Sometime last year, during Historycon, we were given a preview of asecond Philippine wrestling promotion going by the name of Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF). As a competitor to the current king of the roost, Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR), it took a while for MWF to get a show going, but this April 8, in Makati Cinema Square, it’s finally happening!

Whether you’re a fan of PWR or simply want to catch pro wrestling, Filipino-style, here are 8 good reasons to drop on by this Saturday!

MWF, at its most basic, is “Pinoy lucha.”

With one of its biggest stars outright named “Mr. Lucha,” the idea of Filipino luchadors isn’t too far off, not just because of the masks, mind you, but because of the athletic moveset you come to expect from luchadors.

A training partnership with Ninja Academy.

In its attempt to build up its roster, MWF partnered with parkour trainers Ninja Academy. If that kind of training regimen doesn’t inspire you one way or another, nothing will. It was, without a doubt, a democratization of the wrestling talent search process.

MWF’s commissioner, Mike Shannon

Mike Shannon has both been a visionary and a shunned prophet in the local wrestling scene, but one thing’s for sure: this man doesn’t know when to give up. MWF Live is going to be the fruit of years of effort and buildup, and none of us could be more excited (or nervous) as this man, whose passion for pro wrestling is second to none. It takes passion for this industry to make something out of it, and Mike has oodles of it, along with the rest of his roster.

Gigz Stryker

While PWR has the incorrigible Kanto Terror as perhaps its most memorable character, MWF gives us the gift from the action gods, Gigz Stryker. When you have someone paying homage to FPJ, Robin Padilla, and the like, you better pay attention!

Manila Rules

With rounds breaking up the action for MWF as opposed to a simple straight-up match with a 30-minute time limit, one has to wonder how different an MWF match would feel from its more typical counterparts. It could be good, it could be bad, but it’s definitely something else.

A return to MCS

PWR last performed in MCS about two years ago, so MWF taking up the banner in that area is a return to form for the venue, where people have always cried out for “second floor! Second floor!” shenanigans. Will we get treated to any of those this Saturday? Only time can tell.

PWR wrestlers will be watching

No, don’t expect an invasion or a crossover anytime soon with MWF’s distinguished competition, but simply put, PWR’s roster, just like MWF’s, is, at their core, made up of wrestling fans. It’s a given they would support each other, because there’s more than enough fans to go around for both organizations, and they need all the help they can get! And speaking of help…

#SavePhilippineWrestling

The battlecry since late last year, after PWR’s rebirth in a post-Royal Flush world, and now, MWF’s impending debut, your ticket goes a long way towards keeping both organizations alive and kicking. Sure, we have a lot of critics and naysayers who think that because it’s local, it’s going to suck, but that’s how you create excellence in the first place: by working at it.

MWF is now working at it, and with the WWE recently setting its sights on talent in the Philippines as some representatives of the WWE caught a recent PWR show, who knows, maybe your Kanto Terrors and your Gigz Strykers may someday make the jump to international infamy?

What do you think about Pinoy wrestling? Share with us your thoughts!