Most people associate Easter Sunday with going to church, some wholesome egg hunting and family bonding, but wrestling fans in Long Beach celebrated with high-flying slams and a good old-fashioned power bomb.
Nine fights were on the card for Long Beach’s Sunday Night Slam with three title fights and intriguing standouts such as Koto Hiro, the Crazy Chickens, Cha Cha Charlie and Jack Cartwheel, each boasting unique fighting styles.
The pre-show match between Koto Hiro and El Primohenio kicked off a high-energy evening with strong slams and punches. Koto Hiro, who sports a mask honoring the Lucha Libre tradition, showed his quick and shifty style in the beginning minutes of the fight, dodging El Primohenio’s strong punches as he ducked and dodged from each side of the ring.
Koto Hiro goes for the submission after he went for a double stomp and rainbuster during his match against El Primohenio. Koto Hiro ended up getting the submission, winning the match during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Japan-born wrestler Koto Hiro lifts his arms up as he tries to get back up after taking powerful strikes from El Primohenio during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
The Crazy Chickens attack Delirium with flying elbows after they prematurely celebrated. They then threw the duo into the other rope and kicked them in the face, dropping them to the canvas during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
El Primohenio’s strength proved itself an equalizer after he slammed Koto Hiro between his knees and violently elbowed him into the canvas. But after a failed moonsault and a double stomp on the ropes from Koto Hiro, he got the submission after going for the brainbuster.
One of the more intriguing matches was when the Crazy Chickens went into the ring, throwing goodies out to the audience as they did the chicken dance. However, the tag team Delirium came in to spoil the Chickens’ party. Commanded by Carma, the duo rushed into the ring, throwing one of the Chickens out and with a snap of the fingers, the Delirium duo slammed the lone Chicken to the ground and got the submission.
The title matchup between the New York tag team duo 5150 and Midnight Heat commenced for the UWN Tag Team Championship. 5150 took over from the start with quick knee strikes, choke slams and stomps.
Ricky Gibson from Midnight Heat tried going for the tag multiple times after the entourage of attacks, but the New York duo kept him away from his teammate, leaving devastating injuries. Limelight of 5150 screamed at Gibson, “Tap out Ricky,” as he held him in the choke, but Gibson was able to finally get the tag in after the two 5150 teammates hit each other in their side of the corner.
Danny Limelight goes for a neck submission during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. 5150 ended up retaining the UWN Tag Team Title after Slice Boogie submitted Ricky Gibson. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 began with the pre-show tag team match between The Wolf Zaddies and The Pumpline. Bad Dude Tito from The Wolf Zaddies did a turnaround slap on The Pumpline’s Antonio Rivers on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Ricky Gibson from Midnight Heat lays near the corner after strong strikes from the 5150 duo of Danny Limelight and Slice Boogie during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. Throughout the match, the 5150 duo was teeing off on Gibson as he attempted to get the tag off to his teammate, Eddie Pearl. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Even with Eddie Pearl’s surge of elbow strikes and leg kicks once tagged in, the momentum quickly switched after the 5150 crew came back to attack Gibson with a devastating kick to the back, ultimately securing the title.
The Sunday Slam card had its fair share of faces and heels. Fans heckled, screamed and taunted the heels throughout the night but with every scream, every boo and every expletive, each wrestler played to the crowd differently.
No fight showed that off more than the women’s fight between Simone and Gypsy Mac. Simone used gray rule tactics such as hair-grabbing early in the fight, trapping Gypsy Mac into the corner. As Simone took control throughout the fight, a sneaky smile formed on her face, reveling in ruining Gypsy Mac fans’ nights.
Gypsy Mac played to the crowd, getting them to cheer as she landed her own leg strikes and jumped on the top rope to slam Simone hard onto the canvas. The momentum quickly shifted as Simone countered the hooks from Gypsy Mac with quick and powerful elbows and ended the fight with a devastating slam.
After getting the submission win, Simone went to showboat to the fans, giving them a thumbs-down and a broken-heart sign with a smug grin.
Simone flips her hair as she attempts a submission on Gypsy Mac during their singles match at United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko)
Simone taunts the crowd after a submission victory of Gypsy Mac with a thumbs down and a heart-break symbols with her hands during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Jordan Castle walks around the ring as he supports Maximilien in his United Wrestling Network Heritage Title Match against Royce Isaacs during Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. Castle left the low blow that helped Maximilien retain the title. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Carma, the orchestrator of Delirium, smiles at the duo as they surprise the Crazy Chickens during United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. Delirium ended up beating the Crazy Chickens via submission, spoiling the Crazy Chicken’s dance. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Easter night ended with two intriguing title fights with the champions being heels of their own.
Maximilien and Royce Isaacs were first up. The crowd quickly showed who they hated, showering Maximilien with Easter Eggs when he got into the cage.
Jordan Castle, who supported Maximilien just before his ring walk, was intensely watching the fight, shushing the crowd and giving Maximilien words of encouragement.
Isaacs took the fight to the champion early with slams and submission attempts, but after a low blow from Castle, the tide quickly shifted. Maximilien was able to sink the submission while the referee was reprimanding Castle, resulting in a submission.
Royce Isaacs goes in for swinging hook on defending champion Maximilien during their UWN Heritage Title Match during Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Defending champion Jordan Cruz goes in for an arm lock in his UWN World Title Match against Fred Rosser at Sunday Night Slam 2 on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. Cruz ended up winning the back-and-forth match against Rosser. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Challenger Royce Isaacs goes in for a submission on champion Jordan Cruz as the referee counts to three during the UWN World Title Match. Isaacs wasn’t able to secure the victory after Cruz loosened the turnbuckle inside the ring, distracting him for a split second on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Jordan Cruz celebrates his victory over Fred Rosser as he retains the United Wrestling Network World Title on April 5, 2026 at Thunder Studios. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
The final title fight was equally controversial. Jordan Cruz and Fred Rosser ended the Sunday Night Slam with an intense slugfest, with Rosser dominating most of the fight. His punches and slams continued to stun Cruz, including a sitout splash on the bottom side of the cage.
Cruz went back into the cage and took the fight back as he clawed at Rosser’s eyes and struck him with a knee and head strike.
Rosser showed his resilience with multiple hard slams onto the hard cage. He had Cruz on the literal ropes as he slapped him in the corner, but Cruz had one thing up his sleeve.
Throughout the fight, Cruz kept loosening the turnbuckle inside the wrestling ring. After Rosser had him in a body lock, Cruz walked into the corner and threw down the turnbuckle. The ref and Rosser were both focused on fixing it, but Cruz took advantage with a heavy kick and a roll-over submission.
With the boos rolling in after Cruz received his title, he winced in pain, grabbing his back.
United Wrestling Network’s Sunday Night Slam showed that even though it’s Easter Sunday, the heel always wins.
Samuel ChackoPhotojournalist
Samuel Chacko is an award-winning photojournalist from Long Beach, California. Samuel currently works as a freelance journalist for multiple publications and he is a class of 2025 Cal State Long Beach graduate. Samuel loves watching sports (the Ravens and the Yankees) and taking photos.
Check out more of Samuel’s work here: https://samuelchacko.com/
