Wrestlestreams: Grapplemax NWE Open House Review

We feature Open House as part of our Wrestlestreams section in Issue 8, but as a long-form version was originally written, we decided to adapt it into an extended web special.

Grapplemax kicked off the year with a special “Open House” event from NWE this past February (7th and 8th). The concept is something that, as far as I know, was until recently unique: come and try some wrestling, then watch some wrestling. The “try” element is not obligatory.

Saturday was a true open house, while Sunday aimed to create a safe, women-only atmosphere (although gentlemen could attend to watch the match).

Both events, as per the promotion’s unwritten rhetoric (only unwritten because I hadn’t written it yet), provided true value for money and that community experience Grapplemax offers so well.

The opening contest saw 40-year-old Brit Scott make his wrestling debut and demonstrate that you are never too old to strap on a pair of boots and be put through your paces by the Pillar Shawn Phang. Albeit clearly nervous, Scott showed strong fundamentals that the Dick Togo-supported syllabus provides. Shawn Phang was as entertaining as ever on his way to victory. The match stood as a great testament to what can be achieved with passion, determination, and the right people believing in you.

Next up was a main roster special between Kelvin Lang and Lahrvin Deshadow. In a setting like this, many wrestlers might opt for a basic, by-the-numbers match, but Lang and Deshadow instead delivered an aggressive, strong-style performance that felt like a sneak peek at where both characters may be heading from an in-ring perspective next year. Kelvin, showcasing his impressive strength, sealed the win with a powerbomb.

Tydus and Rising Champion Ban Sachak faced D:Genz in a tag match full of solid fundamentals that again highlighted the training program, while also delivering plenty of fun. It leaned into a classic sports entertainment dynamic, encouraging a lively cheer/boo response after the more technically grounded match preceding it.

The Saturday main event saw Big Dave and Alani take on Simon Siah and Nish in a frenzied encounter. It served as a fantastic showcase for the ever-improving Alani, who teamed with Big Dave and traded flying exchanges with Simon Siah, alongside the ever-entertaining Nish.

The women’s match from the special all-female Sunday session saw regular team Sarah Coldheart and Divya face Alani and Radiant Rui. It provided another fast-paced contest that highlighted the varied and vibrant personalities within GrappleMax’s women’s division.

Despite the bare-bones nature of the event, the show is definitely worth a watch as a reminder of the rising talent coming out of one of the best wrestling academies in Asia.

Credit @najywan for Photos

Next up is H4PW this weekend!