Kaiju Big Battel - “Betrayal” Rundown
Two combatants clash with a fury of fighting moves, leaving destruction in their wake amidst the drama of fans wanting their favorite monster to win the skirmish. Is that a description of a kaiju film? Or is it a description of a pro-wrestling match? It’s both! And those worlds combine in spectacular fashion in the world of Kaiju Big Battel.
Kaiju Big Battel was spawned out of Boston, MA in 1995 by Rand Borden and David Borden and is a delightful hybrid mutation between pro-wrestling and tokusatsu/kaiju films. The characters (who may or may not be the same wrestlers from show-to-show) are meant to be titans who are there to either protect or destroy a city (usually represented by a few cardboard buildings in the ring). The roster is essentially divided into Heroes and Rogues, though that seems interchangeable as is often the case between Faces and Heels in kayfabe. The bulky costumes are outlandish, the personas are ridiculous, the storylines are nonsensical…but when it’s all combined with solid wrestling moves and a genuine sense of humor, it creates a unique and wonderfully fun spectacle.
The scrappiness of Kaiju Big Battel is reminiscent of many an indie, small wrestling circuit that has established its own niche by combining many influences.
Obviously there’s the kaiju films/super sentai TV show element and the larger-than-life melodrama between impossible personalities. But there’s also the lucha libre aspect of masked fighters who commit to the characters (and may or may not have actual super powers).
And Kaiju Big Battel also shares a lot of the DNA of silly matches found in a bunch of smaller Japanese wrestling organizations.
It’s goofy but in the best of ways. The wrestlers are committed to the bit, but they are also committed to their craft. So while bouts are filled with all sorts of ridiculousness, there’s still plenty of impressive athleticism on display. Maybe even more so given the fact that so many have very restricted vision and awfully awkward costumes that can impede movement. Their YouTube channel features highlight reels and even full events, though you can also buy entire shows by going to this page. Below is the rundown for the “Betrayal” event that took place way back in November 2019 at the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company in Croydon, PA.