Analysis: Who gives Team DPW the best chance to reclaim the company at DPW 9: Glass House?

DULUTH, Minn (Discover Pro Wrestling) - There are big matches. There are championship matches. And then there is DPW 9: Glass House. This isn’t just another main event. This is the kind of match that defines promotions, careers and legacies.

When Team DPW meets Sentry in a 5-on-5 elimination war, the winning side doesn’t just leave with momentum — they leave with control of Discover Pro Wrestling. For Team DPW, the question isn’t simply who deserves a spot. It’s who gives them the best chance to survive a war against Paul Virk’s empire. Let’s break down the most likely, and smartest selections.

LOCK: Sierra

If this were a sports board, Sierra is the first name written in permanent marker.

Sierra isn’t just a foundational figure in DPW history — she may be the emotional center of this entire match. At DPW 6: Entry Level Exile, she had the chance to win the company back for Eric Nordrum and stop Virk’s rise before it fully took hold.

Instead, the match turned into one of the most controversial moments in DPW history.

Outside interference from X, Rampage Santana and the masked men shifted the outcome, costing Sierra both the match and the DPW Championship.

That loss changed everything.

It gave Virk power. It strengthened Sentry. And it left unfinished business.

From an analysis standpoint, Sierra brings championship experience, proven resilience and, maybe most importantly, personal motivation.

This match is as much about revenge as it is control.

Why she’s a lock: Leadership, experience, and unfinished business with Virk.

From an analysis standpoint, Sierra brings championship experience, proven resilience and, maybe most importantly, personal motivation.

This match is as much about revenge as it is control.

Why she’s a lock: Leadership, experience, and unfinished business with Virk.

LOCK: Jack Ledger

Every war team needs momentum. Right now, "The Ice King" may be carrying the most.

Ledger initially beat Aaron Arsenal, Brock Hall AND Sierra in a four-way match to earn the right to fight Paul Virk for the DPW title. Immediately after the match, Virk came to the ring and announced that the title match would happen right then and there. Virk would undoubtedly go on to pin Ledger in mere minutes... but Ledger still put up a fight in those minutes. That matters. We expect Ledger to be firmly involved in the hunt for the Discover Pro Championship.

Ledger hasn’t been circling the edges of the Sentry conflict — he stepped directly into it. Ledger was one of the first to hit the ring during the post-show chaos that capped off DPW 5. Since then, it seems Sentry has targeted Ledger.

This isn’t theoretical.

This is active rivalry.

Why he makes sense: Current momentum and direct issue with Santana.

HIGH-VALUE PICK: Joey Avalon

If Team DPW is looking for a competitor built for pressure, Joey Avalon may be one of the strongest selections on the board. From DPW 1 through DPW 7, Avalon was undefeated, establishing himself as one of the most reliable and dangerous competitors in company history. That kind of resume matters in a match where every elimination could decide the future of the promotion.

His lone loss came at DPW 8, and even that requires context. Avalon did not simply get beaten straight up. His loss to Paul Virk came only after outside interference from Bobby Brennan, Koda Jacobs and T.J. Bowles, further underscoring just how far Sentry’s influence has spread. In many ways, that match only strengthens his case. It shows Virk and his allies know exactly how dangerous Avalon is when the lights are brightest.

Beyond the record, Avalon brings something just as valuable: chemistry.

He and Sierra have been partners both in the ring and in life since before DPW 1, giving Team DPW a built-in connection that could be crucial in a 5-on-5 elimination war.

He knows the spotlight.

He knows high stakes.

And perhaps most importantly, he knows how to win.

Why he fits: Proven winner, unmatched big-match experience, and elite chemistry with Sierra.

X-FACTOR PICK: Eric Nordrum

This may be the most unlikely name on the board, but founder and former owner Eric Nordrum is a big reason this match even exists. The entire premise is reclaiming what was taken.

Would Nordrum actually compete? Maybe.

That’s the question. From a strategic standpoint, it could rally the locker room and the fans in a unique way, as if the whole family is going to war together. That kind of emotional attachment could push Team DPW further than anyone can imagine. But Nordrum's lack of in-ring training would inevitably prove to be a detriment to the team.

Can Nordrum compete? Well, no.

Eric Nordrum broke his neck in an accident in the summer of 2020, requiring a single-level neck fusion. He would be risking paralysis and even death if he stepped in the ring. No matter how bad he wants to.

However, every man has his limit.

Why this is compelling: Emotional centerpiece and symbolic leadership.

THE SURPRISE SLOT

Every great elimination match has one. A return, a betrayal, a ghost from DPW’s past. This fifth spot is where the balance of power could completely shift.

Could it be a former rival of Sentry? A returning fan favorite? Someone with history against Virk?

This is the slot that can steal headlines.

And if Team DPW is going to win, this may be where the biggest surprise comes from.

Final prediction

On paper, Team DPW has the heart. But Sentry has the power structure. That’s what makes DPW 9 feel different.

This is less about wrestling and more about survival.

The real question for fans is simple:

Who would you put in the fifth spot?

Because that decision may determine who controls DPW when the night is over.

The next chapter of this amazing, multi-year saga will be written at DPW 9: Glass House on May 24th at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, Minnesota. If you have yet to experience DPW, we assure you that DPW 9 will be an event that you never forget.

Tickets for DPW 9: Glass House are on sale now. Tickets start at just $20.00 and special VIP Experience packages are also available.