The Battle of Los Angeles tournament (the BOLA) is an annual independent wrestling tournament in North America, run and promoted by Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Over the years, the tournament has attracted numerous famous independent wrestlers from A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels to Bryan Danielson.
The tournament setup
In the first year of the Battle of Los Angeles there were sixteen participants, with eight opening round matches, four quarterfinal matches, two semifinal matches, and a final. In 2006 the tournament was expanded to 24 participants, which caused the addition of another eight person bracket and created three semifinals matches and an elimination three-way final match. In 2008 the tournament returned to its 16 man format. In 2011, the tournament was completely revamped, taking place for the first time as a one night tournament with only eight participants.
Tournament winners
Results
2005
The first annual Battle of Los Angeles was held on September 3 and 4, 2005, in Los Angeles, California.[1][2]
2006
The 2006 BOLA was held on September 1, September 2 and September 3, 2006 in Reseda, California.[3][4][5] The tournament saw the PWG returns of The Briscoe Brothers, after no-showing a number of events, and Super Dragon, who had been injured by the Dynasty earlier in the year.
Alex Koslov was originally scheduled to take part in the tournament, but was replaced by Austin Aries, after going on a six month learning excursion to Mexico.[6] After no-showing Threemendous a month earlier, Jay and Mark Briscoe were taken out of the tournament and replaced by Bryan Danielson and Dragon Kid, respectively.[6] However, Danielson separated his shoulder on August 26 in a Ring of Honor match against Colt Cabana[7] and was therefore taken out of the tournament and replaced by Disco Machine.
The 2006 BOLA saw the introduction of wrestlers from Dragon Gate, which was represented by three regulars (Cima, Genki Horiguchi and Dragon Kid), and finished the tournament with a combined 5-3 record.
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Quicksilver
| Pin
| |
|
| Dragon Kid
| 12:05 [3]
| |
| | Dragon Kid
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Roderick Strong
| 15:14 [8]
| |
| Roderick Strong
| Sub
| |
| |
| Rocky Romero
| 17:34 [3]
| |
| | Roderick Strong
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Davey Richards
| 11:07 [8]
| |
| Austin Aries
| Sub
| | |
| |
| Disco Machine
| 10:26 [4]
| |
| | Austin Aries
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Davey Richards
| 14:13 [8]
| |
| Davey Richards
| Pin
| |
| |
| Ronin
| 12:12 [4]
| |
|
|
Finals: Davey Richards defeated Cima‡ via pinfall in 13:42 to win the 2006 BOLA[8]
* = This was a No Disqualification match
† = Kazarian was attacked by the Dynasty allowing Super Dragon to get a bye to the next round
‡ = Super Dragon was attacked backstage by the Dynasty before his final match taking him out of the tournament
2007
The 2007 BOLA was held on August 31, September 1 and September 2, 2007 in Burbank, California.[9][10][11] The event suffered many losses leading up to it including PWG World Champion Bryan Danielson suffering an eye injury, former World Champion Super Dragon pulling himself from the event and former BOLA winner Chris Bosh announcing his retirement out of nowhere. They were replaced by TNA wrestler Alex Shelley, local worker Tony Kozina and the Necro Butcher.[12] At Giant-Size Annual #4 the month before the event Austin Aries defeated Rocky Romero to take his spot in BOLA.[13]
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Joey Ryan
| DQ
| |
|
| Chris Hero
| 16:42 [9]
| |
| | Joey Ryan
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Roderick Strong
| 07:32 [11]
| |
| Roderick Strong
| Pin
| |
| |
| Austin Aries
| 14:30 [9]
| |
| | Roderick Strong
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Alex Shelley
| 15:30 [11]
| |
| Jimmy Rave
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Matt Sydal
| 09:32 [9]
| |
| | Matt Sydal
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Alex Shelley
| 12:41 [11]
| |
| Alex Shelley
| Pin
| |
| |
| Tyler Black
| 20:07 [9]
| |
|
|
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Claudio Castagnoli
| Pin
| |
|
| Doug Williams
| 14:33 [9]
| |
| | Claudio Castagnoli
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Pac
| 12:10 [11]
| |
| Jack Evans
| Pin
| |
| |
| Pac
| 11:36 [9]
| |
| | Pac
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Cima
| 14:12 [11]
| |
| Cima
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Human Tornado
| 10:53 [10]
| |
| | Cima
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Shingo Takagi
| 12:05 [11]
| |
| Scott Lost
| Pin
| |
| |
| Shingo Takagi
| 11:53 [10]
| |
|
|
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Necro Butcher
| Pin
| |
|
| Kevin Steen
| 08:15 [10]
| |
| | Necro Butcher
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Nigel McGuinness
| 08:20 [11]
| |
| Nigel McGuinness
| Pin
| |
| |
| Davey Richards
| 15:32 [10]
| |
| | Nigel McGuinness
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | El Generico
| 12:48 [11]
| |
| El Generico
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Tony Kozina
| 12:09 [10]
| |
| | El Generico
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Dragon Kid
| 08:01 [11]
| |
| Dragon Kid
| Pin
| |
| |
| Susumu Yokosuka
| 16:36 [10]
| |
|
|
Finals: Cima defeated Roderick Strong and El Generico via pinfall in 13:17 in an elimination three-way match to win the 2007 BOLA[11]
- Cima eliminated El Generico via pinfall in 08:57
- Cima eliminated Strong via pinfall in 13:17[11]
2008
The fourth annual BOLA was held on November 1 and November 2, 2008 in Burbank, California.[14][15] The tournament was set to follow the 24 man format of the previous two and take place on the weekend of August 30 and 31, but PWG management was unable to book the talent they wished to for the event and decided to move the event and drop the entrants down to 16. On October 16 PWG announced that 17 participants will be in the tournament, this occurred because the two PWG commissioners (Excalibur and Dino Winwood) couldn't come to a conclusion on who would be the final entrant, which lead to one first round match being a three way dance.
| First round
| | | Second round
| | | Semifinals
| | | Finals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Brandon Bonham
| Pin
| |
|
| Kenny Omega
| 16:35 [14]
| |
| | Brandon Bonham
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Nigel McGuinness
| 08:31 [15]
| |
| Austin Aries
| Sub
| |
| |
| Nigel McGuinness
| 14:46 [14]
| |
| | Nigel McGuinness
| DQ
| |
|
|
| | Low Ki
| 08:48 [15]
| |
| Low Ki
| Sub
| | |
| |
| Roderick Strong
| 16:53 [14]
| |
| | Low Ki
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Masato Yoshino
| 7:45 [15]
| |
| El Generico *
| Sub
| |
| |
| Masato Yoshino *
| 13:52 [14]
| |
| | Low Ki
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Chris Hero
| 18:56 [15]
| |
| T.J. Perkins
| DQ
| | | |
| |
| Chuck Taylor
| 12:29 [14]
| |
| | T.J. Perkins
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Bryan Danielson
| 22:12 [15]
| |
| Bryan Danielson
| Sub
| |
| |
| Davey Richards
| 21:49 [14]
| |
| | Bryan Danielson
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Chris Hero
| 14:07 [15]
| |
| Chris Hero †
| Sub
| | |
| |
| Necro Butcher †
| 29:40 [14]
| |
| | Chris Hero
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Scott Lost
| 11:38 [15]
| |
| Scott Lost
| Pin
| |
| |
| Joey Ryan
| 12:39 [14]
| |
|
|
* = This match was a three way dance also involving Nick Jackson
† = This was a No Disqualification match
2009
The fifth annual BOLA was held on November 20 and November 21, 2009, in Reseda, California.[16][17] Due to Bryan Danielson winning the PWG World Championship in his farewell match and afterwards vacating it, this year's would also become the new World Champion.[18] The first round of the tournament consisted of eight one-on-one matches between 16 wrestlers.[19] Local newcomers Brandon Gatson and Jerome Robinson earned their spots in the tournament by winning separate four-way matches at PWG's Against the Grain on October 2.[20] Chris Sabin was scheduled to take part in the tournament, but was forced to pull out due to a neck injury. He was replaced by another local newcomer Johnny Goodtime.[21]
| First round
| | | Second round
| | | Semifinals
| | | Finals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Kenny Omega
| Pin
| |
|
| Kevin Steen
| 12:45 [16]
| |
| | Kenny Omega
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Scott Lost
| 13:52 [17]
| |
| Scott Lost
| Pin
| |
| |
| Jerome Robinson
| 07:46 [16]
| |
| | Kenny Omega
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Joey Ryan
| 15:05 [17]
| |
| Austin Aries
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Brian Kendrick
| 14:29 [16]
| |
| | Brian Kendrick
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Joey Ryan
| 09:01 [17]
| |
| Colt Cabana
| Pin
| |
| |
| Joey Ryan
| 10:49 [16]
| |
| | Kenny Omega
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Roderick Strong
| 19:40 [17]
| |
| Brandon Gatson
| Pin
| | | |
| |
| Nick Jackson
| 12:16 [16]
| |
| | Brandon Gatson
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Alex Shelley
| 11:51 [17]
| |
| El Generico
| Pin
| |
| |
| Alex Shelley
| 16:44 [16]
| |
| | Brandon Gatson
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Roderick Strong
| 05:28 [17]
| |
| Johnny Goodtime
| Sub
| | |
| |
| Roderick Strong
| 16:56 [16]
| |
| | Roderick Strong
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Human Tornado
| 09:41 [17]
| |
| Matt Jackson
| Pin
| |
| |
| Human Tornado
| 14:14 [16]
| |
|
|
2010
The sixth annual BOLA was held on September 4 and 5, 2010, in Reseda, California. The tournament included 18 participants, up from previous two years.[22][23]
| First round
| | | Second round
| | | Semifinals
| | | Finals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Claudio Castagnoli
| Sub
| |
|
| Ricochet
| [22]
| |
| | Claudio Castagnoli
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Roderick Strong
| [23]
| |
| Paul London
| Pin
| |
| |
| Roderick Strong
| [22]
| |
| | Claudio Castagnoli
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Joey Ryan
| [23]
| |
| Austin Aries
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Rocky Romero
| [22]
| |
| | Austin Aries
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Joey Ryan
| [23]
| |
| Joey Ryan
| Pin
| |
| |
| Chuck Taylor
| [22]
| |
| | Joey Ryan
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Chris Hero
| [23]
| |
| Brandon Bonham
| Pin
| | | |
| |
| Brian Cage
| [22]
| |
| | Brandon Bonham
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Brandon Gatson
| [23]
| |
| Brandon Gatson
| Pin
| |
| |
| Ryan Taylor
| [22]
| |
| | Brandon Gatson
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Chris Hero
| [23]
| |
| El Generico
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Akira Tozawa
| [22]
| |
| | Akira Tozawa
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Chris Hero
| [23]
| |
| Christopher Daniels
| Sub
| |
| |
| Chris Hero
| [22]
| |
|
|
| First round
| |
| | | | |
|
| Matt Jackson
| Double DQ
| |
|
| Nick Jackson
| [22]
| |
|
|
2011
The seventh annual BOLA took place on August 20, 2011, in Reseda, California. For the first time, the entire tournament was held over one night with only eight participants.[24]
2012
The eighth annual BOLA took place on September 1 and 2, 2012, in Reseda, California. Initially, on July 22, the tournament was announced as taking place in one night with twelve participants,[26] however, the following day it was expanded to two nights with four more wrestlers added, when another event scheduled for the Reseda venue was cancelled.[27]
2013
The ninth annual BOLA took place on August 30 and 31, in Reseda, California.[30][31] Davey Richards was originally announced for the tournament, but later pulled out.[32][33]
2014
The tenth annual BOLA took place on August 29, 30 and 31, in Reseda, California.[36] Taking place over three nights for the first time in seven years, the tournament featured 24 participants.[37] AR Fox and Trent? were originally announced for the tournament, but on August 6 PWG announced that they would have to pull out due to injuries.[38] They were replaced by Bobby Fish and Candice LeRae, respectively.[39] On the first day of the tournament, it was announced T.J. Perkins would be replacing an injured Brian Cage.[40]
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Candice LeRae
| Pin
| |
|
| Rich Swann
| [43]
| |
| | Candice LeRae
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Johnny Gargano
| [42]
| |
| Chuck Taylor
| Sub
| |
| |
| Johnny Gargano
| [43]
| |
| | Johnny Gargano
| Sub
| |
|
|
| | Trevor Lee
| [42]
| |
| Michael Elgin
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Tommaso Ciampa
| [41]
| |
| | Michael Elgin
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Trevor Lee
| [42]
| |
| Trevor Lee
| Pin
| |
| |
| Cedric Alexander
| [41]
| |
|
|
| First round
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Bobby Fish
| Pin
| |
|
| T.J. Perkins
| [41]
| |
| | T.J. Perkins
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Ricochet
| [42]
| |
| Ricochet
| Pin
| |
| |
| Chris Sabin
| [43]
| |
| | Ricochet
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Kenny Omega
| [42]
| |
| ACH
| Pin
| | |
| |
| Kenny Omega
| [43]
| |
| | Kenny Omega
| Pin
| |
|
|
| | Matt Sydal
| [42]
| |
| Matt Sydal
| Pin
| |
| |
| Chris Hero
| [43]
| |
|
|
Finals: Ricochet defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong via pinfall to win the 2014 BOLA[42]
2015
The eleventh annual BOLA took place on August 28, 29 and 30, in Reseda, California.[44]
Finals: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Chris Hero and Mike Bailey in an elimination three-way match to win the 2015 BOLA[46]
- Hero eliminated Bailey via pinfall[46]
- Sabre eliminated Hero via submission[46]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2005 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2005 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2006 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2006 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ↑ "2006 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Three". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 "2006 Battle of Los Angeles (Updated 8/16)". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ↑ Clevett, Jason (2006-09-14). "Danielson epitomizes ROH's evolution". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Furious Flashbacks – PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2006". 411Mania. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2007 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2007 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "2007 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Three". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ↑ "2007 Battle of Los Angeles Information (08/29 #2)". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ↑ "Giant-Size Annual #4". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2008 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2008 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2009 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2009 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ "Bryan Danielson Wins PWG Title In Last PWG Appearance". 411Mania. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ↑ "2009 Battle of Los Angeles". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ↑ "Against The Grain". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ↑ "2009 Battle of Los Angeles - Nov 20 & 21! Update". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "2010 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2010 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2011-07-30). "PWG News: Annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament announced - Finlay, PWG champ, recent ROH champs in first round match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2011 Battle of Los Angeles". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2012-07-23). "PWG: BOLA tournament field announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2012-07-24). "PWG: BOLA 2012 expands to two nights". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Massingham, Matt (2012-09-02). "9/1 PWG results Reseda, Calif.: BOLA First Round features Steen, Richards vs. Elgin MOTYC re-match, Gut Check'er". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Massingham, Matt (2012-09-02). "9/2 PWG results Reseda, Calif.: Complete results from BOLA Night 2 with finals of tourney". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- ↑ "2013 Battle of Los Angeles - August 30 & 31!". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2013-07-02). "PWG News: Update - full line-up for 10-year anniversary show, plus three participants in BOLA 2013". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ↑ "Just got a message that Davey Richards won't be able to make BOLA. I'll let you guys know a replacement as soon as I figure it out.". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Twitter. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2013-08-10). "PWG News: BOLA line-up announced - full 16-man tournament roster, big six-man tag on Night 1". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gee Schoon Tong, Chris (2013-08-31). "Show results - 8/30 PWG BOLA Night 1: Winners of eight First Round matches, plus big six-man tag main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gee Schoon Tong, Chris (2013-09-01). "Show results - 8/31 PWG BOLA Night 2: WWE wrestler/scout attends, who won the Battle of Los Angeles tourney?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2014-06-21). "PWG News: Battle of Los Angeles big announcement, including recent WWE star as the first entrant". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2014-07-03). "PWG News: Entire Battle of Los Angeles field announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
- ↑ "Due to injuries, AR Fox and Trent? will not be able to participate in the 2014 Battle of Los Angeles.". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Twitter. 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
- ↑ "PWG news: Battle of Los Angeles Weekend - Styles, Sabin, recent WWE stars, ROH champ, PWG champ, Hero, Daniels & Kaz, Young Bucks, full line-ups". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
- ↑ "Brian Cage is still recovering from an injury and will not be able to wrestle at BOLA. TJ Perkins will be taking his place!". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Twitter. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Show results - 8/29 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1: A.J. Styles vs. former WWE star, Elgin, Daniels & Kaz, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2014-08-30. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Show results - 8/31 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3: The Finals of huge tournament with Styles, former WWE stars, PWG champ, ROH champ, mega-tag match, Willie Mack says good-bye". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2014-09-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Show results - 8/30 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2: Sabin returns, Sydal vs. Hero, Bucks vs. Daniels & Kaz main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ↑ "PWG news: PWG announces several upcoming shows, including BOLA 2015". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Show results - 8/28 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1: First Round matches, plus big main event of PWG Champ & Tag Champs vs. Team Europe". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Caldwell, James (2015-08-30). "Show results - 8/30 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3: This year's BOLA Winner determined, plus mega tag matches, more details". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Show results - 8/29 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2: Guerrilla Warfare main event, First Round matches with Drew Galloway, Chris Hero, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
External links