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...

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