After the first 3 first-round matches of the inaugural Tag Team tournament, the 6-Woman Gauntlet Match, Robbie X vs Shaolin Monk, Screwface Ahmed vs T-Hawk and OJMO vs Flying Prince, the company announced today Marius Al-Ani will face StrongHearts’ own Shigehiro Irie on September 18 in London.
The “Ninja” Marius Al-Ani is 28 and currently signed to Westside Xtreme Wrestling where he is a one-time wXw World Tag Team Champion with Absolute Andy. He also competed in MMA and grappling. Since 2009, he has wrestled in his own country for EWP, NEW, NFC and of course wXw but also in Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Austria and the UK. On wXw, with whom he has been working since 2014, he wrestled in the UK and USA. He is the second-longest wXw Shotgun Champion in the history of the company.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfEXX37UGWc]
Shigehiro Irie personifies his nickname, Beast Mode. The man is a tank that utilises an impressive amount of strikes and power moves to level his opponents. Seeing him run into opponents is often like seeing them get hit by a truck. He has power and speed and he is not afraid to use them. He is also adept in technical wrestling as he has competed in MMA fights and even fought for Pancrase before becoming a wrestler full time. He is compelling as both a dominant and underdog fighter with an exceptional amount of charisma.
Irie was mostly known for his work in DDT where he worked from 2008 to 2018. He held multiple titles in both singles and tag team competition as well as tag titles in both AJPW and BJW. Now however he is becoming more noticeable in Germany and the UK as he has worked with wXw, PROGRESS, Fight Club Pro and others to expand his wrestling profile. He even competed in this year’s 16 Karat Tournament for wXw, reaching the second round before losing to Avalanche. In victory or defeat, Irie has a style and charisma that still sees him stand tall at the end of a match.
Not to mention he has now been drafted into Strong Hearts, teaming with T-Hawk as one-half of the Strong Hearts teams in the Tag Team Tournament. He is now a part of OWE’s top faction meaning any opponent now not only has to fear his personal strength and presence but also the company he keeps now.
R.I.P. @TheOJMO as @tachimukau_irie puts him into the crowd. #CheerUpJuice pic.twitter.com/ldnGLemJ2U
— PROGRESS Wrestling (@ThisIs_Progress) July 28, 2019
To reply to the many requests for multi-day tickets for both venues in the UK tour, OWE UK decided to create passes for the 2 London shows and 3 Liverpool shows. A 5-day pass for all OWE UK shows is also available. Passes holders will have the chance to attends some meet & greets. The tour will be taking place from September 18th-22nd. For more information on the company and tickets, be sure to check out their Twitter and their website here.
Co-written with Steph Franchomme. All pics and videos courtesy of OWE, OWE UK, Marius Al-Ani, wXw, Progress and Irie.