Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022. When the opening bell rings for Empire State Wrestling’s second event of the year, it will do so after a significant reconfiguration of its top-billed bout. After a major change to its originally announced main event for Saturday’s Brawlfest at Buffalo RiverWorks, the already potent lineup Empire State Wrestling (ESW) planned on showcasing may end up being even stronger than first conceived while also remaining the most impressive independent wrestling card in Western New York so far this year.
“We are very excited to be back at RiverWorks,” said ESW promoter Brett Mednik. “The extra excitement and intensity that fills the air there is unmatched by anywhere else we have ever held an event so far. With this being one of our biggest cards to date, it’s hard to look forward to just one match on the card as the entire thing is going to be great from start to finish.”
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
Jay Lethal vs. Trey Miguel
At ESW’s last event in March, the company announced a special cross-promotional main event: All-Elite Wrestling’s Buddy Matthews versus Impact Wrestling’s Trey Miguel. However, that changed when Matthews canceled due to other commitments. In Matthews’ place will be fellow All-Elite Wrestling star and former two-time Ring of Honor World Champion Jay Lethal.
The social media buzz about Lethal moving into the main event spot versus Miguel was notable as Lethal was unable to take U.S. independent bookings for several years while under contract with Ring of Honor. Now Lethal will make his ESW debut in his latest stop in his return to the American indie wrestling scene and hold a training seminar the day before Brawlfest for many of Western New York’s young wrestlers.
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
To Infinity & Beyond (Cheech & Colin Delaney) vs. The High Seas (Cloudy & Nick Ando)
– ESW Tag Team Championship Ladder Match
New ESW Tag Team Champions will be crowned at Brawlfest. With his tag team partner R.J. City missing from in-ring action, Gregory Iron vacated the tag belts in March. This led to two of ESW’s hottest tag teams, To Infinity & Beyond and High Seas, agreeing to a ladder match to determine the new tag champs.
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
Frankie Feathers vs. TBA –
ESW Interstate Championship
In the ESW Interstate Championship Division, its longest-reigning champion Frankie Feathers issued an open challenge for Brawlfest. It was answered by a current member of the Impact Wrestling roster whose identity will not be revealed until the day of the event.
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
Bill Collier vs. Jay Freddie
– #1 Contender’s Match
A new No. 1 contender for the ESW Heavyweight Championship will be declared at Brawlfest when “Big Time” Bill Collier takes on “Blue Thunder” Jay Freddie. These two squared off in a hard-hitting bout last summer that electrified the Buffalo RiverWorks crowd. The winner will take on current ESW Heavyweight Champion Kevin Blackwood at a future event.
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
Vince Valor vs. Alec Price
Since ESW’s return to action last summer, Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Cup winner “Invincible” Vince Valor embarked on an impressive victory streak, with his latest being against “Big League” John McChesney. Valor is set to face one of his most formidable opponents yet in “The Prize” Alec Price at Brawlfest. Price is one of the fast-rising American indie wrestling stars gaining a lot of notoriety from his matches at Limitless Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling and Game Changer Wrestling. Valor had this to say on social media about his upcoming match with Price:
Empire State Wrestling presents Brawlfest 2022
Christina Marie vs Shazza McKenzie
“Courageous” Christina Marie impressed ESW fans in her previous two matches. She will take on Australian star Shazza McKenzie at Brawlfest. McKenzie returned to the U.S. scene in March. Since returning, she worked for Major League Wrestling plus a variety of indie promotions across the U.S such as the Indiana-based Black Label Pro and West Coast promotion Prestige Wrestling.
Gavin Glass vs. Levi Everett vs. Vinnie Moon vs. Brayden Lee vs. Mike Skyros vs. TBA
– Six-Way Scramble
A six-way scramble match is set to feature up-and-coming national and locally-based indie stars. The bout will include “A Cut Above the Rest” Gavin Glass, Levi Everett, Vinnie Moon, Brayden Lee, “Moonlight Son” Mike Skyros, and a mystery opponent.
After failing to beat Gregory Iron in March, Jeremiah Richter once again decimated an ESW referee out of frustration in the aftermath. Richter will return to action at Brawlfest but will now be under the tutelage of his new confidant Cerin Rahne. Here is what Rahne said regarding his new partner:
Live Stream Kickoff Show
ESW will live stream a set of kickoff matches prior to the start of Brawlfest. The live stream will be made exclusively available on The Closed Fist podcast’s Facebook feed.
The Closed Fist’s Facebook page can be found here.
One match will feature the return of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Saito Brothers. The Saito Brothers will be yearning for their first ESW win after falling to To Infinity & Beyond in their debut match in March.
The second will showcase a pair of local talents in “The Big Bang” Jerk Cockins against James Sayga. These two will meet in singles action after previously locking horns on opposite sides of a 6-man tag team match in November.
In an effort to provide assistance for those in need after the tragic Buffalo mass shooting last weekend, ESW will hold a food drive at Brawlfest. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items or hygiene essentials that will go to FeedMore WNY for distribution to people affected by the closing of the Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue. Members of the ESW roster and staff will match every item that fans donate at Brawlfest.
Front and second-row tickets are sold out. General Admission tickets remain available at a pre-sale price of $20 and increase by $5 on event day. Tickets can be purchased at ESWtix.com.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and a meet and greet begins at 5:30 p.m. Kickoff matches will start at 6:00 p.m., with the main card beginning at 7:00 p.m.
