NZPWI editor and SPW commentator David Dunn takes a look at the facts, figures, and statistics that make SPW’s Southern Rumble one of the most exciting events of the year…
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Fifty-six different competitors from NJPW’s Will Ospreay to award-wining comedian Rhys Mathewson to Sabrina – who made “herstory” as the first (and to-date only) female competitor – have entered the Southern Rumble. Of those, 27 are repeat offenders, trying their luck in more than one. Charlie Roberts and K9 top the list, competing in five of the six Southern Rumbles so far.
One hour, 38 minutes, 50 seconds: the record for collective time spent in the Southern Rumble, held by K9. The Dirty Dog of the South put in overtime in his five Southern Rumbles, including 34 minutes and six seconds to win the 2021 Southern Rumble. Marcus Kool narrowly trails K9 with a total of one hour, 38 minutes and 24 seconds spent in Southern Rumbles. This means Kool will break the record if he can last 26 seconds in this year’s match – which is far from guaranteed.
The unenviable record for fastest elimination from a Southern Rumble belongs to Professor Palmer. It took just two seconds for Carnage to eject Palmer from the 2018 Southern Rumble. The now-Project Manager Palmer did slightly better the following year, surviving for three seconds in 2019. With an overall average of 24 seconds per Southern Rumble, don’t blink if you hear Palmer’s music tonight.
Two is also the most number of Southern Rumbles won, a record shared by the Deadly Sins. JK Moody took out the Southern Rumble in 2017 and 2019, while K9 claimed victories in 2018 and 2021.
Surprisingly, No. 1 is the winningest number in Southern Rumble history. Two winners have run the gamut from No. 1 – Slade Mercer in 2016 (though that year was only a 14-man field) and K9 in 2021.
To win, you need eliminations, and nobody has more than K9. The current SPW Champion has amassed 15 total eliminations across his five Southern Rumbles, buoyed heavily by seven eliminations to win in 2021, which is in itself a record for most eliminations in a single match.
Fifty per cent: While winning the Southern Rumble leads to a title shot, it’s not a guarantee of gold. Since its debut in 2016, only three of six Southern Rumble winners have gone on to become SPW Champion, while 50 per cent have suffered crushing defeats. Perhaps most notable is JK Moody, who seeks revenge against Australia’s Slex after coming up short when challenging for the SPW Championship in Melbourne in 2019.
SPW Southern Rumble 2023 takes place tonight, July 29, at the Corinthian Convention Centre in Invercargill. Tickets are available from Eventfinda.
