Crystal Rush Wrestling is making significant strides in strengthening its women's division, which is recognized as the largest in Southeast Asia.
This article delves into the recent activities and future aspirations of Crystal Rush Wrestling, highlighting key events, wrestler debuts, and the ongoing journey towards establishing a prominent women's wrestling championship.
Women's Open Training Session
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the women's division, an open training session was held. This session was designed for women fans interested in becoming wrestlers or experiencing the thrill of training.
Crystal, known as the Queen of PH Wrestling and the longest-active female wrestler in the country, led the session. It is believed that such sessions should occur more often with different leaders, potentially including other members of the Pinay Five.
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A wrestling training session.
The Debut of Ramona
Ramona is the first Pinay wrestler to debut from a specific lineage. She initially appeared in December 2021 and had several matches in early 2022 before taking a break.
Now she’s back, and it looks like she’s here to stay. Given what she’s capable of, I’m sure she’s hellbent on proving herself to the world. But I always remind her: shouldn’t rush to prove herself, and it’s far too early for her to attempt it anyway. Being part of Pinoy wrestling is both a privilege and a responsibility-those come first. If she focuses on those, she will have already proven herself in ways that truly matter.
Ramona's return is highly anticipated, and along with Jomar, she is now officially part of HSSL. The growth and development of both wrestlers are eagerly awaited.
Super P's Injury and Resilience
Super P suffered a knee injury during a main event tag team match with Joya against Chelsea and Crystal. Despite the setback, it is believed that this is just a temporary pause in Super P's career.
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Super P previously achieved the feat of wrestling 10 local matches in a single quarter, a rare accomplishment in Southeast Asian pro wrestling. Her ability to overcome challenges is well-recognized, and a swift return to her exceptional form is expected.
The Question of a Pinay Wrestling Championship
The demand for a Women's Wrestling Championship is a recurring theme among fans. However, it's important to consider that Pinay wrestling has been actively developing for just over a year.
Like any business, wrestling must be scaled properly to ensure sustainability. Prematurely introducing a championship could negatively impact long-term prospects.
Currently, resources are insufficient to create another title belt, and fan support needs to increase to justify the investment in a championship belt, show, and media coverage. The Pusong Pinoy Wrestling Championship remains open to women, and time will tell if this continues to be a viable route.
A Pinay Wrestling Championship must be built up, similar to previous championships. Strong demand from fans will drive the appropriate response from the Pinay wrestlers.
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Women's Wrestling (July 2024)
Stanford Wrestling: A Parallel Perspective
While focusing on Crystal Rush Wrestling, it's insightful to look at other wrestling programs. For instance, Stanford University's wrestling team, though distinct, shares the common goal of striving for excellence.
Stanford's team in 2009-10 aimed to reestablish itself as a regional and national contender. They returned eight of nine starters and welcomed back junior Zack Giesen from his redshirt year. Giesen is a two-time NCAA qualifier and the 2007 Pac-10 Co-Newcomer of the Year.
The team also included returning NCAA Qualifiers Lucas Espericueta and Nick Amuchastegui. Coach Jason Borrelli expressed excitement about the upcoming year, noting the maturity and development of his wrestlers.
The Cardinal depended on its veterans for experience and leadership. Amuchastegui, Espericueta, and Giesen were all Pac-10 place winners and top-5 on Stanford's freshman wins list.
Stanford also welcomed a talented recruiting class, ranked top-15 nationally, including Ryan Mango, Kyle Meyer, and Bret Baumbach. Dylan Rush, a transfer from UCLA, joined as a heavyweight.
The coaching staff, including Matt Gentry, Ray Blake, and Vic Moreno, focused on developing wrestlers across different weight classes. The team faced a challenging schedule, including participation in the Midlands Tournament and matches against Pac-10 opponents.
Stanford's Key Wrestlers by Weight Class (2009-10)
The following table highlights key wrestlers in various weight classes for Stanford during the 2009-10 season:
| Weight Class | Wrestler | Achievements/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 125 pounds | Matt Sencenbaugh | Pac-10 Championships place winner |
| 133 pounds | Porfirio Madrigal | Finished seventh at Pac-10 Championships (freshman and sophomore) |
| 141 pounds | Bret Baumbach | Top-100 overall recruit |
| 149 pounds | Tyler Parker | Two-year Pac-10 place winner, team captain |
| 157 pounds | Lucas Espericueta | 2008 NCAA qualifier |
| 165 pounds | Nick Amuchastegui | Team MVP, NCAA Championships qualifier |
| 174 pounds | Victor Haug | Returning starter |
| 184 pounds | Zack Giesen | Two-time NCAA qualifier, 2007 Pac-10 Co-Newcomer of the Year |
| 197 pounds | Jake Johnson | Finished third at Pac-10 Championships |
| Heavyweight | Dylan Rush | Transfer from UCLA football team |
Women of Wrestling (WOW)
Women of Wrestling (WOW) is an American women's professional wrestling promotion founded in 2000 by David McLane. In April 2017, MGM Television announced a partnership with Jeanie Buss to develop new WOW content.
In June 2018, tapings for a new weekly program on AXS TV titled WOW: Women of Wrestling began, with episodes airing in early 2019. The AXS TV premiere marked WOW's first television broadcast of new content in almost eighteen years.
WOW debuted that January 18 as part of AXS TV's "Friday Night Fights" lineup of shows. WOW: Women of Wrestling ran for two seasons on AXS TV. On January 21, 2022, WOW announced in a press release that "never-before-seen" episodes from "season 7" would debut on Pluto TV and The CW app starting January 22.
On August 1, 2022, it was announced that new episodes of the series will begin airing on September 17, 2022, internationally from Paramount Global Content Distribution.
WOW Unleashed was a professional wrestling pay-per-view from Women of Wrestling. It took place on February 4, 2001, from the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The PPV suffered from technical difficulties and a low buyrate.
Controversies
In 2020, Tessa Blanchard faced scrutiny for allegations of racism and bullying. She was featured on Women of Wrestling as a rehabilitation project, but this led to a falling out and her subsequent removal from the program.
In 2024, the Tonga Twins were removed from the program amid allegations of bullying and intentionally hurting other wrestlers. Many WOW wrestlers have spoken out against the Tonga Twins. The Tonga Twins last criticized the Women of Wrestling program for character defamation and have since not released a public statement regarding their experience on the show.
National Girls High School Rankings
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling, and FloWrestling publish national rankings for high school girls wrestlers. These rankings evaluate girls in grades 8-12 from all 50 states.
The rankings consider major preseason competitions, including Who’s Number One, Super 32, and the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals.
As of November 2024, there were several changes among the No. 1 ranked individuals, with Jaclyn Bouzakis, Kayla Batres, Isabella Marie Gonzales, and Violette Lasure becoming No. 1 in their respective weight classes.
The Pound-For-Pound (P-4-P) rankings were also updated, with Taina Fernandez remaining at the top. The rankings highlight top athletes, including Morgan Turner, Isabella Marie Gonzales, and Piper Fowler.