SETUP Under the Same Moon - Watch Review

SETUP Under the Same Moon went live on YouTube on Sunday. The show happened on 29 August from The Circus Studio in Bangkok and promised to be one of the most impactful shows in Southeast Asia this year, because of the stipulation on the eight man elimination tag main event. The leader of the losing side leaves SETUP. On one side that is Shivam, who is in the match. On the other it is promoter Pumi Boonyatud, who is not in the match at all but whose future at SETUP rested on Team All Stars winning.

Celebrating fifteen years in wrestling for Pumi, the show's undercard was full of Southeast Asian talent mixing it up with the SETUP roster, as well as Shoko Nakajima challenging Matcha for the All Asia Women's Championship.

The Circus Studio is absolutely packed for this show. According to official reports SETUP adjusted seating to allow an extra two hundred plus fans into the studio, making the total over four hundred, which is their biggest attendance since the show with Zack Sabre Jr and El Phantasmo (Bangkok Strong Style in 2024).

Let's get to it.

Pre-show
Mylson James and MC NEXO vs Admin Oak and Manuel

These four are getting huge reactions. The hidden sub story of the three trainees and the returnee vying to get noticed is really interesting.

NEXO takes out everyone in the ring and goes to work on Oak to start here before rallying the fans, but that is his mistake as Manuel comes in through a forced tag to tussle with NEXO. Oak now tags back in and the pair cannot agree who will wrestle, and back slap tags persist until NEXO superkicks both and hits a beautiful hurricanrana on Manuel for a very close two point nine nine.

Next up are a series of chops, but a big boot counters, then a running knee. Oak comes in and lands the body slam, and some nasty biting stops NEXO until he breaks free with the arm drag. James is chased away, allowing Oak to hit a slam and pin MC NEXO for the three.

Winners: Manuel & Admin Oak.

I don't think Mylson James did not even get to tag in. A very one-sided affair. All about the story, and James being a veteran fit nice as the extra piece, but it is these three newcomers as the main characters. Perhaps a veteran like Mr Lucha might have a bigger part if he were the fourth man in the next match.

The main show kicks off with a loud cheer from the fans and Voice of America making a welcome return as the backing to the Japanese style rundown of matches. I have adored these types of openings for years, so I am very happy to see this.

Kru Pol, Jeney and Dr Gore vs Jack Alexander and Jack N Cheese

Huge ovations for St John Innocent and Dr Gore. The opposing team get good reactions too, but BGJ is not here to play and looks mightily annoyed as soon as he comes out through the curtain. Big Good Jack must be the only person who keeps coming back to Thailand looking this unhappy to be here.

CBK and Kru Pol tie up first and, as mentioned in my review of The Lab, SETUP's show the night before, this is definitely a future singles dream match. It does not last long as BGJ is in for an axe handle. He then uses his partner as a battering ram and foreign object. The presence of Dr Gore distracts him, so Kru Pol hits a missile dropkick and tags in Dr Gore.

He cannot hit the big boot, and The Shaman and CBK slip in with the double team for only two.

It is already secret sauce time as Alexander goes for the bottle, but Dr Gore prises it out of his hands and throws it away. Headlock takedown and his partners come in. Body slam by Gore, then a missile dropkick.

Notably, Jeney is off the apron sneaking away from BGJ in a nice touch.

Legal men are now Kru Pol and BGJ, who is laying in a beatdown and a chokehold but is distracted by Jeney. After a fracas outside, Pol tags Dr Gore and he is met by CBK and The Shaman again but chops them down before applying a surprisingly painful looking nose lock to legal man CBK.

A vertical suplex from Dr Gore next for a near fall. A punch from BGJ stops the Boston crab, and a thunderous slam knocks down the doctor for Alexander to make a close two count.Dr Gore recovers quickly though and fights back against his Malaysian foe. But Alexander fires up a run of offence including an over the shoulder takedown, until everyone else comes in.BGJ tags in and Jeney crazily tries to roll him up but is removed by her own partner Kru Pol, who basically saves her by rolling her out of the ring.All while Dr Gore, Alexander and CBK go at it, with Dr Gore standing tall. He lands a big boot to CBK, Kru Pol follows with a frog splash, and Jeney takes the three.

Winners: Kru Pol, Jeney and Dr Gore.

After the bell BGJ runs in to attack Dr Gore and Kru Pol and face off with Jeney, who tries to defend herself but is put in that sleeper hold again. BGJ's own partners pull him off and he gives Jack Alexander a clothesline before almost fighting CBK and then Dr Gore again, with CBK calming his SPW brothers down.

Taking a mic, BGJ challenges Jeney to a one on one match. No handicap, a straight up match. A strong segment.

Fun chaotic opener, not too much, but everyone got to look good and it made sense to have Jeney protected by her partners. The ending segment was what really made this bout. The SPW contingent and Jack Alexander sold the story of how well they know each other and made Big Good Jack's behaviour seem even more shocking.

As always Kru Pol, CBK and Alexander were excellent, but there was something standout in Dr Gore's performance as the veteran and Southeast Asian OG here that made him a real presence in the ring that you couldn't take your eyes off.

Fabulous Three Way Match: Fienic Rose vs Dewdy vs Monomoth

We got to see Fienic Rose and Monomoth collide with Matcha the night before and it was quite the spectacle, so adding in Dewdy is going to make things interesting.

The bell rings and we start with some posing and posturing from the three competitors trying to get the fans on their sides. The Thai regulars Dewdy and Monomoth take charge, attacking Rose with their posteriors before a quick dance that sees Monomoth try to roll up Dewdy and he reciprocates with a bridge of his own. This stalemate continues for a while, much to the delight of the fans and Fienic Rose, who surprises both with a dive off the top. The young Malaysian keeps control until he is cut off by a running barge by Dewdy and they trade chops.

Monomoth comes back and we end up with a three-way Devil's Kiss that you would need to see to believe. Monomoth is delighted with what he accomplished and dances around, only to be super kicked by the other two, who then up the pace with stiffer chops and a fast springboard into a roll up by Rose.

Rose and Monomoth roll out of the ring and Dewdy corkscrew dives onto them on the floor. Back in, there is a leg drop from Dewdy to Rose for a near fall, and then Monomoth lands a running face plant to his foe before trapping him in a tree of woe.

Monomoth then counters Fienic Rose's charge to send him into Dewdy in the corner, and then hits double bronco busters on his foes. Fans start cheering for Monomoth as a clear favourite. Double bulldog and both men kick out at two when the pin is attempted.

A recovered Rose lands the hurricanrana and then a running neckbreaker for the closest two count so far. Next is a series of kicks, a shining wizard and an underhook suplex for another close one. Broken up by Dewdy, who tries to take it to Monomoth and ends up with a boot in the face, but Monomoth's follow up is countered for another two.

A run of offence ends in a failed moonsault by Rose, a spinebuster by Dewdy, but then a Fameasser by Monomoth takes the three on Rose.

Winner: Monomoth.

The match started off all comedy as you expect, but the end sequence was all serious and showed just what these three can do. I was slightly worried before this weekend that the trio might not have gelled past their gimmicks, but they all fit each other's in ring style and it created an enjoyable encounter.

IWA Japan World Tag Team Championship Match
Khoa Truong & Mason vs P'Suachart & Naga Nai vs St John Innocent (Kevin Weng & PondHub) (c)

Looks like one man from each team will be in the ring to start. Khoa asks PondHub and Suachart to focus on him, which sees him dumped out of the ring, but he returns quickly with a dive off the ropes and hits PondHub with a vertical suplex. Mason in, and he uses Khoa as a weight to body slam onto PondHub.

Mason gives PondHub an unorthodox looking armlock and continues to pound away until he brings Khoa in again to slam on PondHub once more. Pin broken up by Suachart. Flying tag by Nai allows him to throw his knees into the back of Khoa Truong. A series of kicks knocks The Undead Spirit down for the two count and Nai tags in Suachart.

The motodop driving wrestler continues the mixed offence on Khoa but cannot put him away. PondHub is back in but makes a flying tag to Weng, who surprises Suachart with hiptosses and a Michinoku Driver for only two. Double superkick from the champs sends Suachart flying, and now they are in there with Khoa Truong, who takes a double flying kick to the head. Suachart slows Weng's pace down with a smart sharpshooter, but Mason knocks him flying and tussles with everyone in sight, including a vicious knee to Weng's face.

The staple gun comes in and Weng takes one painfully in the temple, but grabs hold of the device and gives Mason a taste in the chest. He then gets out his test paper and staples it to Mason's face. Khoa comes in to save him but is kicked and tossed out. Naga Nai lands a backbreaker and running stomp double team, and it is a superkick party on the interfering Terry Diesel.

As the action spills into a brawl on the floor it is anyone's game. Mason and Khoa seem to have control but are run over by P'Suachart's Honda Wave. It looks like a Wave, I could well be wrong, please do not hold this one against me.

Naga Nai and Suachart double team Khoa Truong, tagging in and out, but Mason hits a Hidden Blade on Nai. He is cut off by Weng with an inverted DDT but takes a green misty powder in his eyes from Nai. Backcracker from Khoa, and as PondHub comes in, Nai gives him a Michinoku Driver.

Weng and Suachart slug it out at this point, getting on the ropes, only for Khoa to try and powerbomb Suachart, but he takes a skull crusher from Suachart, who is then stomped on by Weng. This leaves Khoa alone with the champs, who hit a kind of double team body slam and kick combo for the three.

St John Innocent are the kings of double teams in Southeast Asia.

Winners: Still IWA Tag Champions St John Innocent

Before they can celebrate, the music for Monomoth hits and he comes out admitting his errors, saying he would like a rematch with a partner that understands him. This turns out to be old partner Dewdy. It is an Elegance Boyz return.

A popular victory and a huge weekend with this defence and that against The Horrors at The Lab. Going back to my younger days, it was matches like this that kept the middle of a pay-per-view show interesting. Action packed, lots of fun and surprises, but keeping enough back for the main event to be special. This was a great middle of the show match. Notable mention to Mason and Weng for taking the staples, as well as Khoa Truong for absorbing a lot of punishment.

SETUP Thailand Openweight Championship: Anont Alonzo vs Paksa vs Isaiah Valencia with Jake De Leon vs CK Vin

Aiden Rex suffered an injury during his match at The Lab last night and will be out for an undisclosed amount of time. Get well soon, Aiden. He was replaced by SPW's CK Vin. Valencia has Jake De Leon in his corner here, a few hours before JDL wrestles in the main event. JDL also leads Hy/Op, his Philippines group with Valencia, Nigel San Jose and Crystal, which matters later on.

Nobody wants to shake the champ's hand. Things start off with Paksa going for Vin and Alonzo tossing out Valencia, before the two Thai participants trade forearms. Vin joins in and suplexes Paksa. Alonzo and Vin are in next and trade suplexes. Fans are very quietly applauding and invested in this match. Paksa back in to break up a pin and begins chopping Vin, who chops him back just as hard.

Things get tenser when Anont Alonzo starts attacking the prone surgically repaired knee of Paksa with a chair while it is wrapped around the corner post. He then goes right back to taking it to CK Vin, while we have not seen Valencia since the start. Some vicious kicks from Alonzo to Vin send the former Singapore Champion flying.

Speaking of Valencia, he is in now and enters into a fast exchange with Alonzo, earning a near fall. It is Vin who has control next, throwing Valencia around like a ragdoll, but he is hit with a clothesline out of the corner. Alonzo back up to keep this fast paced four way in overdrive, and shockingly Paksa comes back on one leg to take down Valencia and hit him with a missile dropkick. He tries to go to the top but cannot get up quick enough, and CK Vin intercepts, so does Valencia, and then Alonzo, who lands the powerbomb, suplex, unlucky victim on top combo, much to the delight of the fans.

Next up is chops for everyone from everyone, but Paksa manages some superkicks until he is Olympic slammed by Vin. He fights back though, and a German on Valencia and a spear on Vin riles up the crowd, two count as Vin grabs the ropes. Bodies fly over the ring and with Valencia and Vin both out on the floor, behind the referee's back it is Alonzo with a belt shot to Paksa and then a clothesline to the back of the head to pin and retain.

Winner: Still SETUP Openweight Champion Anont Alonzo

Quality action packed title defence. Paksa looked great. Valencia and Vin are two main eventers next year, in their home countries and overseas, mark my words. Alonzo retaining was the right call as it gives purpose to a one on one between him and Paksa.

SETUP All Asia Women's Championship: Matcha (c) vs Shoko Nakajima

Nakajima returns to Bangkok after last December's TJPW show to a big reaction.

They size each other up and go in for the tie up, and Matcha applies a leg lock after a takedown, countered into a roll up by Nakajima. Both counter each other's run into attacks. Swift hurricanrana outside, and Matcha misses a dive as Big Kaiju seems to have the speed advantage, running inside and then through the middle ropes to the floor on the champ. Springboard senton using the top rope, and then a dropkick, and a second dropkick.

Matcha counters into a headlock, but Nakajima breaks free and uses a modified full nelson to wear down the champion. A springboard off the middle rope gives Matcha time to find her footing, and she launches Nakajima across the ring twice before a running tackle that Nakajima kicks out of at two. But Nakajima counters and grounds and pounds before another headlock submission. Samoan drop from Matcha and the fans are fully in support of her. She looks to finish it but cannot get the suplex, and instead is rammed into the ropes, and there is a hurricanrana and then a dropkick by Nakajima, who goes for the six one nine, spins round twice, hits it, two count.

Twisting neckbreaker by Matcha. Flying head scissors from a mile high by Nakajima, close two. Nakajima flies through the ropes, suplexes Matcha, another near fall. German suplex twice by Matcha, a third that lands hard, but Nakajima still kicks out.

The fourth attempt sees Nakajima break free, hit a DDT, go up top and come down with a big bomb. She takes the three. We have a new Women's Champion.

Winner: New SETUP All Asia Women's Champion Shoko Nakajima

Wow. A full on main event bout, and that finish sequence was unbelievable.

Matcha walks out looking fairly dejected while Nakajima celebrates.

It will be interesting to see where this leads. Matcha may chase the belt back over in TJPW with a future return to that promotion, or a rematch may be planned in a few months.

It is time for the main event and we get an absolutely amazing build up video. You need to watch it to believe it. If you did not know the story leading to this match, now you do. The strong words from both Pumi and Shivam really hit home for all of us that have been watching before and during the Real Global Threat feud. This is the biggest moment in the biggest story in Southeast Asian wrestling, and that is undeniable.

Loser Leaves SETUP - Team SETUP All Stars (Carlo "Cash Money" Cannon, Da Butcherman, Ares and Jonathon Johnson) Vs Real Global Threat (Shivam, Emman Azman, The Statement Andruew Tang and Jake De Leon)

Real Global Threat out first with a new logo and intro video. The camera work makes this entrance as the camera person moves along the ring while they all pose with the belts. They then each enter the ring one by one to be introduced by Darren from SPW, who has been doing a phenomenal job as always.

Then it is time for the hero team, the team that some called the Avengers of Southeast Asian wrestling. First is Ares to a great ovation. Ares looks more confident than ever. Going back to his MYPW match a few months ago, when you could see his nerves being outside Vietnam, he now embraces the crowd as an equal of all the other men in the ring. Next out is Da Butcherman carrying the VPW Vietnam Championship, and you can see the friction on the face of Ares. Will they be able to get along in this match, I wonder? A respectful silence hits for the start of Carlo Cannon's entrance before loud cheers as the main theme kicks in, and he parades around the ring in what looks like a new singlet. He wore this at SPW Reckoning, but this is the first time I have noted the fantastic new costume. Of course, a huge reaction to Jonathan Johnson to finish off Team All Stars.

The two groups face off at the start with a lot of tension in the room. Both sides have been at each other one way or another this past eighteen months and know each other so well.

Ares starts with Jake De Leon and they lock up for a strength challenge that Ares wins easily. But perhaps The Unstoppable Force is a bit cocky, as he takes a boot to the stomach by The Filipino Fighting Rooster, although he soon uses his power to take control. Quick roll up from JDL for two and then a high knee. JDL misses the Rooster Peck as usual and is put in a delayed vertical suplex. Close two already.

JDL tags in The Statement Andruew Tang, who goes at his old foe from last year, Jonathan Johnson. Both hit the ropes and JJ lands a mile high dropkick. Partners swap out and it is Emman Azman vs Da Butcherman, as fans erupt into chants of "Butcher". Emman's punches do not do much but a boot to the stomach does, although his mocking of the VPW Champion sees him knocked down. The two go through a lightning quick whirlwind exchange and Azman tags in Shivam for the first time, but Butcher tags in Carlo Cannon to a big pop. A belly to belly throws Shivam, then JDL, then The Statement, but Shivam is up and is hooked with another suplex by Cannon before he can do any damage. Tag in to Ares, who is hooked under the ropes by JDL and then double teamed to loud boos.

RGT hit Ares with chops that I would expect to still be there when he lands in Japan, and then the double team. The whole group beat him down in the corner with The Statement doing press ups on Ares' back. Shivam in next and the fans get behind Ares.

JDL lands a body slam on the Vietnamese entrant and hits the peck this time. In comes Carlo, but RGT rush him too and continue battling Ares and JJ, who also tried to break up the four on one. Eventually Ares takes control and an all out brawl with all members begins at the ten minute mark. The Statement hits old foe Carlo Cannon with an impressive destroyer, then lands one on Butcher and JJ to clear the field. A second one on Da Butcherman, but Ares hits a powerful spear and then goes for the Stormbreaker, only for the other members of RGT to plead with him to join their ranks.

The unthinkable happens as Ares shakes Shivam's hand and dons the RGT T-shirt, hugging Azman and Shivam, but it is a ruse of course, and he throws their skulls together and hits the Stormbreaker on The Statement. But a flying kick from Jake De Leon knocks Ares out cold and he is pinned, one, two, three. That is the first elimination of the match and it is now four on three.

As he celebrates, Carlo Cannon enters behind JDL, much to his shock, with a comedic touch as he senses him behind him. Stiff punch and Tiger Woods Driver for the three and the second elimination. It is Emman Azman who faces off against his former mentor and lands a hurricanrana as a counter to a chokeslam.

He is then flattened by the most impressive clothesline I have seen since JBL and then hit with a jackhammer, count broken up by Shivam. Butcherman tagged in at the fifteen minute mark and he gives Azman a very stiff slap.

Shivam takes a blind tag in and Butcher does not see it, allowing Shivam to hit the massive spinebuster, but only two as things get really tense. Boots into Butcherman in the corner and The Statement is back in to carry on the wear down of the VPW Champion in the corner. Azman comes back up after recovering on the floor, a nice touch often lost in modern wrestling.

Azman tries to whip Butcherman but cannot get him to move. Butcher counters with a vertical suplex and both men crawl to their corners. Tag in to Carlo Cannon, who knocks down everyone in the ring. Emman Azman is German suplexed diagonally across the ring as The Statement distracts the referee with a chair. Another is tossed in and Azman uses it to hit Carlo. It does not have much effect, so Azman throws the chair into Carlo's hands and lies down to get Cash Money disqualified, courtesy of Eddie Guerrero's playbook.

This does not sit well with Cannon, who goes to work on his former protege Emman Azman. We are back to three on two for Real Global Threat, but Emman Azman does not look very able to continue. The Statement tags in to face Butcherman and the two taunt each other before trading forearms, chops and anything else in their arsenal. A knockout punch from The Statement does not send Butcher down, and a sitout powerbomb from Butcher earns a close near fall on The Statement.

Butcher up top for a twisting senton but misses. Inverted DDT from The Statement and Butcher kicks out at two. A punch is blocked with a bite and Azman is back in to kick the head off Butcher. Knockout punch from The Statement and JJ is now in a three on one. At least he is fresh for this, the ultimate ending. Question on the mind of all the fans there must be...can Jonathan Johnson take out the men that have had his number for so long?

Things do not start off well, but during a pose out he rolls up The Statement for the elimination. That is one more down.

Doomsday device from RGT and JJ kicks out at two, as we see the whole SETUP roster is at ringside frantically cheering him on, in what might be my favourite visual of the night.

It was a close two point nine nine count and JJ breaks a repeat offence, hits a cutter on Shivam, dodges a dive from Azman and barges him off the ropes. Swanton bomb and we are down to two, but before any face off Shivam strikes and unloads a run of offence. The duo slug it out with fans chanting for JJ. Shivam is still hitting the power moves but only earns two, as we see Matcha and Pumi crying out in desperation. Such emotion on display.

Shivam gets cocky and starts using his claps to play We Will Rock You. But this gives JJ enough time to recover and hit a missile dropkick.

JJ climbs to the top rope. He hits the Swanton and looks over his fallen foe almost confused as to what to do. He stops and addresses Pumi, questioning why this has to happen. Shivam has been here since day one with him and he does not want to send him out of SETUP.

But Shivam has not got this humility. He shouts that he wants change and nobody will do it, but that he loves this place. As JJ goes to hug his brother it turns out to be a ruse and Shivam rolls him up, with fans going crazy. One, two, no.

High knee from JJ. Shivam runs at him, the referee is down, and Hy/Op run in with Valencia and Jake De Leon pounding JJ. They hit a double superkick to lay him right out as JDL says he is going to finish this. JDL goes for the superkick and JJ ducks, so he plants Shivam as Team All Stars drag Hy/Op out of the ring. JJ goes up and hits three sentons in a row, looking at Shivam on the final one as he takes the three to end the war in SETUP Thailand.

Shivam is gone. The whole SETUP roster enter the ring to celebrate.

Winners: Team SETUP All Stars

This match was epic, a thirty minute long saga that pulled on the threads of Southeast Asian wrestling history with things like the face offs between Carlo and Shivam, or Emman, The Statement and Butcherman, as well as things that have been speculated or talked about even in small circles, like a Vietnamese member for RGT. In the ring it was world class, well paced out and never overloaded, with plenty of time for fans to digest each section. The end sequence with Johnson eliminating The Statement and Emman before the culmination with Shivam was tense, dramatic and quite honestly perfect. It is so easy to rush these matches or segments and nobody did. I need to give real heavy props to Jake De Leon for his character work here. Through the match he played the cocky heel and actually went and changed into his Hy/Op gear for the ending to further sell the Shivam issues with JDL's other group. For me the most memorable moments were the Carlo Cannon elimination and aftermath for its brutality, as well as the end with JJ leading to the triple Swanton.

The end of the show was really emotional as Shivam said goodbye, explaining how this was his home and he loved SETUP, before handing over the IWA Japan World Championship. According to SETUP he has vacated the title. Pumi then gave a speech that talked about his journey and his love for professional wrestling, especially in Southeast Asia, and tried to sign off until Matcha interrupted to announce the special video featuring many names from around the world congratulating Pumi. This might all sound a bit vague, but you really should see it.

This was one of the most emotional endings to a storyline I have seen. In fact I can probably think of only two or three that have had this kind of emotion in my whole twenty-eight years as a professional wrestling fan. Fans were tearing up, wrestlers too, but do not worry, I will not name names.

The quality of the show's production was excellent here, with video packages, great lighting, entrances and then pyro at the end.

Overall, I cannot think of a critique for this show. It is certainly my show of the year and it is going to be a tough one to beat, a card that showcased the SETUP roster, some of the best in Southeast Asia, and what can be done if everyone works together.

While this chapter in Real Global Threat's saga might be over, this is only the end of the beginning it seems, as the group heads into SPW Overdrive this coming weekend. This is what I love as well. There are so many threads outstanding, with JDL costing Shivam, The Statement becoming more paranoid about the potential return of Chen, and a lot more.

Can't wait for the next show. Under the Same Moon is available to watch in full on SETUP Thailand's YouTube channel, and Real Global Threat are next in action at SPW Overdrive on 18 September.

Before ending this review, I would like to send a congratulations to Pumi on his 15th year and thank him for his support to SEA Wrestling both referring to SEA Wrestling Magazine as well as the industry as a whole.