SETUP Real Global Impact Review

SETUP Thailand – Real Global Impact

A loud crowd starts the show off as we go live and we’re introduced to tonight’s special ring announcer, SPW’s Darren. As the show kicks off, we can see the venue is already more packed than usual. We have the video screen back on too, which is a welcome return. Let’s focus on the action.

Admin Oak vs Manuel

Manuel’s out first and looking genuinely happy to be there. Spotted in the corner is a VPW t-shirt! Out next, even more confidently, is Admin Oak, looking in a lot better shape than when we saw him last year. He comes across as someone ready to be a part of the main roster.

Both youngsters tussle to begin and it’s clearly all about Oak’s power against Manuel’s speed, but this time the brawn is clearly winning. Not to be left out, Oak gives Manuel a painful-looking leg drag and then works it while Manuel screams in pain.

Between working the leg, Oak hits some power moves, but a small opportunity to recover allows Manuel to hit a snap suplex and get some offence in himself. His main choice is to stomp and bite the hands of Oak… nasty!

Despite both suffering, they hit some pretty vicious strikes which end with a wide kick from Oak, a big slam, and then a kick to the face to finish it.

Winner: Admin Oak in around 5 minutes

An impressive outing for both. Not much was demonstrated publicly from SETUP’s trainees last year in contrast to other promotions. These youngsters have clearly been quietly working away and came out here highly polished. It will be interesting to see where their gimmicks go as they transition into the main roster.

A good showcase for Dewdy, but Kappa Kozou held his own, which was not expected. The wrestling was of a very good standard for an opener here. With a noisy crowd, both could have slowed down and worked heel/face dynamics a bit more, but this felt fitting for a highly Japanese-influenced promotion like SETUP.

St John Innocent College Decision Match Kevin Weng vs Kru Pol

Before starting, I am very honoured that the 2025 Rookie of the Year accolade is posted above Kru Pol’s profile, as he was SEA Wrestling’s well-deserved choice.

We get Principal Tang recapping that this match is teacher vs student, with a research grant from the scroll on the line. We are reminded this is the fifth and final encounter and both are at two wins apiece. A very clever video package sets the scene, reminds us of other members of St John’s Innocent College (Pond Hub & Jeney), and builds this as something special. Why can’t other promotions do this for their midcard anymore?

The audio for Kru Pol isn’t dubbed and we can actually hear how much the fans love him. It’s wonderful.

Fans chant for both and Weng hits a running strike for a quick pin attempt, but of course it’s not happening. Pol runs into a body slam and then gets a leg drop from Weng, who then brings in the textbook to beat him with. Oh Kevin as a teacher myself, that’s such a waste of resources!

The duo know each other so well it becomes move-for-move, strike-for-strike. One man kicks, the other ducks. Weng gains the advantage with some forceful running chops, but one corner strike too many allows Pol to counter. After a sequence of reversals, Pol scores with a backslide and DDT.

A sit-out slam from Weng gets a close two and both men already look frustrated and exhausted from this high-energy encounter. A flying stomp off the top wobbles Weng, then a rollover reverse DDT gets another close two at the five-minute mark. Kicks and stomps follow before Weng attempts a double-arm DDT, but a roll-up from Pol on his exhausted opponent gets the three.

Winner: Kru Pol in around 9 minutes

These two are, quite honestly, world-class flyweight wrestlers in my opinion. Together they are absolute magic and I’m sure plenty of fans left talking about them. It’s like watching two early cruiserweight stars from 1996 WCW. Their chemistry recalls Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm on the UK indy scene of 2002. If you don’t know that reference, you didn’t read Issue 7 of SEA Wrestling Magazine.

International Singles: Isaiah Valencia vs Jonathan Johnson

This match starts with the Hy/Op song, which you cannot dispute is a banger. Because of the song alone, a member should be on every card in SEA Wrestling from now on.

JJ has had quite a lot of ring time in Japan in recent months, so this match is highly intriguing. It will be interesting to see what Valencia can do in the much bigger ring too.

JJ doesn’t take Valencia seriously as they tie up very evenly, keeping that cockiness up, but it doesn’t pay off as he’s thrown from the ring and then chopped viciously in front of the fans. He fights back strongly though and dumps his Pinoy foe on the mat. Back inside, it turns into a kick exchange that sees JJ land a dropkick and take control.

A leg drag puts Valencia back in control and both men begin trading violence as the answer. Valencia is really showing he wants to protect JDL’s title opportunity while also proving he belongs on the global stage. The Figure Four has JJ reeling, but the fans encourage him to reverse or reach the ropes.

We see some power moves from Isaiah Valencia now it’s always easy to forget his strength. A superkick from Johnson cuts him off, but only briefly before The Lion hits a brutal spear. Johnson rolls outside. Valencia goes for the finish, but JJ blocks and hits a slightly sloppy counter that still does the job. He rallies, hits the jumping cutter, then the swanton for the three count at the eleven-minute mark.

Winner: Jonathan Johnson

A strong match that could have gone even longer, particularly with Johnson in more peril, but the story played out very well. While I would have enjoyed extra time, the casual audience in attendance likely benefited from the pacing, especially as they thoroughly enjoyed the main-event calibre bout they saw. A great showing for Valencia and I hope to see more of him.

Naga Nai (w/ Terry Diesel) vs P’Suachart

Both men receive a much more prominent position on this card, which they are well deserved of after a strong six months.

We get a promo from Terry Diesel in Thai to begin before P’Suachart enters to a solid pop.

The motodop driver wastes little time taking Nai down with strikes a smart move maintaining a relentless series of offence until the demonic mystery man lands a drop toe hold. From there it becomes an outright scrap unlike what we’ve seen Nai involved in for some time, and he clearly grows annoyed with Suachart. Diesel does too, even giving Suachart a slap while tied up in the ropes.

The crafty Suachart escapes Nai’s signature submission by grabbing his opponent’s feet and flipping him over in quite the spot. A Dean Ambrose-style clothesline nearly wins it for Suachart, but Diesel distracts the referee and the powerful Nai lands a low blow for two. Suachart responds with one of his own and both collapse, swinging punches while grounded. A scoop slam earns Suachart another close two.

But Nai throws powder into Suachart’s face and follows with a knee to the back of the head before locking in the submission, forcing the tap out.

Winner: Naga Nai

A match combining strong story elements between two unlikely opponents who once shared friendship, showing that history rather than present alignment ultimately decided the outcome.

Nai speaks to Suachart afterwards and they shake hands, but the lights suddenly go out it’s Badd Company. P-Nutz and Golem Thai enter to a thunderous ovation and dismantle both Diesel and Suachart before Nai begins brawling with them. He is quickly overpowered and becomes the recipient of a double-team powerbomb.

As I said online before, the reaction for these two who have never appeared in SETUP in these gimmicks was fantastic. Two local veterans receiving that level of response against both old and new opponents is excellent to see.

IWA Japan SETUP Tag Team Championship - Team TJPW (c) vs Matcha & Monomoth

As with all SETUP regulars throughout the night, the champions receive big ovations. It really does feel like fans appreciate them more with the constant threat of Japan taking their roster I joke! The graphic listed them as Kiss Kick Slash, but I’ll stick with Team TJPW for now.

Monomoth and Toribami begin with classic chain wrestling, a welcome change of pace. That calm doesn’t last long as kicks, strikes, and creative evasions quickly escalate the intensity before Matcha and Yamashita tag in to loud reactions.

After further exchanges, Yamashita becomes creatively tangled in the ropes by Monomoth while Matcha delivers a beatdown until she breaks free with echoing counter kicks.

Things break down rapidly as Team TJPW apply double-team kicks and chops. The violence escalates quickly. Toribami bullies Matcha inside until Blue Lotus counters and Monomoth re-enters, only to be dismantled by a clothesline from hell by Yamashita. Around the five-minute mark, Team TJPW look certain to retain.

A sudden flurry changes momentum as a heel kick allows Matcha back in for double teams. Lightning-quick offence follows and “This is awesome” chants begin.

Chaos continues with Toribami and Monomoth trading control until Yamashita’s kick saves her partner. Ten minutes have already passed. Matcha hits a running Samoan drop for a close two, followed by Monomoth landing a scissor kick into a German suplex for a huge reaction.

Submission warfare follows Monomoth applies an STF on Yamashita while Matcha locks Toribami in a Boston Crab but Yamashita claws free and lands another devastating kick to Matcha’s back.

Matcha and Monomoth attempt duelling Germans, Team TJPW escape, and tandem superkicks ignite the crowd again.

Recovering, Matcha heads up top but meets Toribami there. Assisted by Yamashita, a top-rope suplex nearly ends it at 2.99. Moments later Yamashita nearly removes Monomoth’s head with a kick.

Toribami attempts a stationary moonsault, but Matcha gets her feet up, hits a German suplex followed by a T-bone, securing the three before Yamashita can intervene.

The tag titles have come home.

Winners: NEW IWA SETUP World Tag Team Champions Matcha & Monomoth (17 minutes)

That match was absolutely mind-blowing. I didn’t see much in Team TJPW when they originally won the titles, but all four just delivered an incredible fifth-gear performance. We haven’t even finished the show yet, but this might already be my favourite match of the year and is absolutely a SEA Wrestling Match of the Year contender.

In fact, I’m launching something I’ve been saving:
this earns a SEA Wrestling MUST WATCH distinction.

Afterwards, the new champions cut a promo before being interrupted by a casually dressed Anot Alonze, who congratulates them and requests an Openweight title shot against Monomoth, noting Daz Black has yet to grant the opportunity promised a year ago.

Matcha then turns serious and calls out Jeney at ringside. Speaking in Thai, the core message is clear Jeney doesn’t take wrestling seriously enough and isn’t on Matcha’s level. The verbal berating eventually provokes Jeney into slapping Matcha and issuing a future title challenge. Interestingly, records suggest the two have never had a singles encounter.

IWA Thailand World Championship
Shivam (c) vs Chris Brookes

It’s all Real Global Threat in this main event.

Chris Brookes dropkicks Shivam immediately at the bell and takes the fight to ringside with chops. Strangely, this may be the tallest match in SEA Wrestling history. Shivam quickly answers with chops of his own as the brawl escalates.

Shivam drives Brookes into a chair with a running big boot, but a second attempt meets steel to the face. Brookes responds by running around two sides of the ring, stopping dead to deliver a perfectly disrespectful slap.

Chairs begin flying as Darren anxiously asks fans to move back. Even the camera crew struggles to follow the chaos.

The fight spills onto the gantry balcony where both attempt to throw the other off before staff intervene. They brawl down the stairs, into the studio walls, and finally return to the ring. Even this journey isn’t enough for Brookes to secure a three count as he continues landing jumping knees.

Shivam regains control, stretching Brookes before stomping him into the corner. Brookes fires back with a flying kick and a stomp from the middle turnbuckle.

Chop City resumes as Brookes applies a complex submission broken only by the ropes. Shivam answers with one of his own, transitioning into a pin attempt.

After further struggle, Shivam lands a full-nelson suplex off the ropes. On the apron, Shivam attempts another suplex but is instead piledriven by Brookes to the shock of the crowd.

Back inside, the brutal exchange continues. Shivam dares Brookes to keep striking him as the time limit approaches. Both men fight for their finishers, but the clock expires.

Result: Time Limit Draw

Fans loudly demand five more minutes. Brookes says he has a flight soon but refuses to let the match end this way. SETUP promoter Pumy enters under pressure and grants the extension.

But it’s a trap.

Real Global Threat assault Pumy, Darren, and the referee while Shivam joins the attack. Shivam delivers a heated promo reinforcing the group’s mission and accusing Pumy of not loving professional wrestling.

Before further damage can occur, Monomoth storms out, takes down the attackers, casually drinks Shivam’s Coke Zero, and sends the fans home happy.

If the tag match was powerful rock metal, this was a progressive rock-infused ballad moving through multiple dramatic stages, violent, tense, and storyline-driven. The ending angle advances direction for the promotion’s top babyface while JJ remaining separate adds another future thread that could intersect with both Monomoth and Real Global Threat.

So overall, was this a good show?

No…. this was an excellent show and probably SETUP’s best in the past twelve months.

A red-hot crowd, consistently strong matches, progressing storylines, clear gimmicks, and high-level wrestling demonstrated that SETUP is going places. Watching Real Global Impact, I’m genuinely excited to see where this roster develops throughout the year as one of Southeast Asia’s banner promotions within the ongoing Real Global Threat storyline spanning SETUP, SPW, MYPW, and DEXCON.