After two years, the Ubusan ng Lahi match makes its much-anticipated return at PWR Vendetta.
The last time fans witnessed a match of this magnitude, it caused a major paradigm shift within the promotion. John Sebastian became PWR GM, Jake de Leon gained a new edge and became Mr. Philippine Wrestling, IMABAYASHI used this match as a catalyst to the longest PWR Championship reign in history, and Mr. Sy would slowly descend into the dark side and form MSG alongside fellow participants, SANDATA and Chris Panzer. It's safe to say that there is a lot of importance riding into Ubusan ng Lahi.
This brings us to what PWR management recently revealed last Saturday for this year's installment, a match that embodies the vendetta in PWR Vendetta: the Naughty Boys (Trian Dela Torre, Evan Carleaux, GrabCamus, and Jhemherlhynn) vs. Koponan Tutan (Kapitan Juan Tutan, Dax Xaviera, Gatilyo, and Bolt). Given how exciting the Ubusan ng Lahi match was two years ago, fan anticipation is high for this 4-on-4 encounter stemming from betrayal.
At least, that match being 4-on-4 was the original plan.
Unfortunately for the Naughty Boys, as we recently found out through footage received from PWR, Kapitan Tutan has apparently found one more person with a vendetta against the fan-favorite faction. And for all intents and purposes, the Guru of W.L.A.I.K. may have hit the jackpot:
As it turns out, all Tutan needed to do to form a team was to look for people who have a grudge against the Naughty Boys, as if karma from all those social media insults over the years finally caught up to them. However, that might be the only thing they have in common when you consider the rocky relationships within the team. Let's not forget how Xaviera and Gatilyo made Bolt's life miserable in the middle of the year, as well as Dax's uncertain relationship with Sebastian in the aftermath of the first Ubusan ng Lahi. And speaking of Sebastian, he interfered in a PWR Tag Team Championship match at Path of Gold 2018 using his power as GM, costing Bolt his chance at holding a championship for the first time.
Given all these, you can argue that the biggest unpredictable factor in the match is the Animazing Fighter himself, given both how he had to deal with all the wrongdoings from both the Naughty Boys and his own teammates. Add to the fact that his mentor, Jake De Leon, recently gave him a pep talk on how he had to make his own decisions as a man, and you can imagine that a fire has been very much lit under his ass.
So while the team should, in theory, be as solid as they come, it's a wonder if they can coexist when the time comes.
As for the Naughty Boys, as strong as their Power of Friendship is, they now have the burden of having to look for a fifth person willing to take on Tutan's lineup. Who would be willing enough to step up and team with them against Koponon Tutan, especially given their long history of social media trash-talking?
Could it be Kh3ndrick, the significant other of Jhemherlhynn who is also one-half of the PWR Tag Team Champions? Or is it the former PWR Champion, QUATRO, who is very much an honorary member of the Naughty Boys at this point? How about the man who ended John Sebastian's run as Co-GM, Vlad Sinnsyk?
Let's take it a step further and assume on the basis of PWR's #NeverMissAShow campaign. Could a former PWR wrestler make his return? Or could it be a wrestler from another country altogether?
Whichever way it goes, this year's Ubusan ng Lahi match just got way more interesting than anyone could have imagined. Will the new Koponan Tutan finally end the run of the Naughty Boys, or will the Power of Friendship overcome the final hurdle of what has been a not-so-ideal 2019?
*****
Disclosure: Smark Henry is independently managed and operated by a group of local wrestling fans, but includes members affiliated with the Philippine Wrestling Revolution.
PWR Vendetta takes place on Sunday, November 24, 2019, at 2 PM, and will be held at the Power Mac Center Spotlight, Makati City.
Tickets are at PhP 399 each and are also available at PhP 1099 for a barkada bundle of three (3) until Saturday, September 21. Tickets will be at PhP 450 at the door on Sunday.
For ticket inquiries, visit ticket2me.net or email PWR at pwr.tickets@gmail.com.
