Heathen Combat’s Michael Greene always intended for his promotion to be different, right down to its name.
“I watch primarily British stuff like Riptide, Resurgence, Breed, and none of their names are stuff you can cut down to letters,” Greene says.
“We wanted to do something different so people look at it and don’t just think straight away: wrestling.
“The best way to look at it for us was Lucha Underground. Lucha Underground for me, concept-wise and story-wise, was a bit of an inspiration – something I took a lot of ideas moving forward from – and I liked the idea that you could look at the name and it doesn’t immediately give away what it is.”
Heathen Combat bursts onto the New Zealand pro-wrestling scene with A Song of Rebellion at Altitude Bar in Hamilton this Saturday, November 16.
“We wanted to do something different in somewhere that was different, which is why we picked Altitude,” Greene says.
“I’ve been to Altitude for all sorts of stuff. For me, it’s one of those things, it’s kind of ingrained in Hamilton’s culture. I’ve been there when it’s been packed when The Datsuns were playing and there were 400-500 people.
“The reason we picked it is, my background in watching wrestling … I love British wrestling. I love the sort of underground feel it has and I love there is a promotion for any sort of wrestling you’d enjoy. Like most people who got into British wrestling, I got into it through Progress. Progress runs a lot of rock venues. To me, it’s the sort of direction and the sort of story I want to tell. With the matches I want to put on, it makes sense to have that sort of venue. That sort of grungy, dirty, rock-oriented sort of thing.”
Eight wrestlers will compete to be crowned “One Above All” at A Song of Rebellion. Greene says hosting a one-night tournament was an easy decision.
“There’s nothing better than watching a match and knowing that there are stakes involved,” he says.
“Progress’ first-ever show was a tournament. Riptide wrestling recently ran a tag tournament over a couple of days. There’s just something about a person having to overcome multiple odds over a single night to have to earn that reward.”
Whoever becomes “One Above All” will receive more than just a name, Greene says.
“There is something at stake there,” he says. “The One Above All isn’t just a name. It is a title. We’ll be revealing that in due time. I’m not going to put it out there in advance. If you’re at the show on the day you will see the One Above All before everyone else — at about the same time as the person who will eventually win the One Above All.”
Heathen Combat’s debut event, A Song of Rebellion, takes place Saturday, November 16, at Altitude Bar in Hamilton. Tickets are available from Eventfinda.
Heathen Combat A Song of Rebellion Card:
- One Above All Tournament Final, Elimination Match:
??? vs. ??? vs. ??? vs. ??? - Bar Room Brawl, “I Quit” Match:
Lily Fae vs. Tarlee - Hayden vs. Will Power
- Detention (Ryder & Sky) vs. Justice Sharpe & Ky Solomon
- One Above All Tournament Match:
Stefan Busche vs. Will Cutting - One Above All Tournament Match:
TED vs. TKD - One Above All Tournament Match:
Horus vs. “Human Bullet” Link Barnett - One Above All Tournament Match:
Bryant vs. Will Stone
