PWR's Oktoberplex jam-packed with consequential stories, matches

With APCC 2017 and Sugod! done, Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) is down to their last two events for the year: the aptly-named Oktoberplex and November's Vendetta.

Shocking developments from Sugod! may make it out like Vendetta's the show to look out for, but the penultimate event of the year is jam-packed with unfinished stories and matches dripping with consequences.

PWR Championship Lumberjack Match: Chris Panzer vs. John Sebastian

The first of such weighty encounter is the lumberjack match between newly-minted PWR Champion Chris Panzer and new PWR co-owner John Sebastian, a preview of their Ubusan-Lahi five-on-five elimination match in November.

Emerging victorious from a vicious three-way match with Ralph Imabayashi and former champion Billy Suede, Panzer's celebrations were cut short when he was attacked by Sebastian and teammates Peter Versoza and MTNH (Imabayashi and Rederick Mahaba).

The attack led Panzer to agree to PWR General Manager Stan Sy's offer to captain his motley crew of Fighters 4 Hire (Miguel Rosales and Joey Bax), Dax Xaviera, and a yet to be announced wrestler against Sebastian's band of villains in the ultimate fight for the complete control of PWR.

Panzer and Sebastian's encounter on October 8th will be the first test of strength and cohesion for both teams. More so for Team Sy as they, unlike Team Sebastian, seem to have disparate reasons for representing Mr. Sy.

PWR Tag Team Title Match: The Network vs. Trian Dela Torre & Evan Carleaux

Pint-sized hero Trian Dela Torre and his only "kapre" - i.e. normal-sized - friend Evan Carleaux shocked the Revo-Nation when they beat the KakaiBros, Punk Dolls, and former tag team champion The YOLO Twins to become the number one contenders for the PWR Tag Team title.

Current champs James "Idol" Martinez and Alexander Belmonte III of The Network have the advantage of watching the match at ringside and seeing TDTxECX work in the flesh, though they have yet to actually wrestle the pair.

TDT and Carleaux meanwhile have the benefit of reviewing Carleaux's footage of The Network from his time as PWR's social media man, though neither TDT nor ECX have the in-ring experience the champions do.

Martinez and Belmonte have everything to prove while TDTxECX have everything to gain in this match that may become the sleeper hit of Oktoberplex.

International tag team showcase qualifiers: The YOLO Twins vs.

After failing against Trian dela Torre and Evan Carleaux, The YOLO Twins and the Punk Dolls appear to be lost at sea.

Luckily for them, a qualifier for an international tag team showcase was set up with the pairs as the only contenders for the chance to represent PWR at Vendetta.

Whoever wins between Yohann and Logan Ollores of The YOLO Twins and Martivo and Robynn of Punk Dolls will earn the right to face Triple L's dastardly stable, Tarquin's Regime.

Formed earlier this year by Tarquin, The Regime has since caused trouble in London Lucha League with Doctor Hurtz, Kraken, and former Triple L world champion Tengu.

Given the youth of both promotions, the international showcase is sure to test the skills of either The YOLO Twins or Punk Dolls and the readiness of Tengu and Doctor Hurtz — Tarquin's representatives — to compete overseas.

Oh Canada! ‘Beautiful’ Billy Suede vs. the ‘Canadian Dragon’ Zayden Trudeau

It's been one hell of a journey for both Filipino-Canadians.

Trudeau's long road to debuting in Resbak saw him almost failing in the attempt, but his subsequent matches and show-stealing bout with Bolt at Sugod has all but erased the mishap in the eyes of the Revo-Nation.

Suede on the other hand has had a whole month to stew over unexpectedly losing the PWR title, a belt many feel was his to retain after nearly a year of helping elevate the quality of wrestling in the promotion.

There's no doubt that Suede and his Midas touch will turn this match golden, but his plans afterwards remain an abject mystery. How will Suede return to the PWR title picture? Will he have to wait until 2018 to get another shot? And will he fill out the remaining slot in Mr. Sy's team?

Dax Xaviera vs. Peter Versoza

One of the preview matches for Ubusan-Lahi, Versoza and Xaviera could not be more different in the paths: whereas Versoza has slipped from the top of the PHX totem pole, Xaviera is slowly earning his way to the belt with well-earned wins.

With their current circumstances, this match is as important to Versoza as it is for Xaviera. Their part in Vendetta aside, a win here can restore Versoza's singles prospects or bring Xaviera closer to a shot at current PHX Champion Mike Madrigal.

If Versoza's experience doesn't do it for him, he may be able to call on MTNH for help if the pair survives their bout with F4H.

Fighters 4 Hire vs. MTNH

F4H has been a consistent tag team since they debuted as Mr. Sy's hired guns but MTNH's love and respect for each other has edged out all odds for the pair.

Apart from having quite an impact on the lumberjack match later in the night, this fight will give us a taste of a bout that, in hindsight, should be up there in the list of dream matches for the tag team division.

Early birds can also catch SANDATA go up against the athletically-gifted, aesthetically-thrifted Mh4rckie; All Out War champion The Apocalypse versus PWR hero Revo Ranger; the unstable Vlad Sinnsyk against the star Brad Cruz; and the animazing Bolt fight PHX champion Mike Madrigal. — DVM, GMA News

PWR Live: Oktoberplex will take place on October 8 at the Power MAC Center in Circuit Makati