He Toa Cup tournament begins tonight

For the first time since it was introduced in December, 2011, the He Toa Cup will not be defended at tonight’s Bringing Down the House event.

The cup, to be put on the line at every show held in the He Toa Gym, is vacant after former titleholder Chad Howard staked the cup on a shot at Ben Mana’s NZWPW Championship in Otaki earlier this year.

As such, tonight’s Bringing Down the House will host the quarter finals of a tournament to decide a new champion.

Chad Howard has been entered into the eight-man tournament and will come up against Skull Kid on his quest to regain the He Toa Cup.

Howard’s tag team partner, “That Young Warrior” Paul Sayers, is also part of the tournament. Sayers wrestles former He Toa Cup holder “Dream Catcher” Phil Woodgate.

Taylor Adams ventures north from his hometown of Blenheim to take his place in the tournament against Mr Silver.

Hayden Thiele, the number one contender to the He Toa Cup before it was vacated, is also involved in the tournament. Thiele will have to fight his way past three other men if he hopes to claim the cup, starting with Mikey tonight at Bringing Down the House.

Also at tonight’s event, Ben Mana defends the NZWPW Championship against KPW star Kade Morgan in an inter-promotional clash with huge ramifications.

Mana and Morgan were on opposite teams for KPW Halloween Howl 7’s six-man main event, in which Mana struck down Morgan with a Maori Spike en route to a victory for his team.

Morgan is looking to avenge the loss and strike a blow to NZWPW in the process, becoming only the second man (behind James Shaw) to hold the title while wrestling predominantly for another New Zealand promotion.

Can Morgan walk away from the He Toa Gym with the NZWPW title? Or will Ben Mana retain the belt as he heads into the final NZWPW show of the year?

NZWPW Bringing Down the House takes place tonight, November 29, at the He Toa Gym on North Street, Petone. Click here for a map. Doors open at 7pm, with the first match scheduled for 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door ($15 for adults, $10 for children). The card, subject to change, is listed below.

NZWPW Bringing Down the House Card:

• NZWPW Championship:
  Ben Mana (c) vs. Kade Morgan
• D-Hoya & Johnny Idol vs. The Nobodies
• He Toa Cup Tournament Quarter Final:
  “Dream Catcher” Phil Woodgate vs. “That Young Warrior” Paul Sayers
• He Toa Cup Tournament Quarter Final:
  Mr Silver vs. Taylor Adams
• He Toa Cup Tournament Quarter Final:
  Chad Howard vs. Skull Kid
• He Toa Cup Tournament Quarter Final:
  Hayden Thiele vs. Mikey
• Jade Priest vs. Scravenge