My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 18 - Pro EVW

Saturday 28th September 2013 - Pro EVW - Lister Hall, Dursley, Gloucestershire

This was my first time at Lister Hall for a Pro EVW show but I could've sworn that I'd been to the previous one (at the start of February?). I think this is probably due to seeing the poster for that show so often! It's possibly the only show that I've missed since my time watching Pro EVW. Anyway, it seemed like a good sized venue with the potential to project however loud the audience would be for the night.

I wasn't wrong as the crowd would be very loud and make their feelings known throughout the evening - hating the heels and cheering the faces... also nearly bursting my eardrums with how vocal they were when a backstage pass was on offer - a sure sign that they wanted to meet the wrestlers after the show!

Pro EVW Tag Team Champions: The Magnums (photo: Superkick.co.uk)

The first three matches of the night were all excellent and were a great start to an overall very enjoyable show. The opener would see a rivalry continue as one-half of the Pro EVW Tag Team Champions (The Magnums) 'Filthy' Chris Walker would take on one-half of the newest tag team in Pro EVW (The Alpha Males) Charlie Garrett. This was sure to be an excellent match as both guys know exactly what they are doing. Garrett brought the athleticism and Walker would bring the comedy and sleaziness to this match - both playing to their strengths. Walker's underhanded ways wouldn't benefit him on this occasion as Garrett would walk away victorious after delivering a Spiral Tap for the impressive win.

The second match of the show pitted Dan Splash against youngster Dan Moloney (previously spelt wrong in my previous MWOBW posts - apologies?!). Going into this match I was sceptical after my previous experiences watching both. I'm glad to say that I was wrong about this - the match was a really good, exciting and flowing one. Special praise goes to Moloney for a few reasons: I didn't realise how young he was before - you wouldn't have thought that he is only sixteen-years-old on viewing him. As a heel he is instantly mean looking as he comes through the curtain and you know where you stand straightaway; he's also not shy about interacting with the crowd as he walks to the ring (Note: I've seen a lot of young wrestlers who are visibly very worried about offending audience members)! Another pat-on-the-back would be that since I last saw him he has trimmed down; maybe this was just a bit of lard from being a kid, but it's safe to say that at only sixteen-years-old he already has a good look and this will only improve as he gets older. Moloney would go onto win this match after hitting a Powerbomb (third time lucky!) followed by a Diving Headbutt to end Splash's hopes.

Before the interval, a tag team match would keep everyone's energy and enthusiasm up. The always impressive Hunter Brothers would make the trip down from The Midlands to take on the rough and ready Bruiser Street Mob. The power and size advantage of The Bruisers against the speed and excitement of The Hunters would have me comparing this to if The Rockers would have faced The Natural Disasters years ago?! As crazy as this might seem to some, it's a thought that I couldn't shake off as the match went on!

The Bruiser Street Mob's Gilligan Gordon

Despite the difference in size and styles, both teams put on a great showing and kept everyone's attention (bear in mind that the first two matches had excited the Dursley crowd to a high level already). Apart from the finish, the part of the match that I applauded most was when The Hunters were disallowed a tag as the ref had not seen it - the audience were absolutely infuriated by this. When they eventually got the 'hot' tag, it was even more pleasing for the folks in attendance! A huge cheer went up when this tag was made. The Hunters would get the win here in arguably the Match of the Night, but praise should also be given to The Bruisers' manager Logan Blud. On entry to the ring, he would berate MC Dave Stone and introduce his team in his own unique way - gaining even more heat for the duo.

The interval was upon us and it was a welcome break to everyone in Lister Hall after a thoroughly enjoyable first half. Photo opportunities were on offer with Charlie Garrett, The Hunter Brothers and Dan Splash - also joined by the Pro EVW Champion Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum. This is the done thing in the interval at Pro EVW shows and is one of the many reasons you should attend future shows.

The second half of the show would not accept being outdone by the first as two more matches would reignite the spark in the audience. Firstly, The Monstrosity known as Richtor would take on the other half of The Alpha Males tag team, Iestyn Rees. These two are very familiar with each other, having many run-ins in the past. Despite Richtor having what would seem like the size advantage, Rees brought his own version of power and strength, and matched Richtor in every strength test that he threw Rees' way. The finish would be tainted in sleaze as 'Filthy' Chris Walker would reappear to cost Rees this match - striking him with the Tag Team title belt - allowing Richtor to hit a Vader Bomb for the devastating victory.

The Alpha Males: Future Tag Team Champions?

Walker would not be done there, though. He would continue the assault on the injured Rees until fellow Alpha Male Charlie Garrett would make the save. The cowardly Walker would then retreat to the entranceway before Garrett would announce that at the October 12th show in Wotton Hall, Gloucester, The Alpha Males would get a shot at The Magnums' Tag Team Championships. Walker would leave ringside furious that his (and 'Dirty' Dick Riley's) championship reign could be coming to an end...

The main event of the evening would see a rematch from the last show. Earlier in the night, JD Knight had shared his views on how he felt that Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum was an unworthy champion; someone that shouldn't be in the same ring as him. After a confrontation between the two, it was agreed that the evening's main event would see a match whereby if Knight could defeat Sysum then he would receive a title shot at next weeks Ross-on-Wye show (October 5th) which would then determine who would go onto face Doug Williams at the October 12th show. Sysum, being the fighting champion he is, accepted.

This match would be the usual war that the champion is involved in. The more experienced Knight would take the younger champion to his limits for a second show running. The Hammer seemed to be closing in on another hard-earned victory when the referee got bumped. When the referee finally started to stir, Knight was able to take advantage at just the right moment and finished the champion off to earn himself a Pro EVW Championship match. A surprising finish for those watching but one that I felt was the right one: if the thinking here is that Sysum has three gruelling matches with Knight leading him to facing Doug Williams in a couple of weeks time then he'll be all the better for it. JD Knight is the perfect opponent to 'prove himself' against.

JD Knight (photo: Welsh Wrestling)

Results

• Charlie Garrett defeated Pro EVW Tag Team Champion 'Filthy' Chris Walker (w/ The Sister of Sleaze)
• Dan Moloney defeated Dan Splash
• The Hunter Brothers (Jim & Lee) defeated The Bruiser Street Mob (Gilligan Gordon & Matt Lomax)(w/ Logan Blud)
• Richtor defeated Iestyn Rees
• JD Knight defeated Pro EVW Champion Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum to earn a title shot

Another really enjoyable show. I think sometimes people might think that I'm really kissing ass in my Pro EVW show reviews but the truth is I'm really not. I don't need to. When a show is as simple, flowing, enjoyable and makes sense, doesn't take too much thinking about and hooks you, then it is really easy to write about it with passion and, at some points, as if I'm a kid again!

Tonight's show could be accused of not having the likes of Chris Andrews, PJ Jones and The UK Dominator but these guys aren't missed as much when you have talented guys like The Magnums, The Alpha Males and JD Knight putting on entertaining stuff for a couple of hours.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm imagining things when I go to Pro EVW shows and that they're not as good as I think they are, but the last few months have seen great show after great show, again and again they have delivered. You can see this in the attendances, too - some really high numbers in the last few months and this is great credit to the dedication of the guys running it and the trainees that put time into promoting it - not to mention the talented wrestlers that take the time to put on some really watchable wrestling.

If you want to see Pro EVW shows - and I urge you to - then the next shows will be on Saturday 5th October in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire AND Saturday 12th October in Wotton Hall Club, Gloucester... for more (and up-to-date) information please visit the Pro EVW Facebook page and follow them on Twitter - @proevowrestling

Doug Williams will be appearing on October 12th

Note: Congrats to Referee Paz for not splitting his trousers this show...

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 17 - NBWA's '7 Deadly Sins'

Saturday 21st September 2013 - NBWA's 7 Deadly Sins - Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire

I think when I go to watch wrestling shows, sometimes I get fixated on a particular aspect and can't let it go. I don't think this will ever change because if I see something that annoys me then I feel that people should know. If you like, I can't just say that something is great just for the sake of it. There has to be a more unbiased view than that - simply put, if something is crap then it needs calling crap and at the same time, if something is good, or even great, then it too needs the praise that it deserves. Despite any comments that people deem as negative from me, I really am trying to 'Support British Wrestling' - sometimes calling out bad wrestling is doing the same duty to British Wrestling as calling out the good things. Basically, There'll be no apologies from me. Ever. And I'll continue to do what I do... rant over; on with the show!

NBWA presents 7 Deadly Sins

This time around, I went into '7 Deadly Sins' with a few expectations based on the title of the show, the rules of one match in particular and also how a couple of the matches would go. MC Leo Orbison stated at the start of the evening that each match would have a deadly sin attached to it. Now this interested me but as the night went on it was unclear which sin would be applicable to which match. For me, there would have to be very clear connections between the match and and the sin that they were trying to portray. I think overall there were definitely elements of some of the sins in a few of the matches but not one sin per match. I'd be very worried if any of the matches were about 'Sloth'! Nice idea though.

The opening match of the night pitted three very talented and young guys. Pro EVW Heavyweight Champion Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum would make his NBWA debut in a triple threat against Sam Wilder and Kenbai. For a large chunk of this match Sysum and Kenbai would go through a lot of excellent, and flowing exchanges, with Wilder occasionally getting involved (maybe showing laziness - sloth) only to be tossed back out to the outside. By the end, Sysum would pick up the win over Wilder, but credit has to be given to all three for a solid opener.

Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum

The three co-main events of the evening had mixed results for me.

Before the interval there would be a hardcore match between 'Loco' Mike Mason and Frankie Fellasarno. This match had been set from the previous show and boiled over early on in this show - the Bacardi vs Katie Harvey (Mason's handler) match was due to start when a brawl would ensue between Mason and Fellasarno. The NBWA locker room would spill out to separate the two, adding fuel (and maybe wrath?) to the match that would occur later in the night.

Although this was an adult-themed show I felt that this match was a little over-the-top on weapons. For a match that hasn't had a hell of a lot of build, this match-type seemed a little too much at this stage of the feud. Through the match, chairs, kendo sticks and keyboards (different I'll give you, but potentially dangerous to the audience) were used before the main arsenal of thumb-tacks and a staple gun would be used (the staple gun to the groin getting the reaction of the match!). This match didn't work for me due to the amount of weapons that were 'used for the sake of being used' and also the length. I think the match could've benefited from ending a lot sooner than it did. One thing of note was when Mason wanted to throw Fellasarno into chairs but none of the fans would co-operate (and move) meaning that that particular spot dragged on until willing fans would get out of the way!

A match that really interested me, and in-part sold the show to me was the 'World of Sport' rules match between Stu Oddyssey and Doug Williams. It's a set of rules that I'm not familiar with and I think that could be said for the majority of the audience. My worry with this match would be that these rules wouldn't be clear - fortunately, MC Leo Orbison was at hand to enlighten everyone that we would witness six five-minute rounds and where the man to score two falls over his opponent (either pinfalls or submissions), or one knockout, would be deemed the winner. In simpler terms, this is a two-out-of-three falls match with a couple of additional rules.

Now, to British fans of yesteryear, this was a mouthwatering prospect. It should be stated that both wrestlers did an excellent job in the match - it was technical and it had a slow pace to start with (as is to be expected with the marathon that stood in front of them), and as the match went on the pace and determination grew. Unfortunately, the audience lost interest early on. This could've been due to the prospect of knowing that it could be a thirty minute match, and it could've been due to not fully 'getting' what the rules of the match were. Maybe 'World of Sport' rules matches have their place, and should be respected for putting the UK on the wrestling map, but I don't think the Banbury area quite appreciate what was put on for them. Big congrats to Stu Oddyssey for picking up the win over the experienced Williams - by doing so he won the right to face the NBWA Champion at a later date.

The main event of the evening saw a rematch between 'The Mexican Sensation', and NBWA Champion, El Ligero taking on his former protege, 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler with the NBWA Championship on the line.

This would be a rematch from the June show where Ligero captured the title in a two-out-of-three falls match. As expected, this match was excellent and flowing - exactly what you would expect from Ligero and NBWA's finest Kay Jutler. The ending to this match pleased me, too; after several near falls towards the end, and both trying to use the championship belt to gain the advantage (after a ref bump), Jutler would lock in a Crossface submission to which Ligero could not escape. This is a great feather in Jutler's cap - defeating Ligero AND making him submit.

Other matches on the night would see 'The Filth' Chris Walker pick up a long overdue win defeating Rhys Taylor, Bacardi finally got her match, and win, over Irish Katie Harvey, and a tag team match would take place between Sancho Cortez and Kirk Langley against the dysfunctional team of Bunker Roberts and Malicious Michael Adams - the ending of this match will surely split the former Management members further.

The new co-General Manager (that was hinted at at the last show) made his first appearance in NBWA, too. Pete Andrews ended the show revealing himself to be the balance to Marcus Thorn's luke-warm-evil reign at the helm of the NBWA.

Results

• Pro EVW Heavyweight Champion Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum defeated Sam Wilder & Kenbai (triple threat)
• Sancho Cortez & Kirk Langley defeated Bunker Roberts & Malicious Michael Adams
• 'The Filth' Chris Walker defeated Rhys Taylor
• Hardcore Match: 'Loco' Mike Mason (w/ Katie Harvey) defeated 'Iron Fist' Frankie Fellasarno
• World of Sport Rules Match: 'Showcase' Stu Oddyssey defeated Doug Williams (2 falls to 1; 1st Fall: Round 2- Stu (pinfall); 2nd Fall: Round 4- Doug (submission); 3rd Fall: Round 5- Stu (pinfall))
• Bacardi defeated Katie Harvey
• NBWA Championship: 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler defeated El Ligero (c) to become new champion

Overall, not a bad show at all. A lot more positives and sign of improvement. Maybe the length of the show could be looked at, too, as it started to become a chore towards the end of the night. It was also a real shame that the audience didn't really appreciate the match that Oddyssey and Williams put on; this let the show down a little even with the great effort that both guys put on. Really good matches from Ligero and Jutler, but if I was to pick a 'match of the night', it would be the opener between Justin Sysum, Sam Wilder and Kenbai. Really solid, exciting and enjoyable opener that set the night up nicely. I've seen a lot of Justin down in Pro EVW (Gloucester) and he's always learning and improving all the time - this highlighted that further. I saw Wilder and Kenbai at last weeks AWW show and both looked great there, too.

Ref Paz (photo: superkick.co.uk)

Special mention to Referee Marc 'Paz' Parry, who, for the second week running, split his trousers while refereeing. We salut you for your dedication to carrying on with the show through adversity! Replacements will be bought...

The next NBWA show will be in the Spiceball Leisure Centre on November 2nd. This event will see the return of The British Bulldog's son - Davey Boy Smith Jr. Be sure to attend; check the NBWA Facebook page for further and up-to-date info regarding this event.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: One Year of Jimmo's Angle

Thursday 19th September 2013

Today marks the one year anniversary of Jimmo's Angle. I'm very proud of this (as I was for my 100th article and reaching 10,000 views - both quite recently).

The first few months saw me give my take on issues in and around the WWE; if something bothered me I would write about it; if something interested me I would write about it. At times I was writing three, nearly four, articles a week! Looking back, I'm not sure how I did this?! Now I try to sit back and enjoy WWE television and for the most part, I do. This has been made easier by the compelling tv that they have put on in the last few months.

I hope that not doing too much in such a short time will also improve my writing. It will give me the chance to think about one article or issue in greater depth to come up with a better argument and an interesting read for those that find my blog.

2013 has seen me go to more and more UK wrestling shows, too. Admittedly, I have focused my attention on somewhat local promotions, but this is something I'm not ashamed of and something that I feel is important in getting their names out there and seen by as many people as possible. In some small way I hope I can influence a few people each time so that they decide to attend a UK-based wrestling event.

This year I have also been privileged to see behind-the-scenes of some shows and this is due to having a few friends that work on the shows. I'm very grateful to these guys for the opportunity that they have given me and I hope they know it. As a result of going to these shows and reviewing most, I have also been offered opportunities to further my writing - this is also something I'm grateful for, and slightly overwhelmed about, too!

To sum up, the last year has been a really progressive one. I've had great support from most people and hopefully I've surprised a few others with my persistence and drive to do well at this writing game. Either way, I'm going to continue, try my best to learn and improve, and look for opportunities to get my views and opinions to as many eyes as I can.

Thank you to everyone that has read, liked and shared my work in the last year. Thank you to anyone that has given me any comments or feedback - this is something that is still lacking, though, and I hope for more feedback so I know what areas to work on.

Here's to the next year!

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: NBWA '7 Deadly Sins' Preview: Kay Jutler vs El Ligero

This Saturday, NBWA (New Breed Wrestling Association) presents '7 Deadly Sins', their seventh show of the year. This will again be in the Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The headline match will be a rematch for the NBWA Championship between Champion El Ligero and challenger Kay Jutler.

This match is due to Jutler's rematch clause that entitles him a chance at regaining the belt that he held so dear for so long. After becoming the 'Face of the NBWA' since its inception this year, Jutler was a proud and dominating champion before he met his match in the very talented El Ligero. Their two-out-of-three-falls war at the 'Home Is Where The Hart Is' show back in June showed the determination, fight and spirit of both men with Ligero finally being the man to defeat Jutler in sudden death overtime.

Since then, Jutler has been on the war path, fighting off such names as Stixx and Doug Williams on his way to getting his chance at the NBWA Championship. I managed to catch up with the 'most handsome man in wrestling' to get his thoughts about his opponent and their upcoming rematch:

Jutler on Ligero: 

"My first match in this crazy business was with El Ligero standing as my tag team partner. Now some nine years later we’re in the biggest feud in the NBWA. I would be lying if I said I didn’t respect the man, but I make a living from being the best, not being the nicest guy in the locker room. I have always strived to be the greatest athlete in professional wrestling. My victories across the globe stand as proof of that, but when El Ligero gets voted as the number 1 wrestler in Britain that strikes a nerve. It’s I who beat 29 other athletes on the NBWA debut show. It’s I who was crowned the first ever NBWA Heavyweight Champion and its I who beat El ligero in defence of that Heavyweight Championship. For him to be holding my belt is a personal insult. Despite how many people love him I am the number one wrestler in Britain, I am the NBWA’s top star and I am the REAL NBWA heavyweight champion."

Jutler on 2/3 Falls match at previous show: 

"Lets clarify a few things. Before that match I already held one victory over El Ligero from his last attempt at taking my belt. So logic dictates I should have already been one fall up going into that match. The NBWA management didn’t see it that way so we had to start from zero. I beat him down to the point that he couldn’t get back in the ring. I gained the first fall. Now combine that with my victory I already had over him two months prior and you’ve got a clear winner right there! Then the referee gave me a quick count whilst Ligero had me rolled up with a hand full of my tights so Ligero was gifted a fall against me. That was an unfair decision on the part of the referee but we haven't even scratched the surface of the injustices that night. Finally Ligero somehow drags me off the top rope with a vertical suplex, I am sure should have been made illegal from that height, causing me a slipped disc. I wasn’t able to get to my feet for the ten-count but neither was Ligero. It was a double count-out which means we technically both gained a fall on each other. So that means we were at two falls each - a draw! Now as we all know in the event of a draw the champion retains his title, but no! Management, not content with screwing me once, had to come out and screw me again by re-starting the match. There is not a sane individual on this planet that would deem that fair! Ligero hit me with a cheap shot and rolled me up stealing my Heavyweight Title in an injustice of biblical proportions."

Jutler on Saturday's rematch: 

"The simple fact is, from my early years under Ligero's wing, to my present days as the top star in British wrestling, I have learned everything Ligero has to throw at me. Ligero's problem is that he hasn’t paid attention to how I have progressed and developed. Ligero thinks he can beat me, but I know I can beat him. I have defended my title successfully against him but he has yet to defend the title against me. All I can say is the wolf climbing the hill is hungrier than the masked idiot on the top."

As you can see from Jutler's comments, he is very confident heading into this match on Saturday. He also feels that there is a score to settle after his loss to 'The Mexican Sensation' on the last occasion that they met.

Saturday will also see another mouth-watering match in former TNA star Doug Williams taking on 'Showcase' Stu Oddyssey in a 'World of Sport' rules match. These two heavy-hitters will be sure to put on a war, paying homage to the rules that made wrestling famous in the UK.

 

Be sure to get yourself along to the Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire (OX16 2BW) to see all the stars of the NBWA. Please be aware that this is an adult-themed show and under-16s are advised to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 16 - AWW 10th Anniversary Show

AWW 10^th Anniversary show – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – Sunday 15^th September 2013

Before travelling to any wrestling show, I always wonder if the time spent on the road will be worth it. After my previous experience of AWW (back in February) I had no doubt that it would be. That show saw an excellent ladies match between Emi Sakura and Shanna, as well as some top UK and International talent. This time would be no different as the likes of El Ligero, Nathan Cruz and Mark Haskins would be joined by former TNA star Doug Williams, and two exciting Japanese wrestlers in Kenbai and Hiromu Takahashi.

These two Japanese guys both put on great matches; first, Kenbai took on El Ligero in a match that I fully expected to be a great one. I wasn't disappointed as both men started with excellent, and flowing sequences resulting in a stalemate each time, showing how equally matched they were. This wasn't going to be a walk in the park for either man. Towards the end, Ligero seemed to show signs of frustration as he couldn't put his Japanese opponent away – trying for three-counts at every opportunity before throwing Kenbai to the floor – hoping to gain the victory by count-out. After an exciting ending, Ligero managed to roll up Kenbai for the win – an excellent showing by both men. It's matches like this that melt my smarky heart and make me realise that I am still just a fan underneath it all!

Hiromu Takahashi took on Nathan Cruz in the other 'International' offering. This had great sequences at times but differed from the Ligero/Kenbai match; hard hitting throughout and what I would call the war of the night. Both men were physically drained by the end as Cruz would take the victory.

Other than the star-studded main event, two other singles matches were on the card, pitting some of the best UK talent against each other. The opening match of the night saw former TNA Bootcamp contestant 'Party' Marty Scurll take on the ever-popular T-Bone. Bone's strength and intimidating look took centre stage as Scurll would run away in the early going. Really great work from Scurll throughout to get the crowd to hate him; T-Bone instantly loved as a result. I've lost count of how many opening matches that I've seen T-Bone in this year and it's credit to him as he puts on a great show everytime and gets the crowd 'warmed up' leading into the rest of the night.

The pop of the night, for me, went to Mark Haskins. The Oxford native came out to a huge ovation against his very bearded opponent, Saul Adams. The early part of the match would see duelling 'Yes' and 'No' chants as well as a 'Sh*t Matt Morgan' chant that was quickly thrown out as Haskins would remind that part of the audience that there were kids present. I still don't understand why some people don't think about that kind of thing when at shows. None of us – fans or wrestlers – need to swear to have a good time and put on a great show. Much of this match was entertaining with Haskins grabbing a handful of beard at every opportunity. Despite Adams getting the somewhat surprising victory, Haskins would trash Adams' feather boa and mirror, infuriating the bearded, vain, Sensational one.

With all the star names that I've mentioned above, there was also a six-man tag team match between some of the AWW's brightest prospects. Charlie Garrett, Matt Lightening and Daniel Valentine would be victorious over the heel team of 'The Real Deal of Sex Appeal' Tukay, The Judge and Sam Wilder. Most notably for me was the performances of Garrett and Tukay – Tukay in particular as I haven't seen him wrestle since the February show. At that show, he was also in a six-man tag match but seemed a little nervous and a little too 'smiley' for a heel. He seems to have improved greatly since then – looking mean at times and giving great facial expressions depending on the situation in the match. It makes me happy when I know that there are youngsters that are taking their wrestling training seriously and I think Tukay is right up there in that respect.

The main event saw four gentlemen that were looking to resolve issues from the previous show. The new AWW Champion Johnny Storm, the former champion Brandon Thomas, the claimant to being the next AWW Champion Stixx, and former TNA Star Doug Williams all had scores to settle in this one. The main situation that I could see in this match was that Stixx is a dominant force that will, in the near future, challenge Johnny Storm for his AWW title. As the faces entered the ring they would charge their opponents' corner only to have Thomas bail out of the ring and Stixx refusing to budge; firmly locking eyes with the new champion. This would continue throughout as Stixx would show the gap in size between him and Storm. Luckily, Storm's lightening quickness would show through at times as he got the better of both larger opponents. The ending would see Storm and Stixx brawl to the back leaving Thomas to fall prey to the experienced Williams.

Results

• T-Bone defeated 'Party' Marty Scurll
• Charlie Garrett, Matt Lightening & Daniel Valentine defeated Tukay, The Judge & Sam Wilder
• El Ligero defeated Kenbai (Match of the Night)
• 'Showstealer' Nathan Cruz defeated Hiromu Takahashi
• 'Simply Sensational' Saul Adams defeated 'Star Attraction' Mark Haskins
• AWW Champion 'Wonderkid' Johnny Storm & Doug Williams defeated Stixx & 'The Messiah' Brandon Thomas (w/ Violet Vendetta)

Overall, an excellent show from top to bottom. All the matches with top UK talents delivered and the six-man tag match was performed at a really fast pace at times which made it really enjoyable and exciting.

It's shows like this that make the travel time MORE than worth it. I believe the next AWW show is sometime at the end of November and I think I'll be needing to make the trip back up to Wolverhampton!

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

WWE Raw thoughts 2/9/2013

The last few weeks of WWE television have been some of the best in a very long time. In fact, it could be said that it's the best since I've been watching WWE. Although it's not the risky, attitudinal stuff I remember from 1999-2001, it is a compelling show for the PG era that we now live in. This is down to it now being about a very fundamental factor: The battle between Good and Evil.

Daniel Bryan vs The Establishment
The months leading to Summerslam saw Daniel Bryan's popularity soar. With John Cena's injury, coupled with the events that transpired at the end of Summerslam, Bryan has been shot into the number-one-guy slot. This is refreshing as he is a babyface that we all actually like and want to succeed. At the other end of the scale is the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton. Now corporate-backed, Orton is the ultimate villain that we all despise due to his screwing of our new hero's crowning glory at Summerslam. And to top it off, in Randy's corner is the new, evil boss Triple H. Austin vs McMahon 2.0 has began.

The last few weeks have seen Bryan (and Orton) start the show, be talked about throughout, and then end with a cliffhanger - usually with Bryan beaten down and seemingly without hope. It's brilliant stuff as all we want to see is Bryan gain the revenge that he rightfully deserves. Eventually we'll see this happen, but for now we are continually pissed off that he keeps getting cut down - it's all great stuff that will give us an ace pay-off when Bryan finally 'wins'. We hope.

Raw: Ryback destroyed Ziggler (after Ambrose attacked)

As well as the tyrannical boss and the evil champion, Bryan has had to deal with 'hired guns' The Shield. On Raw last night, Ryback also seemed to be a tool at the disposal of Triple H and co. as he dominated Dolph Ziggler - another face that is being punished for speaking out against the new regime. After a shorter-than-expected World Heavyweight Championship run, and ending his feud with ex-girlfriend AJ and heavy, Big E Langston, this is a positive road for Ziggler to be travelling down as it could result in him joining Bryan as the newest 'made-men' in the WWE.

Trying his best to add to the face side of the fence is Big Show. Last night, along with the last couple of weeks, showed the anguish and utter frustration Show has as he wants to do the right thing. It's now been mentioned that he has money issues - something else to tug at our heart-strings.

Ultimately, the top three faces - Bryan, Ziggler and Show - have been put in their places and it'll be great to see them get their payback for the weeks of beatdowns.

Cody Rhodes
Although I've been disappointed that Cody and Damien's (Sandow) feud has seemingly been ended, I'm happy that the future could be very bright for Cody.

Last night, Cody made the mistake of talking out of turn to Triple H and Orton and found himself in a match (vs Orton) with his job on the line. Not realising that Cody is having time off, I thought he was going to get a valuable victory over Orton (whether it be clean or due to Bryan interference). Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and after a hard fought battle, with Cody hitting Cross-Rhodes for a near three-count, Orton delivered an RKO and sent Cody packing.

An emotional Cody tore into the McMahons on departure

Later in the night, as Cody was being escorted out of the building, he delivered a blistering promo about the McMahon's hatred of the Rhodes'; humiliating his father twenty years prior, his brother a few years after, as well as dashing Cody's dream, too. I'd have thought that Cody will have time off for his wedding before returning and being instantly elevated after this revealing information about the McMahon/Rhodes history and feud. A new chapter can be written with Cody doing well from the potential situation.

Other
The Punk vs Heyman situation continues to grow and be a very good supporting storyline to the Bryan vs HHH/Orton. Both are great storytellers and have such a personal history that it writes itself. Week after week, these guys sell the Night of Champions pay-per-view (if Bryan hadn't already!) more and more, giving us the hope and belief that Punk will finally get his revenge on Heyman after his betrayal at Money in the Bank. Punk guaranteeing that he will 'break' Heyman's face is a sight I'd pay good money to see!

Some excellent, gripping storylines happening right now on WWE TV; can't wait to see what happens next.

Fantasy Booking
I've read rumours today that this Big Show turmoil could all be a set-up so that he helps Bryan only to screw him over at Night of Champions. I'm willing to see how this plays out, but despite this being the umpteenth time that Show would have turned heel, it's not the worst thing that could happen.

Could this be the newest addition to the new regime?

If it did happen then it could keep Bryan occupied for a month or so whilst someone else (Ziggler?) challenges Orton. In that month, Bryan could slay the giant - a huge feather in his cap - before going back and demanding another shot at Orton for the next pay-per-view. It continues the chase and keeps us drawn in hoping on hope that Bryan finally gets his moment of glory.

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 15 - NBWA (New Breed), Banbury, Oxfordshire

Saturday 31st August 2013 - NBWA - Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire

It's been a couple of months since the last NBWA show. Hopefully this time away has given them the chance to re-evaluate what they do and how they're doing it. Again, I'll stress that I'm not a promoter myself, and that I have never put on a show (just in case anyone wants to dig me with that comment!) - but the one thing I do understand is that a wrestling show should make sense and money. More on that later...

The Show

The show started out with The Management (Authority figure Marcus Thorn, 'Malicious' Michael Adams (MMA), and one half of The Heavy Metal Cowboys; Bunker Roberts) coming out to ringside. From the exchange, I gathered that Thorn had taken sole-control of the NBWA and no longer needed his lackeys; disbanding The Management to pursue better opportunities. This would anger MMA and Roberts; MMA quietly taking a seat at ringside without question; Roberts threatening to hit Thorn before being reminded that he would be fired if he were to do so. This segment confused me.

My issue here: who was heel and who was face as a result? This was not clear at all. By disbanding the group, would this make Thorn a evil boss and Roberts (and co.) faces who would rise up against this new regime? With Roberts threatening to hurt his former boss, and Thorn confidently (and heel-like) reminding him that he would be fired, this would seem to show that Roberts was now a face and Thorn would continue his evil authority figure? Did I see this right? Is everyone keeping up with this?

Further adding to my confusion was that Thorn would come out in the following confrontation between Stixx/Doug Williams and Chris Walker/Kay Jutler and would support the face team berating Walker and Jutler (heels), letting them know that a tag team match would happen between the four and that Jutler's NBWA contract would be terminated should his team lose. Surely if Thorn was a heel then this match would have been set up between the four of them instead? So Thorn's a face then?

'The Male Model' Kay Jutler (credit: Superkick.co.uk)

After this confrontation, Bunker Roberts would come out for the next match (vs Sancho Cortez) but as a HEEL. This is the point where I needed clarification. Another situation that didn't help matters was that in the interval, Thorn and Roberts would come from backstage and walk towards the drinks table together. Kayfabe being firmly adhered to, right?

To relate this to a current situation in the WWE: Triple H has recently become a heel authority figure. We know this because he has betrayed the ultra-popular Daniel Bryan and sided with new, hand-picked Champion Randy Orton - also a heel as a result. These turns were clear as day and didn't need confirming - we knew what battle lines had been drawn. It was simply done and we, as fans, now know where we stand.

Onto the rest of the show.

After the confusion of the first segment, Stixx came to the ring for a number one contenders match (for a future shot at the NBWA Championship) against Doug Williams. This confused me at first as I thought they were going to give away the main selling point of the show in the first match. After good exchanges between two very competent guys, 'The Filth' Chris Walker and former NBWA Champion, Kay Jutler would run to the ring and attack both men. This would then set up the main event for later in the evening - Doug Williams and Stixx vs Chris Walker and Kay Jutler. For me, this was a good outcome - two of the UK's top talents in Williams and Stixx against two guys that I know can put on a decent show; Jutler and Walker.

In a more adult-orientated show, Sancho Cortez would make use of the platform to get a 'boobies' chant going. I like his style. His match against Bunker Roberts (the only Heavy Metal Cowboy on the show) wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sancho was possibly the funnest, and funniest, that I have seen him and Roberts (a trainee) did show signs of improvement - that can only be a good thing.

Bacardi

The rest of the card saw a Falls Count Anywhere match between Bacardi and Rebel Yell, a botched Killswitch finish between Kirk Langley and Scorpion, and a tag team match between Frankie Fellasarno (Fellatio could catch on, though) and Joey Sanchez against The Dirty Little Scoundrels; Jayme 'Tie-dye-Brian-Kendrick' Future and Damien 'Purple London' Vaine.

The main event lived up to my expectations. Williams and Stixx; two of the UK's best, would battle 'The Filth' Chris Walker and 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler to try to avenge the attack that they received earlier in the night. A really good match coupled with the usual comedy from Walker and Jutler, made this something that would trap my attention and keep me guessing who would win. It would have made sense for Williams and Stixx to gain revenge with a win, but I really liked it that Walker and Jutler came away with a hard-earned victory - Jutler getting the underhanded pin to save his contract with NBWA. Walker and Jutler made a great pairing, too, as it displayed a nice balance of sleaze, confidence and cockiness.

Results

• Number One Contendership: Stixx vs Doug Williams (No contest due to interference from Walker and Jutler)
• Sancho Cortez defeated Bunker Roberts (heel? face? I don't know...)
• Falls Count Anywhere: Bacardi defeated Rebel Yell
• Frankie Fellasarno & Joey Sanchez defeated The Dirty Little Scoundrels (Jayme Future & Damien Vaine) w/ G. John Chase
• 'Special K' Kirk Langley defeated Scorpion
• 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler & 'The Filth' Chris Walker defeated Doug Williams & 'The Heavyweight House of Pain' Stixx

Overall, this wasn't a bad show but wasn't a great show, either. The star power and talents of Williams, Stixx, Walker and Jutler saved this show which seemed to be a glorified trainee show at times.

Stixx

I also liked that there were a few plugs for the next show by MC Leo Orbison; cleverly inserting them where necessary, to try and sell it. On Saturday 21st September, Kay Jutler will get his rematch against NBWA Champion 'The Mexican Sensation' El Ligero (I wondered where he and the belt had gone?!) and also Frankie Fellatio will take on 'Loco' Mike Mason in a Hardcore match. See NBWA Facebook page for the latest updates.

Structure/Logistics

I am pleased to say that this was a six-match card. This is a hell of an improvement to the last shows. It used a lot less workers and was digestible. The confusions I had over the Thorn/Management situation could do with a little clarity but other than that it was simple one-on-one matches that everyone could follow.

As a company though, NBWA still put on two shows over the course of the day and I would question what the cost of this was. This is where things might not have changed. I don't know all the costs that go into a wrestling show but I have a good enough idea. There were deals on ticket prices and admission over the two shows, so even though they might have seemed "packed", (I can't comment on the first show as I didn't attend) the actual money taken probably didn't reflect that. Also, with a two-show-day, you've got to be hoping for two separate audiences, no? I can't imagine the same audience sitting through 5-6 hours of wrestling in a day...

I really hope that these shows did turn a profit. This will be a great step in going forward with these shows and would show that lessons have been learnt. If it didn't (and only a few will know this for sure) then things need to be seriously looked at further.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle