Your Homie the Gnomie Gabby Forza challenges The Unwilting Tatiana
The original King of New York tournament returns February 17th – who will rise and become wrestling royalty?
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
