The Positives and Negatives of NBWA: Passion For Glory

Sigh.

NBWA continues to give me good and bad in equal measures. This is good for me as it gives me a chance to adopt a 'positive' and 'negative' layout for this post that I did for the last NBWA show I reviewed. Things have improved somewhat in that there doesn't seem to be an authority-figure anymore (or maybe he just wasn't on this show), certain costs seem to have been cut; which is a good thing if NBWA want to continue. Also, running every two months seems a smart move.

Ok, let's hope the positives outweigh the negatives...

Positive: James Mason is handsome
These are not my words. Although he does have a great haircut. On the drive home, my girlfriend pointed out that James Mason, is indeed, a handsome man. Who am I to argue with her? He does kind of model himself on me, I suppose.

James Mason is now the No. 1 Contender

Positive: James Mason in an opening match on the show
Ok, I'm starting to kiss James' arse too much here! But, the bottom line is you cannot go too far wrong in getting James Mason to start your show. In all of the shows where I have seen this, the audience 'wake up' and are into the show. It's a win-win for any promotion across the country. Added to this, he was up against one of NBWA's best (and there aren't many) in Kay Jutler.

During the show, I received messages from Jutler apologising for his performance if it didn't impress too much. I have to say that I really enjoyed the match that he and James put on. They both look the part and both can wrestle - what's not to like here? He also said that instead of the usual pre-match planning, their match was, pretty much, called in the ring. This pleased me and I think should happen a lot more. I realise that pre-planning is the norm these days but how can you plan in advance how an audience will react? Surely calling things in the ring gives you the opportunity to read the crowd from minute to minute and adjust accordingly?

Negative: Samson
There had to be a negative coming, right?

The second match started with the arrival of TAW (Milton Keynes based wrestling show) 'stars' Samson and Nightshade. As they walked to ringside, I wasn't sure if I was to like them or not. Their facial expressions were (kind of) unhappy, but it didn't gain any reaction from the Banbury audience.

During the match, things didn't get much better. I HATE judging wrestlers on wrestling because I'm not a wrestler, but when you see such obvious crap, it's easy to point out. Samson was wooden, stiff (looking) and it felt that he was half-arsing simple things like throwing a clothesline. There were also lazy, idol threats from him that he was going to make Dragonita 'tap out'. He said it with such a lack of enthusiasm. This pointed out to me the worth of having TAW guys on this show.

Positive: Sancho... I love you, Sancho!
The standout thing in this match was Sancho. For a family show of this kind, Sancho is such a great addition. He is enthusiastic (to counter his opponent's lack of it) and he's into the character. It's a really silly character but it just works. It's one of the only times on NBWA shows that I remember grinning from ear to ear.

Negative: Street Fight or
Negative: Frankie Fellasarno vs Kirk Langley again
Take your pick from the two options. Where shall I start here?

Is 'Street Fight' secret code for 'we can't wrestle so, to hide this fact, we're going to have gimmick matches and f*ck them up, too'? I really don't get how this 'feud' has gotten to this point. Is there nothing that these two can do other than go against each other? The last show that I went to (in February) saw these two against each other. During Frankie's Facebook Promo (lol!) he said that this has been brewing for over a year-and-a-half. Why, oh why do we need to see it over and over again??

AND THE NEXT SHOW WILL SEE A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH BETWEEN THE TWO. Oh joy.

I suppose I should be grateful that, unlike Frankie's 'classic' hardcore match with Mike Mason, there wasn't half as many weapons used in this one. The bottom line is that these gimmicky matches only show the lack of wrestling that these guys can do. Frankie being a little over with the Banbury audience doesn't quite cut it, I'm afraid.

Negative: Psychology (part one)
Don't start a match with a f*cking Powerbomb, boys??!! Where do you go after you've delivered a move like that?? Also, nice to see someone kick out of someone's finish easily (just a typical two-count) when it's been delivered to them ON A CHAIR...

NBWA Cruiserweight Champion: Mr E (credit: Superkick.co.uk)

Positive: Dan is becoming a Man
Although I really don't appreciate paying to see trainees on a show where they're billed as proper wrestlers, I was pleased to see Dan The Man's improvement. Dan is a young lad that seems very keen to learn and to better himself. He does appear to have trimmed down a little and this is a great step in the right direction. Praise should go to Adi, too, for taking him under his wing and trying to do the right thing with regards to progressing his development. I would still say that in order to improve further, a good and reputable wrestling school should be attended. Keep up the good progress, Dan.

Negative: Cruiserweight Championship contested in a Heavyweight match
Maybe this was just the case on this show, but it seems that NBWA have a Cruiserweight title but are having un-Cruiserweight style matches.

For me, when you think of cruiserweights, you think of Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guererro or Billy Kidman. These guys fly around all match long, it's exciting, it's fast-paced. Mr E vs Dan The Man wasn't. It was passable as a match but if you're going to have a slower match, almost like others on the card, then surely you should have a mid-card, Intercontinental title style championship going forward.

Negative: Managers ignoring the Referee's authority
Towards the end of the Mr E vs Dan The Man match, referee Paz was forced to throw Dan's manager, Lady Lucy Becksworth(?) out for excessive interference. When he did so it was long overdue. The interference was too obvious at times. The thing that bothered me about her throwing out was that, despite the fact that she should have left to the back, she continued to stand at the entrance way, screaming for her client and taking the attention away from the match due to the ring announcer and others trying to herd her to the back.

If, when ordered to the back, you remain at ringside, it completely sh*ts on the referee's authority. Don't do it.

Negative: The Darb, The Child and The Nipples
The penultimate match of the evening saw a tag team match with a few more guys (from TAW?) and 'Skinny' Johnny Searle. This match probably offended me the most.

First of all, the guy with 'Hunter' on his shorts had a proper darb (gut; belly; no abs - you get the point?) and was just awful (maybe worse than Samson). His tag team partner (The Nipples) was a lot better but was just too far mixed in with the other ingredients that I didn't care. And then there was NBWA's own Johnny Searle...

ANOTHER example of someone that should not be on wrestling shows. I'm sorry to say this but if your arms are the girth of some people's c*cks, then you do not look like you can win a fight, and that's the point of wrestling, right? You should look like you should be able to handle yourself; you should look like you could win a wrestling match. Why should people pay £10 or whatever to see guys 'play' wrestler?? Insulting.

Positive: Taylor Made
This guys was enthusiastic and, at least, tried to get the audience to give a sh*t about this match. He also tried his hardest to get Searle over (with his own fans). Not sure of his wrestling involvement apart from dropkicks, but he was definitely a diamond amongst all the sh*te. 

'Filthy' Chris Walker (credit: Superkick.co.uk)

Positive: Men wrestling men
The main event saw 'Filthy' Chris Walker vs 'Showcase' Stu Oddyssey. This was one of the two matches that I looked forward to leading up to this show - along with Jutler vs Mason - and I knew that it wouldn't disappoint. I remember seeing these guys go up against each other five years ago on the BAWA shows (also in Banbury) and they still put on a decent match today.

Positive: 'Killer' Stu Oddyssey
I absolutely loved when Stu came out for this match and just stared Walker down. He looked angry (understatement), intense and like he was about to MURDER Walker... what more do you need to start a match? I've always seen Stu as a natural heel and I really hope that can happen sooner rather than later as he just has that look. Big, mean, angry, no-sh*t-taking bad guy is what he's best suited for. No way can I see him as a smiley, happy, baby-kissing goody goody that he has been for the last year-and-a-half.

Positive: Psychology (part two)
Walker worked on Stu's knee throughout the match and this was never forgotten about. I see it far too often when someone works a body part and, a few minutes later, it's completely forgotten about and they have miraculously shaken it off. Stu, thank you for making me believe and think that it could be a problem later in the match.

That's all I've got to say about that show. Better, but still a looooong way to go. There are plenty of talented guys out there that could be booked and do a fantastic job... just saying.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle