Part Two - Sunday
26th October – Kamikaze Pro – Birmingham
My second show of
the weekend was at Kamikaze Pro in Birmingham. The original plan was
to go to this so that my girlfriend could see Tyler Bate – her
favourite wrestler (more on this later). On closer inspection, I
noticed that, in the main event, there would be a huge star of my
childhood fandom – Bob 'Hardcore' Holly. Bonus. I'm not usually
attracted to shows based on the import (as I've stated in a few
articles in the past) but this was a nice addition to getting to a
show for the missus' needs (I'm a good boyfriend, eh?).
On arrival, I was
pleased that the blonde lady (anybody know her name?) on the door was
aware of the blog. It's always nice to know that people know it, read
it and enjoy it. Later in the interval, it was nice to know that
Tyler Bate also enjoyed what I write here – pointing out the Mad
Man Manson interview as a good one. It's nice when fans say that they
enjoy the blog and it's probably even more pleasing when the guys on
the show say that they do, too.
I haven't been up to
a Kamikaze show for a while now and, as always with good shows, I
regret this and need to do something about it! Clearly things have
improved – as they should do with a growing promotion – with a
good sized audience; maybe over 200? Not only was it a big crowd, but
they were a loud and 'up for it' crowd; plenty of regulars it would
seem.
Positive: An
Audience With Eddie Dennis
I got to talk with
Eddie not too long ago at a show and he was very pleased with the
things that I write about him. This positive will be no different.
Eddie came to the ring as a heel, as I expected him to (he had been
at the last Kamikaze show that I attended). T-Bone then came out with
a scowl on his face, this was typical of him but I assumed that he
would be the babyface for this match. Then he started shouting at
kids at ringside and emptying packets of crisps over others (tough
guy).
I started to think
that we were going to have a heel vs heel match, which would've been
a strange start (or any part of a show). Within minutes things became
clearer; Eddie became a favourite of the Birmingham locals due to his
comedy ramblings towards T-Bone. This was also helped due to the
audience being a somewhat 'smart' crowd. In wrestling, when a show
gets to a certain level of popularity, there's going to be a large
number of smart fans and in some ways that helps situations such as
this match. Either that or Eddie is getting popular with the Kamikaze
audiences and will soon be turning full babyface. EITHER THAT or
Eddie can continue doing what he's doing and still be popular
regardless?!
 |
| Eddie Dennis |
Positive: The Match
The Missus Had Been Waiting For...
The second match saw
The Hunter Brothers taking on Tag Team Champions Dan Moloney and
TYLER BATE. I type Tyler's name in capitals there because I'll
probably be in trouble if I don't (she's quite defensive of Tyler...
it's almost worrying). As I tried to enjoy this match, I had a camera
phone resting on my shoulder, with several (hundred?) shots being
taken whenever Tyler was in view. When I would attempt to clap
something that The Hunters would do, I was immediately stopped and
given 'the look'. In the House Of Tyler, clapping for others is
extremely frowned upon!
It was quite
pleasing that after only two matches, the missus was satisfied with
the evening's wrestling and nothing was likely to top that for her...
until the interval...
For me, I loved the
story of this match. I've read a few things somewhere that there is
tension amongst the team of Bate and Moloney. This showed and, along
with a decent match, was really pleasing to see. I take it that Tyler
wants to do things more 'by the book' whereas Moloney wants to get
the job done whatever way he needs to. What's even more impressive is
that when they eventually do split and feud, it will be a very looked
forward to match – between a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old (please
correct the ages if I'm wrong on that?!). How impressive is that that
we have two guys that aren't even twenty in a believable, almost
'must see' match?
Negative (Positive
really?!): Lee Hunter Thinks He's James Mason
I saw you, Lee. I
heard you even clearer.
Lee summoned the
power of James 'thirty year veteran' Mason in his “DO YOU WANT SOME
MORE?” question to the audience. On receiving the answer he
required, Lee then started up a 'WE WANT MORE!!” chant. Sickening!
In all seriousness,
though, what a simple and massively effective way of getting the
audience into it this is... fair play Lee Hunter, but I'll be
watching you from now on to see if you steal any more
family-friendly-show, pandering chants!
Positive/Negative:
Fighting Females/Weird Match Placement
I'm not going to get
into my views on ladies wrestling as I (kind of) addressed it in my
post yesterday. The positive to this is the name of the division.
There are probably a thousand names that a women's division can be
given but I really like the name 'Fighting Females'. It's a really
catchy name and if it actually has some scrappy, fighty girls in it
then job done.
The negative for me
was the match placement. Before the show I tried to figure out what
match might go where and I was surprised to see the ladies match on
as the first half main event. For me I'd have had the Money in the
Bank Ladder match at that point. I think that the ladies match should
probably be either second on the card or just before the main event.
This is what I've seen in the past and as far as appeal, that's the
position that would best suit it.
Positive: The Best
Interval Ever?
Before going to the
show, a good friend of mine said that I should take my Bob Holly book
to the show to be signed. I hadn't even given it a thought as just
meeting him would be pretty cool.
During said
interval, we made our way over to the merchandise table as Bob was
there signing items and taking photos. I waited my turn and then
finally got to shake the man's hand that had been a big part of my
childhood. Don't get me wrong, Bob wasn't the main star of the
Attitude Era but he was a huge character in what that era was all
about. Out of all the imports that come over to our shores, he's the
biggest attraction that's been here in my eyes and my fandom. I was
pleased to let Bob know that I really enjoyed his book; it was one of
the most honest and real memoirs that I've had the pleasure to read.
I was also pleased to get a photo with him. Not as pleased as he was
to get one with my girlfriend though?! Fair play to him though; a
very nice, humble guy who deserved all the applause that he received
throughout the night.
 |
| Hey pal, hands off?! |
Other than getting
Bob Holly to sign my book, the main aim of this show (apart from
enjoying the show itself) was to get my girlfriend a photo with Tyler
Bate.
Let me elaborate.
Ala – the missus – came with me to a Triple XXX show in
January. She saw Tyler in the ring and fell in love instantly.
Despite me pointing out that he was 17-years-old, this didn't deter
her from stating that, from that day on, Tyler would be her favourite wrestler. This has sometimes been forgotten when she met
Chris Andrews, then Justin Sysum, oh and that time she saw Chris
Masters at a show (what's up with my abs, eh?). But whenever I would
mention going to a show with Tyler on it, she would, again, realise
where her loyalties lay (hint: they don't lie with me... #SadFace).
On our way back to
our seats from meeting Bob, there HE was: Tyler. I introduced myself
and briefly said that Ala was his biggest fan and
could we get a photo. He gladly accepted (and was probably a little
worried). Ala's dream had finally come true: to be within touching
distance of her favourite.
 |
| A little excited to meet Tyler... |
All jokes aside, I'd
like to thank James and Kaminkaze Pro for getting Bob Holly over here
so that I had the chance to thank one of my childhood favourites, as
well as get my book signed – that book now becomes an even bigger
keeper in my eyes. Also thanks to Tyler for the photos with Ala; it
made her night (and life probably?!). It's moments like this that
show that wrestling is great for everyone. We both got something out
of this show that made our nights!
Right, where was I?
Oh yeah, wrestling positives and negatives:
Positive (with a
hint of Negative): The Craziness Of The Ladder Match
I'll get the
negativity out of the way first. Well, not that negative but just my
personal preference. I'm not a huge fan of flippy, jumpy,
diving-over-the-top-rope here, there and everywhere matches. I'm sure
I could have condensed that sentence down, but there you go. I'm more
of a 'wrestling' kind of fan and the flippy stuff just doesn't mean
anything to me. It's pretty, it gets a 'OOOOOoooooo' from the crowd
everytime (and those gosh darn 'THIS IS AWESOME!' chants that are
kind of warranted and kind of aren't), but it's just for show. At
times it just feels like a way of getting everyone's 'sh*t' in.
Okay, now I'll get
onto what I thought of this match: it was excellent! As much as I'm
not a fan of this type of flippy, floppy(?) type of match, I thought
this was great in that it flowed really well. There were spots galore
and it never took a second to breath. It kept you engrossed from
start to finish; two guys would be in the ring, flip, spot, spot,
flip, CRASH! And then another two guys would come in and do something
equally as flippy and spotty and CRASHY! There were combinations of
guys all at once and some nice (and scary) ladder spots. The pick of
the bunch was when Pete Dunne pushed Damian Dunne from the ladder
onto the one rested in the corner. Crazy stuff.
And a match
involving Pete Dunne and 'Flash' Morgan Webster wouldn't be complete
with a Reverse Hurricanrana?! Such a brutal looking move.
Fair play to all the
guys in this match, it was exciting, brutal at times and had an
unpredictable ending.
Negative: That
Doesn't Seem To Make Sense...
After the ladder
match had ended, MC/Commentator/General Manager(?) Lawrie Neal
decided that Pete Dunne had been screwed out of winning the MITB
briefcase and would fight Robbie X for it at the next show. This is
such a bullsh*t way of announcing this match. Robbie won the match
fair and square; low blows and all are allowed etc so it makes no
sense to announce this match as if Pete is hard done by. Pete Dunne
versus Robbie X should be a good one, whatever the prize involved,
but this reminds me of when Damian Sandow 'screwed' Cody Rhodes out
of winning the MITB briefcase last year. It's every man for
themselves and there's no disqualifications. Get to the match without
excuses like this.
POSITIVE: I Heart
Sebastian Radclaw
I've said it before
and I'll say it again; I love the Sebastian Radclaw character. It
took me ages to finally see him on a show (previously watching him on
his Youtube offerings was funny enough at the time) and when I did I
couldn't believe that I'd waited so long. The twitchy, crazy, dancy
little guy is TOO funny. I was in absolute stitches throughout this
match; from the silliness of it being a 'Skat Monkey on a Pole'
match, to his translations of what Marshall X was saying. Seb is so
funny and really talented wrestling-wise, too, which is always a tick
in the box for me. Comedy-wise I can think of Grado, Mad Man Manson
and Radclaw as being genuinely funny guys in British wrestling; and
comedy is definitely needed on shows. It's always great when people
give their character 100% and I feel that that's what Seb does
everytime!
 |
| Sebastian Radclaw |
I think that Seb
versus Marshall was my favourite match of the night. As crazy as this
sounds, I was emotionally invested in him getting Skat Monkey back?!
I loved the comedy aspect of the match and, for the first time in my
British wrestling fandom, was CHANTING along. I have never done that
before so it must have gripped me that much?!
POSITIVE: Imports
Doing The/Their Job
I posted a tweet on
Saturday after seeing one particular show's results. All the imports
on their show (well, four out of five) went over their opponents
(won). I'm sure this show was fantastic and everything but I couldn't
believe that that was the 'scoreline' or whatever you'd like to call
it. After doing an interview with Mad Man Manson on imports and
having strong views on them myself for as long as I can remember, it
really bothers me when we – in this country – seem to pander and
treat these guys as if they are something special. Maybe some of them
were/are, but they're going to be here for one match. ONE MATCH. It
should be their job to make OUR guys look the business and in most
cases do 'the job'. That doesn't have to happen everytime, but it
should happen a lot more often than not. Don't get me wrong, it's not
all about the wins and losses but in the fan's eyes that's sometimes
really important; more important than just getting to be in the ring
with an import.
Thank you to Bob
Holly for doing that on this show. Obviously you do as you're told by
the promoter and I think what was asked of Bob Holly on this night
made Ryan Smile and Robbie X look better for it. I was completely
surprised that Ryan LOST the Kamikaze Pro Championship to Bob Holly
and that's a good thing. I had no doubt in my mind that Ryan would
sneak a win and continue on as champion with Bob's scalp part of that
reign.
It was a nice,
unexpected surprise. And so was the finish to the show.
Out popped Robbie X,
briefcase in hands, to smash Bob over the head and become the even
newer Kamikaze Pro Champion. Great stuff! Not only had there been a
huge surprise with Bob winning the belt but he had then done what was
right and given Robbie the heel tagline going forward of 'I beat Bob
Holly'.
Results
- Eddie Dennis defeated T-Bone
- Kamikaze Pro Tag Team Championship: The Miracle Violence Connection (Tyler Bate & Dan Moloney)(c) defeated The Hunter Brothers (Jim & Lee)
- Fighting Females match: Leah Von Dutch defeated Nixon Newell
- Money in the Bank ladder match: Robbie X defeated 'Dynamite' Pete Dunne, Damian Dunne, Chris Brookes, 'Flash' Morgan Webster and Ethan Silver to receive a future championship match
- Skat Monkey on a Pole match: Sebastian Radclaw (w/ The Spirit of Uncle Eggbert) defeated Marshall X to regain Skat Monkey
- Kamikaze Pro Championship: Bob 'Hardcore' Holly defeated Ryan Smile (c)
- Money in the Bank cash-in: Kamikaze Pro Championship: Robbie X defeated Bob 'Hardcore' Holly (c)
An excellent,
feel-good show that was a pleaser from start to finish. Kamikaze has
become one of my favourites with a good mix of wrestling, flips and
sh*t, characters and stories to sink your teeth into. Thank you again
to James and all the crew at Kamikaze for putting on a top show. It
looks as if things are on the up and are progressing. The audience
seem like they're regulars and with shows like this that will only
improve in the months ahead. Birmingham are lucky to have a promotion
such as this that brings a great level of entertainment to their
Sunday evenings.
Please visit
Kamikaze Pro on Facebook and Twitter; follow them and look out for
future events – you will not be disappointed!
Support British
Wrestling
@jimmosangle
No comments:
Post a Comment