SEA Wrestling News Roundup: August Artois Returns to Asia, DEXCON Goes Digital, Shinzaki to Taiwan

SEA Wrestling News Roundup

Regional news, announcements, and results from across Southeast Asia and the wider region.

August Artois returning for PSE anniversary show

Full Impact Pro World Heavyweight Champion August Artois will return to Southeast Asia at the start of 2027, and this time he is not coming alone.

The announcement was accompanied by a group photograph featuring five other names from the American independent scene: Julez Bradley, Sideshow, Salazar De La Muerte, Labrava Escobar, and Yuca, who manages both Salazar and Labrava.

The group looks set to descend on Paradise Sports Entertainment in January or February, timed for the Pattaya-based promotion's anniversary show.

Salazar De La Muerte, Labrava Escobar, and Yuca work together as a unit on the Florida circuit as part of the stable Controversial Inc, also billed as LSC. Artois has held the FIP World Heavyweight Championship since 2023, a title whose lineage includes Homicide, Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong, and Austin Theory.

Exact dates and card details have not been announced.

DEXCON to feature in Believr Pro Wrestling video game

Manila's DEXCON is joining Believr Pro Wrestling as an official partner promotion, the game's developers have announced.

DEXCON will be fully playable in BPW with real branding, authentic promotion identity, and official imagery. Players will be able to book their shows, build rivalries, manage talent, and write the promotion's next chapter.

In their announcement, BPW said DEXCON represents what the game is being built to celebrate: independent wrestling with identity, grit, local pride, and a proper connection to its audience.

Since 2023, DXCN have established themselves as one of the Philippines' premier wrestling brands, running consistently sold out shows and bringing international talent to Manila to work alongside the country's finest. Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki, Yuki Kamifuku, and El Phantasmo have all stepped into a DEXCON ring, and the promotion has used that spotlight to elevate Filipino wrestlers onto the global stage.

The addition gives BPW its first official Filipino partner.

Jake De Leon and Super P complete Japan tour

Jake De Leon and Super P are wrapping up their Japanese tour, with De Leon training at the DDT dojo during the trip and Super P training with the ChocoPro roster.

The pair's most prominent match saw Hagane Shinnou and Shin Suzuki defeat Anarko Montana and Jake De Leon and Kaho Hiromi and Super P in a three way tag at 7:17.

De Leon closes the tour tonight at FU Fest 3, teaming with Jonathan of JPW against Baliyan Akki and Kota Ibushikoshi. Writing ahead of the match, De Leon noted the awkwardness of the pairing, having kicked Jonathan in the face and betrayed him over a year ago to join Global Threat, adding that nothing will stop him from getting his first win in Japan.

SPW's Andruew Tang in high level meetings

Singapore Pro Wrestling promoter and Singaporean wrestling legend Andruew Tang has had a busy week of meetings.

Earlier in the week, Tang and GNB Comics met with the Ambassador of Mexico to Singapore, His Excellency Mr Agustín García-López Loaeza, for discussions ahead of plans to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day in September. SPW described Mexico as a sacred land for pro wrestling and said they cannot wait to add a unique SPW twist to the Mexican Embassy's celebrations in Singapore. More details on their involvement are promised soon.

This weekend, Tang travelled to meet with Yota Tsuji, who is in Ho Chi Minh City for Vietnam Pro Wrestling's The Rumble. There has been no word on what the talks covered. We will not speculate, but a future announcement seems likely.

IDPW announce Expo for September

Indonesia Pro Wrestling have announced what appears to be a follow up show at Balubur Town Square in Bandung.

Expo, billed as the ultimate fan experience, runs on 26 September.

The Lab adds two more matches to Experiment 06

The Lab has announced further matches for what is shaping up to be their biggest card yet, in Bangkok.

Bali Pro Wrestling Championship, four way match
Emman Azman (c) vs Jack Alexander vs Jonathan Johnson vs Aiden Rex

The Lab described the bout as a title match involving a Bali-based promotion, a new partnership that Thai wrestling fans will experience for the first time. It is also the first four way in the Experiment series, bringing a format that has not appeared in any of the previous five shows.

Main event: IWA Japan World Title match, three way
Carlo Cannon vs Shivam vs Ma$on

Carlo Cannon currently holds three championships across three different countries. Ma$on is the reigning SPW Hardcore Champion.

With singles, tag team, triple threat, four way, and international championship matches on the card, The Lab are calling Experiment 06 one of their most diverse events to date. The venue is accessible by BTS in central Bangkok.

KUSHIDA completes charity work in the Philippines

KUSHIDA has carried out a charity visit to a cemetery slum community in the Philippines, distributing New Japan Pro-Wrestling merchandise and supplies.

The following is a direct translation of his Facebook post.

"We delivered New Japan Pro-Wrestling merchandise to the cemetery slum in Manila, the Philippines. Everyone was smiling.

This is a place where around 8,000 people, some 960 households, live inside a huge public and private cemetery.

This time we brought in and handed out several hundred items of merchandise donated by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling merchandise department, along with food and other supplies.

We received the cooperation of LIFE KWENTO and their volunteers. Thank you very much.

There is so much I still don't know. What I, KUSHIDA, can do is wrestle, and listen to the children talk. That is about the extent of it.

There is a limit to what any one person can do. Even so, I look for what I can do.

Through meeting the people of the slum, I found myself wanting to think hard once again about my own life, about how I use my time, and about whether there is something more a professional wrestler could be doing.

Footage of this visit is up on the official New Japan Pro-Wrestling YouTube channel as 'NJPW Wrestling Journey #4: Cemetery Slum'."

Jinsei Shinzaki announced for NTW

Japanese legend Jinsei Shinzaki will wrestle for NTW New Taiwan Entertainment Wrestling.

Shinzaki is the first name announced for the promotion's 15th Anniversary Show on 7 November 2026. Over 30 years into his career and the soul of Michinoku Pro Wrestling, he will once again step onto a Taiwanese ring.

NTW have framed the show as the culmination of fifteen years of history, bringing together different countries, different promotions, and different generations on a single card. Further names are expected.

Lei Ying Lee returns to MKW in Shanghai

Lei Ying Lee returns home to China next week for the first time since her WWE main roster run and her two reigns as TNA Knockouts World Champion.

MKW are promoting the appearance as a chance to meet the most decorated Chinese professional wrestler in history.

Date: 29 August 2026
Time: 1:30pm to 5:00pm
Venue: Shengbang International Building, 2F Innovation Hall, Shanghai
Tickets: 280 to 480 yuan, available on the official MKW Bilibili channel

Alexis Lee stateside for Texas double

Singapore's Alexis Lee has a busy week in the United States, with two matches now confirmed in Texas.

First up, Lee faces "The Wind Dragon" Dustin Nguyen in a pre-show bout at God Forgive Me at Kick Butt Coffee on Thursday 27 August. Promoters have framed the match as a clash of honour against malice, with Nguyen fighting with principled resilience while Lee brings psychological torment designed to draw the wrath of the congregation. The show is all ages, with doors at 6:30pm and bell time at 7pm CST. Tickets are on sale now.

The following night, Lee takes on the returning Amira in a Happiness Pro Wrestling showcase match at the Texas Indie Showcase in Houston on 28 August. The event brings ten promotions together for one night of Texas wrestling, with organisers reporting fewer than nine front row seats remaining.

Lee is also this week's guest on the Down The Wrestling Rabbit Hole podcast, part of the Lariat Network.

Cryptic message from El Katipunero

El Katipunero, out of action for almost a year, has sent a cryptic message to fans.

"My beloved Pinoy Wrestling,

So many words have piled up since we last saw each other. But all I really want to say is this: I miss you. Every day. I thirst for you.

To drown again in the blood, sweat, and tears of the fight. In the noise, the shouting, the applause.

But I am not ready yet. Nor worthy to step into your shadow and your light.

We will meet again at PUSO Wrestling: Wild Heart. I hope Pinoy Wrestling fans feel what is in my chest too. To see your brilliance, the hearts beating and fighting inside that square that, for us, is like heaven.

To watch you from a distance, for now, is perhaps enough.

The Pinoy Wrestling that I love.

Forever yours,
El Katipunero"

The message points to an appearance at PUSO Wrestling: Wild Heart, though it stops short of confirming a return to competition.