THOUGHTS FROM THE BUNKER …
BRUTAL TRUTH – Issue #4 – August 22, 2025
By Dave “The Brute” Kent
FROM THE BUNKER
This week’s hot topic, folks, is NPCW’s sudden obsession with “new faces” in the women’s division. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen Snow White, Crimson Vane, Penny Coppersnap, and Glint Grimm all walk through the door. But the real question is: why? NPCW already had Scarlett Howl, Mina Parker, and Grizelda—three wrestlers who were right there on the roster, primed and ready. Instead of promoting them, NPCW watched them pack their bags, head to HCW, and immediately flourish. Scarlett and Mina are setting HCW on fire in the Iron Maidens Tag Tournament, Grizelda is carving her niche in the South, and NPCW is left looking like the kid who let go of three lottery tickets just before the draw. So what’s the plan here, Ms. Sweetins? Build from scratch while your proven talent is tearing it up somewhere else? Brilliant move.
And speaking of “from scratch,” let’s talk about what NPCW’s doing—or not doing—with this so-called “new blood.” Penny Coppersnap and Glint Grimm? Enhancement fodder. They’ve been tossed around the ring like crash test dummies, and while that’s fine for the first few months, at some point you need to decide if you’re actually investing in these characters or just padding out the highlight reels for the Bombshells. If there’s long-term value there, NPCW hasn’t shown us yet. Snow White? She and Prince Charming have been floating in mid-card purgatory since day one. You’ve got a Disney-level gimmick with instant name recognition, and instead of making them a power couple, they’re curtain-jerking like it’s Saturday morning cartoons. Do not screw this one up, NPCW. Then there’s Crimson Vane—the only one of the bunch who actually feels like she could be something. Tying her in as Scarlett Howl’s sister has real potential, but here’s the catch: if NPCW tries to piggyback off HCW’s momentum without the creativity or booking strength to back it up, they’re going to tarnish everything HCW has built. And believe me, NPCW doesn’t need another black eye on its record.
Bottom line: NPCW had the talent, let it slip, and now they’re throwing darts in the dark hoping one of these new faces sticks. Hope isn’t a strategy. Book with purpose or watch the women’s division continue to circle the drain while HCW keeps running laps around you.
— Dave “The Brute” Kent
From the Bunker.
NPCW HOUSE SHOW RESULTS - Regina, SK
Thanks to Brutalist Joey Apter for the results!
DAVE’S TAKES
Belsnickel vs. Van Helsing (Main Event – NPCW House Show, Regina, SK)
★★ out of 5
Van Helsing vs. Belsnickel had all the makings of a main event on paper—folk legend monster-hunter against the surly holiday menace—but what we actually got was six minutes of house show filler disguised as a headliner. Van Helsing looked crisp enough hitting his DDTs and cinching in the Crossface, but Belsnickel might as well have been a training dummy for how little offense he brought to the table outside of a couple of token shots. The pacing felt rushed, the near-fall had zero drama, and the finish was about as predictable as sunrise. Main events are supposed to leave fans buzzing—this one left them checking their watches. A six-minute match with one guy carrying the other doesn’t scream main event caliber, it screams we didn’t book enough time for a real one. Brutal honesty? This was a glorified TV squash in front of a house show crowd.
Goldie Locks (Champion) vs. Wicked Witch (Main Event – Northern Belles Episode 007 - Aired August 17, 2025)
So this was your big main event, huh? Let me get this straight—Goldie Locks vs Wicked Witch, with “Fast Count” Freda living up to her name, and the Coven turning this into a glorified handicap match. To be fair, Wicked Witch carried this thing—her neckbreakers and that Witch’s Wrath looked great, and Goldie was mostly just surviving. Then the Coven decides to make this a clown show with green mist, distractions, and outright interference that Freda somehow “missed.” The finish? Goldie retains because the Coven got too greedy and drew the DQ. Great way to protect your babyface champ by having her win thanks to outside cheating. Booking malpractice. The work itself wasn’t terrible, but the ending killed it dead.
Star Rating: ★★½ out of 5 – decent action, but bad booking, flat finish, and Goldie still looks weak as champ.
THE FINAL WORD
By Dave “The Brute” Kent
On August 20th, NPCW will trot out another one of their so-called Supercard Preview Shows where the broadcast team does their best job of pretending they know how to pick winners. Funny enough, my phone never rings for these things—probably because NPCW can’t stomach a dose of unfiltered, brutal honesty. But don’t worry, dear readers, I’ve got you covered. Here are Part 2 of my picks, free of corporate polish and phony hype.
Match 6 – Abaddon vs. Robin Hood (Northern Lights Title Match)
Here’s a fun reminder: Robin Hood had his first title reign cut shorter than a TikTok clip, losing the belt to Abaddon after just one day. NPCW basically turned him into the punchline of the year. Since then, Abaddon has been everything Robin isn’t—dominant, destructive, and believable as a champion. Yes, Robin scored a non-title win to build fake suspense, but let’s be real: Abaddon’s going to crush him again, and this time the humiliation will be permanent.
Match 7 – Misfits of Mayhem vs. The Beasts (Tag Team Title Match)
And here it is—the big payoff to the “Flippers the Penguin” saga. NPCW really went all-in on soap opera drama, so much so they just handed a title shot to The Beasts, who’ve wrestled here exactly once—and it ended in a draw. That’s what passes for tag title contention now? Meanwhile, the Misfits of Mayhem have carried the belts with actual credibility, so yeah, they’re winning this one. But I’ll say it again: hot angles don’t mean squat if you devalue your championships in the process. Good theater, bad wrestling logic.
Match 8 – Queen of the North Title Match: Goldie Locks (c) vs. Moonshadow
Now this is what a title match should look like. Moonshadow deserves this shot—she’s clawed her way up, earned it the right way, and has the hunger to prove it. Meanwhile, Goldie Locks has been exposed as the classic case of “better chaser than champion.” When she was clawing for the belt, she had fire. As champion? Lukewarm at best. This one screams title change. Moonshadow takes it, and maybe Goldie finally finds her edge again.
Match 9 – Wheel of Misfortunes: Sandman vs. Sinbad
Okay, I’ll give NPCW this—spinning a wheel to pick the gimmick match is at least creative, if not exactly groundbreaking. The winner gets a “golden ticket” title match, and if there’s any justice in this company, that means Sandman finally gets his long-overdue title shot. The man has been strung along long enough. Sinbad’s a solid hand, but he’s cannon fodder here.
Match 10 – Main Event: Title vs. Title – Sinister Klaus vs. Rudolph
And here’s the big one. On paper, a unification match feels epic—two titles, one winner. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: NPCW literally invented a shiny new belt just to hand it to Klaus and justify this main event. That’s not booking, that’s desperation. Still, Klaus is a legitimate monster with the credibility to carry the top prize. Rudolph’s been a fun champion, but the red nose is about to dim. Mark it down: Klaus walks out with all the gold, and NPCW walks away with yet another self-inflicted black eye for how they treat their championships.
So there you have it, folks—my picks for Shadowfall’s preview. Will NPCW get it right this time? History says probably not, but maybe lightning strikes. Just make sure you’ve got the mute button handy when Johnny Michaels drones through the broadcast like a human sleep aid.
And remember—
“I don’t sugarcoat it. I don’t spin it. I just give you the Brutal Truth.” – Dave The Brute Kent
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