Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Mad Man Manson on Imports and British Wrestling

Recently, I did an article for The Indy Corner (link) about imports on the UK wrestling scene. It's been a subject that I've thought about for a long time now and felt the need to bring attention to. Additionally to this, I was speaking to a good friend of mine who dropped a few names of people that had similar opinions of imports as I do and I felt it was worth seeing for myself how these individuals really felt.

I messaged Mad Man Manson about this subject and he happily obliged to share his thoughts on imports. He was also kind enough to share his thoughts on the British wrestling scene.

I live in hope that my words will somehow make people think and change things that they do. I realise, however, that this probably won't be the case and people will continue to do what they are doing because they get certain endorsements that give them the justifications to continue. Hopefully people will listen to the following words from a British wrestling favourite and think hard about their future dealings in British wrestling.

The following is an interview I conducted with Mad Man Manson on 'Imports' and 'British wrestling':

Imports
What is your general view on imports on the UK scene?
Well, here's the general dealio:
It's not the import's fault, I've been an import for half my 'career', they are just guys trying to make money in the job. It's the promoters and fellow 'wrestlers'. Promoters paying over the odds and acquiescing to their demands while on the other hand arguing with their regular talent about £5 extra for exes, etc.

Some promoters use them brilliantly – Fludboat (Stephen Fludder - PCW) in Preston tells them exactly what he wants and if they don't do it, he fucks them off. Perfect business. If you hired a plumber to fix your sink, you wouldn't let him watch your TV, eat your dinner and paint your door.

The 'wrestlers' are their own worst enemy on this one - How many times have you seen “I get to wrestler tonight. OMG!” on a social media status? It's fucking embarrassing. No, you don't GET to wrestle so-and-so, you GET to be paid to do your fucking job like every office drone, football player, carpenter and warehouse man in the country. BUT this is because they haven't been trained in the job, they're fans. Nothing wrong with being a fan but when you take money from my pocket, I have a problem with it.

Sadly, there's nowt I can do about it, nor is it my place to judge others on how they wish to behave. I do know that as long as XYZ wrestling is paying £500 plus quid to cover some shitbox yank who works for $50 at home, we'll always be looked down at as jokes by the rest of the wrestling world.

What do you think imports bring to British wrestling?
If they have any kind of name value, they bring in paying customers. Some of the more experienced ones can also be used to teach students but in general, the teaching should be left to the British guys. People from all over the world come here to train - guys like Brian Danielson, Fergal Devitt, El Generico and loads more came here to learn the job before going onto great success. Every Summer, Japanese, American and European wrestlers travel to this country to learn how to work. This country! This is where they choose to learn. SO, why the fuck do people here fly off to those countries under the guise of it being to learn? It doesn't make sense. If you're not making it here, it's one of two reasons - 1: You're not good enough. 2: You're not fucking good enough.

Imports are over valued, British wrestlers are under valued. This is British wrestling, nobody can do it better than a British wrestler.

Are they really worth the expense?
Depends on the expense. If you get Hulk Hogan for a tenner and two people pay a tenner each to see him, who wouldn't have been coming to the show without him, bang! Profit. If, however, you pay a tenner for someone who doesn't bring in a paying customer or a DVD sale, bang! Loss. It really is that simple.

People like to cloud and muddy the issue using buzz words like 'exposure' and 'elevating home talent' but it's bollocks. IF YOU AREN'T MAKING MONEY AS A WRESTLER, EITHER STOP DOING IT OR GET BETTER. IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY AS A PROMOTER, EITHER STOP DOING IT OR GET BETTER.

Do you feel that British wresting show-goers know who the majority are?
Depends on the show goer. There's no average. The crowd up at PCW would know the majority but the crowd at Devon Cliffs wouldn't have a clue. Similar attendances, different audiences. Promoters and wrestlers in this country are blinded to the bigger picture as the majority are fans, not businessmen. Being a fan is not a bad thing, but allowing your heart to rule your head is. People get caught up in calling it 'the business' like the rules are somehow special and specific only to it. Remove 'the' and you're left with just fucking business! That's what it is. Treat it as such.

British Wrestling
What is your view on British wrestling at the moment? Is it the in a “great” place like many claim it is?
It can't be judged with a sweeping statement as there are far too many variables. Some of us are successful, make good money and enjoy it. Others don't. Are there some exciting things going on? Definitely. PCW, PROGRESS, that ICW in Scotland. All doing brilliantly. Making money, entertaining fans and giving the wrestlers a solid, safe, enjoyable environment in which to work.

We can work 3 or 4 days a week, every week. During the Summer, we can work anything up to a dozen jobs a week. NOWHERE else in the world is that available. It should be appreciated and respected.

What do you see as the main problems in British wrestling?
No business sense. Too many training schools. Too few barriers to entry into the job itself. An immature attitude towards the job from those within it. Fragmentation of market sector leading to diminishing returns in terms of profitability, audience share and potential growth.

There's some great things going on. There's some shit things going on. I'm involved in both.

Is there a problem with training in this country and too much of a 'fan mentality' amongst the 'wrestlers'?
There are about 9 people in this country good enough to train. There are about 90 training schools. See the problem? Why would someone go all the way to Dean Allmark's excellent, reliable, safe, productive school when they could play wrestler with their mates in their local hall? If the job was harder to get into, the fans who try to get into it would either a) Become excellent tradesmen having overcome the obstacles or b) Understand that it's not a viable career or job for everyone and go back to being fans again.

The absolute best piece of advice I can offer to anyone thinking of, or currently training is this - Look at the training school. Look at the trainer. Now ask these questions: Has that school produced anyone who is where you wish to be? No? Walk the fuck away. Has that trainer produced anyone who has gone on to be where you aspire to be? No? Walk the fuck away.

People are picking training schools based on geography. How fucking ridiculous is that?! 'Well, training school A is well run, successful and safe but training school B is near my bus stop. B it is!' Clowns.

Some of us look after each other and let each other know when there's money to be made somewhere. A promoter will always try and get a price down (as they should, that's business) but the fan wrestlers are so desperate to wrestle, they drop their price to a pittance. The business minded wrestlers charge more of a premium as they are not desperate to be performers.

What do you enjoy about wrestling?
I enjoy the adventurous lifestyle at times. I enjoy seeing new places and experiencing new things. I enjoy spending time with my friends who are also in the job. I get a buzz from entertaining people and making them laugh. I also enjoy the money and opportunities it provides for me, without that, I would not be involved in it. I have gotten far more from my time in the job than it has asked of me. That is a real positive for me.

Why do you do it?
I do it primarily for money. The same reasons most people do most jobs. It is a trade that I have trained in and know how to do well, within my own limitations. People want to give me money to ply my trade. I want to let them. The bonus to that is that I enjoy entertaining people. I get a good feeling when something goes well, when something is received well. Like an actor or comedian on stage, it feels good to connect with an audience as an entertainer.


As I said in the introduction to this interview, I hope that this makes people think more. Whether it is bringing in imports or our general attitude to how things are done in British wrestling, things still need to improve in this country if we are to be seen as more than just a place to get an easy pay-off and where anyone can get on a show. Manson is right, it SHOULD be harder to get into wrestling.

I'd like to thank Darren (Manson) for his time and answers. It was refreshing to hear what someone REALLY feels about some of the most important issues in British wrestling instead of the usual sugar-coating that a lot of people seem to do.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Chris Andrews

Chris Andrews

During my journey through the best (and sometimes worst!) of British wrestling, I have been lucky enough to rub shoulders with some great talents; experienced, inexperienced and underrated. It dawned on me whilst looking at this months 'One to Watch' in Fighting Spirit Magazine (plug!) that there are some great young, and unearthed talents that warrant showcasing in this way. I hope, in some small way, that I can give a little spotlight on such talents and maybe get them the recognition and exposure that they deserve.

I met Chris Andrews about a year-and-a-half ago and was instantly impressed by him both as a man and a wrestler. Although I can't claim to know him very well, I have always felt sure that he is a kind, polite, at times very quiet guy, that has a desire to do his best in everything that he attempts. I've always been sure that he has the look and skills to take him far in wrestling. I'm pretty sure that if you read any of my weekend of British wrestling reviews I have never had a bad word to say about Chris. This isn't due to a need to ass-kiss, but because I am genuinely entertained and impressed by what Chris brings to shows.

When Chris enters to his (usual) music of 'The Power', you're instantly blown away by the physical presence he has: clearly, Chris looks after himself and is a great example to any young and aspiring wrestler of how a you should look. If Vince McMahon is into big, chiselled, muscular wrestlers then he should look no further than Chris! I had quite a few questions for him that he was kind enough to get back to me on:

Jimmo's Angle: What got you into wrestling?

Chris: I think my Gramp used to record WCW in the early hours of the morning for me. My first real memory was seeing a match between Nailz and British Bulldog while my dad was flicking through the satellite channels. I asked if we could watch it and I then became a fan. The first big show I remember was Summerslam 92; shortly after that WWF did a world tour where they held a show in the Westpoint Arena, Exeter. Me, my brother, best friends and dads went to watch. There were some massive stars there: Legion of Doom; Shawn Michaels; Bret Hart; Yokozuna - all the big names except The Undertaker, which I remember being disappointed about; I wasn't really old enough to appreciate it, though.

How long have you been wrestling for?

9 years

Who trained you? Where did you find out about wrestling training?

I was trained by the UK Kid in 2005 at the VPW School of Excellence in Portsmouth. I knew I wanted to start training for a long time before I managed to start full-time. I did a few weekend camps at FWA [Frontier Wrestling Alliance] etc. Then a small school started in Exeter where we were trained by guest trainers each week, one of them was The UK Kid. He saw potential in about six of us including my brother Sam and close friend Joel Redman [WWE/NXT's Oliver Grey] and took us to Portsmouth to start full-time training.

How long did you train before being 'show ready'?

I was lucky really as I was a fairly gifted athlete growing up so found the physical side natural and seemed to pick up the movements and timing quickly. I think Tom (UK Kid) took us up there at the beginning of March and I did my first match on a show in May.

Did you feel ready when you debuted?

I felt ready; I don’t know how ready you can be really. Like a lot of trainees, my first match was with my trainer so I could be pulled through it and made sure I got a good pasting throughout [laughs]. I remember wanting to know everything that was going to happen in the match and memorise the whole thing. You don’t really start to understand the psychology and drawing real crowd emotion until you work a lot of shows so I didn't really get why we couldn't just do that; its all part of learning.

Early memories?

I started working for All Star, wrestling a lot to start with and usually did either one, or both, of the Butlins Minehead shows each week. That was great experience for learning how to control the crowd and share a dressing room with some very experienced veterans. I was lucky enough to wrestle some great talent very early in my career, one of which was against Daniel Bryan. The massive one for me (due to him coming off WWF TV/being in TNA at that time) was Billy Gunn. It was such a big opportunity for any wrestler let alone someone with only a few months experience in wrestling.

Impressively suplexing Dave Mastiff

What companies have you worked for?

I don’t think I could list them all but VPW (Varsity Pro Wrestling), RQW (Real Quality Wrestling), All Star, Premier Promotions, Wrestling.IE (Ireland), DWA (Devon), Pro EVW, LDN, Pride Promotions, Kamikaze Pro, House of Pain: Evolution, Wrestleforce, PWA (Plymouth)...

What companies do you see as the best/most established in the UK?

All Star have been running for years and run shows everyday so they would still have to be considered most established.

Who would you like to work for that you haven't yet?

There are a few companies that have caught my eye. Unfortunately, everyone else also wants to work for them, too; they include PCW, ICW, Rev PRO and Southside.

You're now branching out more-and-more from the South-West; what factors do you give credit for this?

Getting rid of my fuel guzzling truck [laughs]. I guess it probably comes down to having more time for wrestling; the more shows you do, the more people see you and the more shows you get offered. I drastically cut down my bookings around 2009 to free up some time to build a house for myself. I couldn't afford to take time off work for this so my evenings and weekends were pretty much taken up by it. It was a hard decision but I had to think about the future and there are no guarantees with wrestling. I was still able to squeeze in some shows but it was more like one-a-month or a small tour than the two-to-three shows a week I had been doing. When I finished the house I could get going again properly with wrestling.

Who are your closest friends in wrestling?

I don’t know if they would really be considered “in wrestling” as they were already my friends before and we got into wrestling together: my brother Sam Andrews and good friend Joel Redman. They are obviously both lifelong friends. The only other wrestlers I'm close to - who came to my wedding - are Nick Riley, PJ Jones and UK Dominator. I met them in about 2009 through Joel. I have recently been travelling with Iestyn Rees a lot, and have been joined by Nick [Riley] and Chris [Walker] (collectively, The Magnums), and Charlie Garrett who are all good company. I remain good friends with Tom (The UK Kid), too.

What are your ambitions in UK wrestling?

Mainly to enjoy it; it's hard to say something like “to make a good living from it” as the money isn’t really there in Britain at the moment.

What are your ambitions in wrestling overall?

I would love to think I could make a good living from it. As I said before the money isn’t really there to do that in England so it would really mean moving overseas. I still want to give it a go and definitely won't write it off.

Biggest achievement to date?

Being asked to go to WWE try-outs and being invited back. Also, obtaining work in wrestling overseas.

What established wrestlers have you competed against?

Billy Gunn, Bob Holly and D'lo Brown (for VPW), Daniel Bryan and Sheamus (for All Star), and Kid Kash (for PWA) would be the most well-known due to them working with WWE. I have also been lucky enough to work with top British talent such as James Mason, Doug Williams and Karl Kramer.

You're wrestling TNA's Gunner soon; what are your thoughts on that?

Yes, that’s for a show in Plymouth for PWA on Sunday 4^th May. I'm really looking forward to it! Anytime you get to work with someone who has made it into a good position in the business can only be a good thing. He looks like a big, tough guy so should be good. On that show I am also looking forward to being introduced by Duke Nukem [laughs] - Jon St. John is doing the MCing who did the voice for the video-game.

• TNA's Gunner's message to Chris Andrews (link)

As I've said before, Chris is a top talent in the UK. Maybe his name hasn't reached as far as it should have by now but that will surely change the more people get a chance to see him perform. He has the look and experience that should be used on more shows across the country. He has had great opportunities against some big names that have been stars and are currently plying their trade in the biggest organisation in the world (WWE).

If you would like to know and see more then look out for him on local shows, Facebook and Twitter (@chris84shark)...

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Promoters and their Priorities (Part Two)

Part Two: Booking talent and Ambitions

This is the second part of my interview with three experienced promoters on the UK wrestling scene - Ben Auld (Southside), Dave Sharp (4FW) and Stuart Natt (CSF) - who kindly took the time out to respond to some questions that I felt would interest people with regards to promoting shows in the UK.

In this second part, I asked them what their priorities were with regards to booking talent and I finished off by asking about their ambitions for 2014 and beyond:

Jimmo's Angle: What things do you look for in a wrestler prior to booking them? (UK based or International)

Ben: Well in the UK the talent speaks for itself. Quite simply, I want to book the best and won't book anything less.

International talent; I look for two things and hope a guy/girl ticks both the boxes. Firstly, I want them to help me draw [attract] fans; they need to be able to entertain our fans. More importantly, they need to help elevate our guys. I believe my roster are on a par with the international talent and my thinking is how it will help them look like the superstars that they deserve to be.

Dave: Many things. To be honest, when I book people I compare them to my local lads that I have trained and see what they can potentially add that my lads don’t to the event. And believe me, the bar at 4FW is set very, very high. I look for attitudes in talent; are they here just to collect an easy pay day? Attire; does it look professional? Do they look like a professional wrestler or at least an athlete? Most importantly though, is whether they want to and/or can they help out my younger lads? Many, many things come into play.

Stuart: I look for lots of things. Some pros can be the best in-ring worker you've seen in years, but sometimes if they lack a decent gimmick it's all in vain. Then again, the fact they could wrestle all day long and you wouldn't see them use the same move twice is a brilliant gimmick in itself. Again, 'Something for everyone', so you have to look at the whole show and get the balance just right to keep people's attention for two and a half hours.

Another important thing is making sure anyone you bring in has a decent attitude so backstage is lively, fun, yet still a professional environment; that's very important! Being a team player is of huge importance; no place for anyone out for themselves and, in the process, damaging the card. You have to pull together as a team and help everyone to get over and leave the venue looking strong ready for the next event there.

JA: What benefits do you think there are in booking international talent? Ultimately, is the cost worth it?

Ben: There are lots of 'pros'. Two of the most important are that they help elevate my talent and my company.

The 'cons' are the cost and risk involved; the stress levels are a lot higher and if things go wrong then fans can be very disappointed.

Dave: There are many benefits to booking International talent, especially if it is someone who has travelled all over the world and can pass on knowledge. My main focus is to bring international talent over that can help benefit my crew; bringing over Dick Togo and Ultimo Dragon, for example, helped open more doors than I could've ever imagined. I always ensure a seminar is arranged with the talent as well to ensure all my students get to learn from them.

The 'pros'; depending on the name, that 'star' can generate big ticket sales, DVD sales and other merchandise and most importantly to me, help the young lads that come through the 4FW Academy.

The 'cons'; depends on who the talent is, to be honest. I’ve only really had one talent that put a massive downer on international talent for me. Apart from that, I haven’t had many issues to thinks about the cons of bringing international talent over. The cost is worth it for me; I’m not sure what anyone else does but I have a good thing in place which means it benefits me, 4FW, and the students greatly.

Stuart: Quite a tricky question. We've had the 'super shows' with half a dozen, if not more, imports.

Obviously these were received very well and, by all accounts, were great shows. But maybe that type of event has had it's time and has been and gone. With there being lots (and lots) of amazing talents in the UK we certainly don't need to rely on imports to draw a crowd. Look at the numbers some UK-only name shows draw. The Scottish scene, for example, has grown so quickly and they've created their own stars, something which is very important for not only the gate, but the future of the sport in the coming years.

I use the imports as a 'thank you' to my regular fans. Obviously I need to cover their costs, but rather than rely on them to draw, I take them to regular venues which already draw very well as a nod to the customers who attend all the shows there regardless who is on, as they know they are going to have a great night whoever is appearing. Last year I had Sabu on a card, this year I have Chris Masters in a couple of months. In my early days, the imports certainly helped to draw new fans, then it was my job to keep those customers coming back each time regardless of the card.

JA: What are your ambitions for 2014 and beyond?

Ben: I believe we have cemented ourselves as one of the best promotions in the UK and I fully intend on taking us to even higher levels. We have spent more money on production and I believe our set-up is now one of the best in England. However, I still think we can improve.

Dave: Continue to grow as a person, business man and as a company. To learn more and more about business; not just the ‘wrestling business’, but wrestling AND business in general. Rebranding the entire product (which is currently well under way). Bring more students through my academy that add to the very high standard that exists. Run more events; I’m looking to be in charge of the company that sets the bar in United Kingdom Professional Wrestling.

Stuart: 2014 ambitions are simple: add a few new venues, keep my regular customers happy and to keep presenting good quality entertainment.

Jimmo's Angle: I really hope that wannabe promoters have been given, at least, a small idea about promoting from this interview. Like with the training interview that I conducted, I really hope that it will deter people who have no business running shows, as well as those that think that by watching WWE or whatever promotion, that it's easy to run a show themselves. Please be warned that it takes experience, dedication, (a lot of) money and risk to maintain a well run, successful, profitable wrestling promotion. As much as I may be 'small fry' on the British wrestling scene, I really hope that this (and part one of this article) can help people to make the right decisions and, in however small a way, STOP them from attempting to start something that could cost them a lot in several aspects of their lives.

I'd like to thank the three gentlemen; Ben, Dave and Stuart; for their time. They are three examples of how promoting wrestling shows is done in this country and I am excited to get myself along to their shows at some point in the next few months.

Each of their answers were a joy to read and enlightened me a little more on my journey watching British wrestling shows.

For upcoming events and general news, please visit:

• Southside Wrestling Facebook Page
• 4FW Facebook Page
• www.csfwrestling.co.uk

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Promoters and their Priorities (Part One)

Part One: History and Show Priorities

On the back of 'The Importance of Training' interview that I conducted with three respected British wrestlers (Iestyn Rees, Gilligan Gordon and UK Dominator) last month, I wanted to tackle another aspect of British wrestling that deserves attention - Promoting. Similarly to the training that one should undertake to become a wrestler, the same dedication and know-how should be applied if someone wants to attempt to run a successful, profitable wrestling promotion.

I'm going to more and more shows and as time has gone on I'm finding that, as with the training aspect of wrestling being important, so too is making sure that a wrestling show is put on in the correct manner.

Something I've always hated about the big leagues in America (WWE) is that all decisions are made with the interest of making the most money. As much as I hate this fact (because at times it gets in the way of sense and logic), it makes complete sense to do... as much as you want to put on a great show for the fans, paying the bills and covering the costs that add up along the way are more important when planning a wrestling event.

To get an idea of a Promoter's mindset, and what is important to them from show to show, I was fortunate to get feedback from three experienced promoters on the UK scene: Ben Auld (Southside), Dave Sharp (4FW) and Stuart Natt (CSF). These gentlemen took time out of their busy schedules to give me an idea of their priorites.

Part one (of two) will focus on each man's history in wrestling as well as their priorities with regards to preparing for an upcoming show:

Jimmo's Angle: What is your wrestling background? What is your connection to your current promotion?

Ben: As a fan, the first event I ever watched was Wrestlemania 7; loved the Ted Dibiase/Virgil match for the amazing storyline; Boss Man vs. Perfect, and of course Warrior vs. Savage... I was hooked straight away.

The transition from fan to promoter started when I went to a TNA show in Coventry where I met a guy who told me all about 1PW, so in April 2009 I travelled to Doncaster to try it out. Again, I was hooked straight away. Funnily enough I was amazed at Project Ego and El Ligero who have all become good friends of mine. I started to go to more and more British shows and eighteen months after my first Britwres show I ran my very first show.

I have now been running for over three years, have run thirty-five shows in St Neots, Over, Huntingdon, Stevenage, Letchworth, Preston and Nottingham. We have used talent from America, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan.

Dave: I have been a fan of professional wrestling since the age of six, so for twenty-six years wrestling has been in my life. I’ve never stopped watching or wanting to be involved in some capacity since the day I saw my first match.

I started training to be a wrestler in 2001, where I attended several of the UK Hammerlock sessions and a few of the weekend camps. A local promotion opened the doors nearby and I started attending the sessions on a weekly basis. I haven’t wrestled for around three years now due to injuries and becoming a father and priorities changing.

4FW came about because of several reasons which I don’t really feel the need to get into as everyone has moved on from the things that have happened from ten years ago and I would hate to bring anything up that might rub someone up the wrong way. For the first year I wasn’t the promoter of 4FW but in year two myself and James Dunn took the promotion over and ran it together until October 2012, when James decided to step away from promoting and I now run 4FW on my own.

Stuart: I always attended every wrestling event in the area, from the age of about seven. I'd make my dad take me to all the events from my home town and up to seventy-odd miles away. I used to attend events on a regular basis in Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth (as the family have a house on the harbour next to the Pavilion, so I could go watch the show, sleep and travel back seventy miles to school the next morning).

I didn't miss an episode of World of Sport / ITV Wrestling, either; started watching when I was five or six and still have dozens of Betamax tapes as I recorded it every week. When we upgraded to VHS I happily spent my youth filling hundreds of tapes with WOS and the NWA Worldwide shows that used to air in the early hours.

Over the years I went to hundreds of shows and after a while got invited along to training, I was 16 I think. Not going to mention any names as I don't want to give them any publicity, but looking back it was the sh*ts! After a short while I got put on shows - some good, some bad. I was lucky enough to meet the Noble brothers, Andy and Steve. They ran decent shows and held weekly training sessions; this is where I realised how shit it was where I was and how good things should be. It just made me more passionate. A couple years passed and I just pulled out and opened up CSF in my home town. I did it because I care about the state of wrestling and wanted something better in the area. What was here was a joke so I started out on my own to run those who were already here out.

JA: What are your main priorities (business-wise) when organising a show?

Ben: My main priority is to deliver to the fans and make money. But I will never put money before quality, if I ever have to do that I will quit. I have worked my b*llocks off to garner the rep we have. Luckily, we have built a really good fan base who trust us to always deliver. What a lot of fans don't understand is there are many ways to make money from wrestling so we work hard on DVD sales and merchandise. If our shows are great and only break-even on the door, then we still have other avenues to profit from.

Dave: Book dates with venues with plenty of notice. Promote, present my business well, promote some more and make money. Come show day I know I have put everything into it promoting-wise, so my priorities then turn to ensuring that what I have advertised is what I present in the most professional way possible.

Stuart: CSF is fifteen years old. At first, my priority was to drive the sh*te out of the area. Within my first year I had held three events in my home town and branched out to another venue an hour away. Within a couple of years I had five or so regular venues, all doing well and attracting big crowds. The events were big; I used a cage gimmick and had big production. I had Jake ['The Snake'] Roberts with us for a year; he behaved quite well! Plus Honky Tonk Man, so I guess it was more about the 'wow!' factor back then, bringing these huge events in each venue three times a year and going all out.

My priority now, as it was when I started, is to put on the very best all-round show - 'something for everyone' - it's fine jumping off cages and having the Americano glamour, but you will always need some good ol' rasslin on the card.

As time passed, I became more aware of my budget in each venue and had to cater for very different audiences. I have two children now so I can no longer p*ss the money away, I have to set a budget, work with it and generate a profit, something which can be very difficult in some towns.

JA: What tools and ways do you use to promote your shows?

Ben: I use Facebook, Twitter, fan forums, posters, leaflets, newspapers; it's always hard to judge what is most effective but if I had to choose one thing it would probably be Facebook.

Dave: Presentable and professional looking posters is priority number one. Along with banners and sometimes newspaper adverts, anywhere and everywhere I can advertise my product for free, social media, forums, websites, etc. Flyers are not high on the list as it is very hit-and-miss on whether you actually hit the market you are aiming for.

Stuart: I've always felt the best way to promote the next show is during the [current] show. Nice gee-up for the next event's feature attraction, tease a few of the other up-coming bouts and rotate the stars.

In lots of venues we use a video wall so during the interval we can show videos of future events and plug the dates. I am also a big user of local media; local websites, newspapers and radio. After that, obvious things like posters and door-to-doors. Obviously the last couple of years has seen a huge increase with the use of social media as an advertising tool. This is growing and becoming very important; an easy and affordable way of staying visible.

Jimmo's Angle: I would like to thank all three gentlemen for their time and responses to my questions. in the next part of this interview, Ben, Dave and Stuart will discuss what is important to them with regards to booking talent and their ambitions in wrestling.

In the meantime, please check out the Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of all three promotions and get along to a show...

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: The Importance of Training

It's been a while since I've conducted an interview in the category of 'Important Aspects of British Wrestling'. In the past, I have looked at the referee and the MC (Master of Ceremonies). Lately, it has dawned on me that, what could be, the most important aspect of them all should be addressed - training.

The reason that this needs focus is because over the course of the last year, my travels might not have taken me far (yet), but I have seen various wrestlers on various shows in the South of England. I have also heard some worrying stories with regards to the quality of training in British wrestling. I decided to get in touch with some guys that I have been lucky enough to meet, and chat with, over the course of that year - Iestyn Rees, Gilligan Gordon and The UK Dominator - and pick their brains about the importance of good, reputable training before starting off on the journey to becoming a wrestler.

Jimmo's Angle: Gents, thank you very much for your time! Let's start at the beginning: How long have you been wrestling for? Who trained you? How did you find the training?

Gilligan: I have been wrestling for eight years in May of this year. I started training at 4FW under Dave Sharp, James Dunn (JD Knight) and The Saint. I moved to SAS under Rockstar Spud, Charming Don Charles and Dave Mastiff (the latter has had the most input over the training in my career). In addition to these, I spent time travelling around with Al Snow, Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), Doug Basham and Vito (amongst others). I used to find training quite natural, being in a lot better shape than I am now. It was easy to get into as a result of having previous sporting experience playing rugby.

Dom: I have been wrestling for about twenty years and I was trained by Bully Boy Briggs. I found the training one of the hardest things in my life. It's not like the training they do today, it was much harder back then; you had to show that you can be a wrestler, not like today do.

 

Training back in the day was like this: After a four-hour drive to Doncaster, I had to start with a warm-up of running around the ring 100 times, touching each post. Then one-hundred press ups, four-hundred squats, and two-hundred sit ups - that was just the warm up! Then a three hour session on different things; sometimes you might do a session on just punching strikes so you could master it. If you got it wrong then you'd have to do more press ups but that was the norm. Then I had to wrestle for three years before I even got paid! On the way to venues I would get kicked out of the van a mile away from the venue and given a time to get there; if I didn't make it in the time given then it was another fifty press ups but that's the way it was if you wanted to be a wrestler. If he [the trainer] said carry the bags then you would carry the bags; if he said jump your reply would be 'how high'! You wouldn't moan about it or you'd get kicked out - it's not like now; if you don't like something, you just move to another wrestling trainer. Back then there wasn't many around so you had to do anything to get in the game. Also, if you walked into a venue it was up to you to walk around the room, introduce yourself, and shake the hand of everyone in there - to not do this was showing disrespect! Respect nowadays doesn't even seem to come into it. Respect for other wrestlers etc just isn't there. That's what I miss about the old times - the respect and crack.

Iestyn: I started wrestling training in July 2005 and had my first match in November 2005. I trained at the 4FW Academy under Dave Sharp, James Dunn (JD Knight) and The Saint. The training initially took place all day on Sundays 10am-5pm, in Swindon. I learnt the basics; break falls, chain wrestling, takedown and the simple moves. Once you could master those effectively we worked on match structure and working towards getting ready to perform on shows. The training was hard but I was lucky that there were a group of trainees that had either started just before me or just after, so we progressed well as a group. All of the group progressed on to 4FW shows around the same sort of time, I was then lucky enough to get to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent at the time - Dave Mastiff, Martin Stone, The Kartel (Terry Frazier and Sha Samuels). Working with these more experienced wrestlers really allowed me to progress at a quicker rate.

I then began to get bookings in a few companies and continued to work with more experienced guys and progress further, this included wrestling for Allstar Promotions across the country, IPWUK in Kent and the short-lived South Wales Championship Wrestling. It was the travelling to and from the shows with what became a regular car team of myself, Gilligan Gordon, Dave Mastiff, Joel Redman, Referee Chris Roberts plus many others that allowed us to discuss the show and our matches. This dissection of the matches really helped me improve. The match dissection continues to this day and is a great tool in helping me continue to refine and improve my wrestling.

Gilligan Gordon

Looking back, how essential do you feel that training was?

Gilligan: Imperative! Not just for the physical aspect but because that was how I made my connections. It was how I found my way into some of the places I did in the early years. Meeting people, networking, socialising – all the aspects of the business that get taken for granted and people don’t understand. I learned more of what not to do by observing others in training than I did anywhere else. So I did the opposite.

Dom: It was what made you what you were, it was hard. What more can you say? Most, if not all, the trainees of today would walk out and never come back.

Iestyn: The training I received, and still do receive from more experienced guys, is paramount to the continued improvement and evolution of my wrestling. There is always more to learn and ways to improve.

What do you feel are important factors when starting out to be a wrestler? What advice would you give to wannabe students?

Gilligan: Ask someone in the know first if they are reputable. Pro EVW (Gloucester), House of Pain (Nottingham), AllStar, Brookside’s (Leicester), Fight Club/AWE (Midlands) and 4FW (Swindon) to name a few around the country (not an exhaustive list!). Then when you get there: study, work hard and commit. Engulf yourself in it. Don’t be afraid to switch off from time to time but if you want this you have to commit 110%. Watch as much as you can but make sure you are absorbing it. Train as much as you can, but don’t burn yourself out. Speak to as many people as possible, but never out of turn. Be nice and make friends. Ask for advice. Take everyone’s advice but don’t necessarily listen to it all. And stay in shape. When you get on shows – KEEP IT F*CKING SIMPLE!! Learn how to work every match on the card 1st, 2nd, Main… wherever. Then do that match when you are booked there.

Dom: Give everything, never give up, don't expect anyone to give you anything. Go out and get it for yourself; you will get lots of promises that will not be delivered.

UK Dominator; 20+ years wrestling

Iestyn: Do some research into the schools you could attend. When I was starting I went on the internet found the three most viable schools that were possible to attend. I looked at their websites and I chose the school with most professional looking set-up and wrestlers they produced. At the time I had little-to-no knowledge of British wrestling as it was then. Nowadays there are more schools - good and bad - but the product is much more visible (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc) therefore I would suggest to all potential trainees to research the schools; find out who the trainer is; has he been working a long time for respected companies? Have any of his trainees also progressed to work for well-known companies? Are the facilities of a good standard?

The advice I'd give to potential trainees is get yourself to a basic level of physical fitness so you are able to perform basic body weight exercises squats, push ups etc for fifty reps at least as a minimum. Secondly, be prepared to get things wrong and be criticised; the skills you need to wrestle are very different that of most activities you will have undertaken. Therefore, you will make mistakes. Expect constructive criticism and take this on board - your trainer/coach is trying to help you.

Do you think there is a problem with youngsters going to the wrong places/people to get trained? Are there any measures that can be taken to stop this from happening?

Gilligan: Yes, there is a problem. It’s like germs – if you don’t clean up they spread. I have had a fair few accusations thrown my way and I maybe a hypocrite in some of the things I say about staying in shape but when it comes to training I have a grounding that means I can say people need to get the proper advice. Measures? Not unless the whole thing becomes Governed and regulated by a proper authority.

Dom: Trainees will train then think they can be trainers; you will always get this, it will never stop until the top promoters get together to stop it, or a governing body is set up.

Iestyn: There is a huge problem with poorly trained people that start their own schools who don't give the correct training for young adults attending their schools. The only way to stop this would be to have an independent governing body which would advise on the necessary skills and requirements needed to be a Professional Wrestler and then a Professional Wrestling Trainer. Unfortunately, I can never see this happening.

Basically, how important is it to get the right training?

Gilligan: Essential. In all aspects of the business. A lot of it people can’t teach you, you have to learn as you go. But that comes with experience and you won’t get the experience without the training. Sunrise/sunset.

Dom: Look around you and have a look at the shit that's going around. You can tell the ones that have had good, decent training and the ones that have had bad training.

Iestyn: As I've eluded to above, the right training is essential. If you are taught the basic fundamentals poorly you won't be able to progress to the more complicated aspects successfully. Therefore, you become a danger to yourself and, more importantly, your opponent. Furthermore, you will leave a bad impression of wrestling in the minds of paying customers of the shows you work on. Therefore, those customers are less likely to support British wrestling in the future.

Do you have any success stories of people that you have trained and if so could you share them?

Gilligan: Justin (The Hammer) Sysum. His story will write itself. (The Monstrosity Known As) Richtor went on to end his run at a higher quality level than anyone ever anticipated. However, I would say I have “helped out” more people than I would dare claim to have trained. A group of us travelled the road together; helped each other out in so many ways. We affectionately called ourselves “Car Team” – me, Dave Mastiff, Iestyn Rees, Sam Beech (at various times in the past also Chris Roberts, Mark Haskins, Spud (TNA), Joel Redman (WWE/NXT's Oliver Grey), Derice Coffie, T-Bone and Mad Man Manson). I was a couple of years behind some of them but we progressed together. Look at that list of names; that’s a top quality card anywhere in the country.

Dom: I never trained but did help out Drew McIntyre (WWE) with some words of wisdom; how to show-out and improve showmanship. I can also say the same with regards to Joel Redman.

Joel Redman has found success in America

Iestyn: I have had a small hand in helping out some up-and-coming wrestlers who I feel have the potential to go as far as anyone in the business. Two of those would be Justin Sysum and Charlie Garrett. The physical abilities of these two athletes are comparable to another wrestler who I have spent a lot of time with and that is Joel Redman. He was the epitome of hard work and determination and you can see where those traits have gotten him.

Finally, how rewarding is it to see someone succeed and progress?

Gilligan: My legacy will likely be the successes of others. I like to think I have had a positive impact, despite my indiscretions and disagreements, and that I have been part of a group that really helped to remind people that the wheel is round.

Dom: It's an amazing feeling to see people further their career in wrestling. There's also a bit of jealousy!

Iestyn (right) with up-and-comer Charlie Garrett

Jimmo's Angle: You can see from these answers that with the correct training you have a much better chance of progressing in your wrestling career. Dom, Gilligan and Iestyn have all pointed out at various times how hard it is to get anywhere - quite simply, you have to want it, work for it and have no excuses.

I really hope that the right eyes see this article and take the advice of these guys. Between them they have around forty-years worth of experience - there is an enormous amount of useful information that they could give you; and they're not the only ones. As they have said, search for the reputable companies (as they have listed some above), ask about their experience and choose a training facility and trainers that will train you in the appropriate way.

Facebook pages for the above companies/potential trainers:

• 4FW (Swindon)
• Pro EVW (Gloucester)
• Fight Club Pro (Midlands)
• House of Pain (Nottingham)
• Brookside's School of Wrestling (Leicester)

Above everything, ensure that you get the right training from credible trainers. As Iestyn pointed out in the interview: with the wrong training '...you become a danger to yourself and, more importantly, your opponent.'


Support British Wrestling
@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Pro Evolution Wrestling: Saturday 2nd November: Sysum vs Richtor

Saturday 2nd November: Pro Evolution Wrestling Championship: Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum (c) vs Richtor

This Saturday sees the next show on the Pro EVW calendar as they invade The Miners Welfare Club in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. This is a new venue that Pro EVW will be performing in but that won't change the standard of wresting that will be on display. There have already been a few matches announced and these are of the highest quality.

The main event of the evening will be a mouth-watering Pro Evolution Wrestling Championship match between the champion, Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum and the challenger, Richtor.

Although, I've said it before, this could be the biggest challenge that Justin has faced. In the last few months, Justin has defied the odds and defeated the likes of 'The Shark' Chris Andrews, JD Knight (in an epic series of matches) and former TNA star Doug Williams. He is fast becoming a champion that is very hard to defeat. The problem this Saturday is that the same could be said for his opponent.

The challenger; Richtor (photo: superkick.co.uk)

The Monstrosity known as Richtor has been steam-rolling his way through everyone in his path in recent months. Impressive victories over Gilligan Gordon, Mike Bird and Iestyn Rees has meant that all on the Pro EVW roster have taken notice of the big man. He has now earned a championship match and that can only be worrying news for The Hammer.

I managed to get comments from Richtor leading into this Saturdays match:

"This is a match that I have wanted for a very long time; I have won three in a row defeating Mike Bird, my former trainer Gilligan Gordon and former Pro Evo Heavyweight Champion Iestyn Rees, proving I am more than worthy of this opportunity. Finally management have seen sense and have given me what I want and you can tell that the fans want it, too. Sysum is very good, no doubt about it, he is a natural athlete and does some spectacular things in the ring but he has never, ever faced a challenge such as myself - I'm deceptively agile and strong. I am not your typical big guy wrestler. I'm also very pissed off as I never received my contractually obligated rematch from 2011 [Richtor is a former Pro EVW Champion himself] and this Saturday I will show exactly WHY I am the ONLY Grandslam Champion in Pro Evolution Wrestling history; WHY I am a monstrosity... And WHY I am better than The Hammer"

Be sure to get yourself along to The Miners Welfare Club in Cinderford, Gloucestershire (GL14 2JN) - doors: 6.30pm.

Other matches that have been announced:

 'The Saviour' JD Knight vs 'The Shark' Chris Andrews

The Alpha Males (Garrett & Rees) vs The Ultimate Winners (PJ Jones & The UK Dominator)

For more (and up-to-date) info please visit the Facebook event page (Wrestling in Cinderford) and follow them @ProEvoWrestling...

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Pro Evolution Wrestling: Saturday 12th October 2013: Sysum vs Williams

Pro EVW Heavyweight Championship: Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum (c) vs Doug Williams

This Saturday sees the latest show to be put on by Pro Evolution Wrestling. It will take place in the Wotton Hall Club in Gloucester and is looking to be a top show already. The main event of the night will be young Pro EVW Champion Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum being challenged by the more travelled and experienced, former TNA star Doug Williams. This will undoubtedly be Justin's biggest match to date.

In the last few shows Justin has had to prove his metal against one of the toughest competitors in the UK - JD Knight. These matches have shown Justin's fight, determination and will to improve, and have also shown that he has learnt and gained confidence with every match he has had. Last Saturday night, Justin overcame Knight once again to earn the right to face Williams this Saturday.

I was fortunate to catch up with Justin for a few comments on how he is getting along AND I was able to get a few comments from Doug Williams about British Wrestling and what he thinks of Justin going into their bout on the weekend:

Pro EVW Champion: Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum

Jimmo's Angle: Hi Justin, it's still fairly early in your career; how have you found it so far? Are you having fun?

Justin: Since day one, turning up at Pro EVW and getting to Dropkick someone in the head: the whole journey has been amazing! I learned very quickly that the basics were far more important than kicking people in the head (but from time to time a good Dropkick is called for!).

I have been fortunate enough to be taken on as a trainee by several experienced veterans who have made sure that none of my time has been wasted and I continue to progress. Each one of them excel in different aspects of wrestling and I take everything I can from them. I have to thank Gilligan Gordon and T-Bone for all the help they gave me early on and their continuing support. These guys also introduced me to Dave Mastiff, Iestyn Rees & Ash Steel who all continue to play a part in my training and will make me do squats if I don’t mention them. Yes I’m definitely having fun! (I like squats!).

What do you make of the British Wrestling scene so far?

The British wrestling scene is huge! I had no idea how many companies and wrestlers there were out there. It doesn’t take long to realise which companies and wrestlers are worth their salt though. There are probably 10 companies putting on poor shows to every good one, I just hope it doesn’t put fans off and they seek out the shows worth going to.

Are there any UK wrestlers that stick out as being stars in the making to you? Who inspires you?

I’ll try and pick a few here but there are so many guys and girls who have the potential to make it to the top;

T-Bone is first to spring to mind, I get to work with him at training a lot and the guy is a beast; some guys lose as soon as they see him walk out of the curtain; Charlie Garrett is the next guy I think who has star potential. He can do everything I can do but he’s two inches taller and a little heavier, it makes me sick. He’s young too, it’s a good job I’m prettier than he is; Chris Andrews… Just look at the guy, he’s amazing too.

From all of the girls I have seen at shows and trained with I’d have to say Katy Lees: you won’t know her from shows as she’s just breaking onto them but if you see her train you’ll see what I see.

There are plenty more top quality wrestlers around and I have only met a small portion of them which is why I have stuck close to home on these choices. A guy who is already a star in this country is Dave Mastiff, his knowledge and skill set is second-to-none and he would be the guy in this country who inspires me simply because I want to be that good. The other people who inspire me are the guys and girls earning a great living from our sport. The ones that transcend wrestling and have become global superstars.

What are your ambitions? Would an ultimate goal be to get to the big leagues of America?

To be successful. I want to take it all the way, make as much money as I can doing something I love. I'd then like to look back and be proud of my achievements. One of my favourite phrases for when someone is egging me onto do a big or dangerous move is “Save it for WrestleMania” - That should tell you everything you need to know about my ambition.

What UK promotions have you worked for?

I got my break at Pro Evolution Wrestling (Pro EVW) - it’s where I spend most of my training time and I’m the current Pro EVW Heavyweight Champion. The guys who run the shows are the reason I will always be part of the Pro EVW roster - I have so much respect for them. I have also worked for All Star, DWA, Devon Championship Wrestling, Kamikaze Pro, Pro Wrestling Pride & New Breed Wrestling Alliance.

Even though it's still early for you, what advice would you give youngsters who want to get into the business? What invaluable advice have you received?

It really is still early but I have managed to progress relatively quickly because I attend a good wrestling school. Find a good school with a good reputation. I’ve mentioned Pro EVW if you live in Gloucestershire. If you live in Wiltshire 4FW is the place to be and people travel from all parts of the country, myself included, to train at Brookside’s School in Leicester. The head trainer is Robbie Brookside who is currently NXT Staff!

The best advice I have been given is to listen to everything everyone has to say, then pick the bits that are right for you - Gilligan Gordon is a wise man.
My best advice? Be better than everyone around you. You need to look better than them & wrestle better. A fan is someone who admires and looks up to you, if they think they can beat you then they aren’t fans and they won’t pay their money to see you fight. Your audience can’t grow unless you do. Why is Brock Lesnar wrestling in front of millions on TV? Because he’s stronger and scarier than everybody. John Cena? Because he looks better than everybody. Punk? Apparently because he’s The Best in the World…

Heading into Saturday's match; what is your opinion of Doug Williams? 

Doug and I have met a couple of times backstage at other shows, He keeps himself to himself and is a genuinely nice guy. That being said, he’ll take you apart in the ring and there’s a reason he has been to the top of this sport. I respect Doug, not because I’m a greenhorn and I should but because I want to go the places he has been and have the same success and I’m beginning to realise just how hard it is to achieve that.

He has a wealth of experience behind him and I imagine a lot of people think he is going to take me to school. However, I have the advantage of being able to watch footage of his fights and scout him whereas he has no idea what I am capable of. I can tell you this, one of us is going to come out champ, the other a broken man.

Thank you for you time Justin. Good luck for this Saturday!


I then caught up with Doug Williams briefly for a few words:

Challenger: Doug Williams

Jimmo's Angle: Hi Doug, thanks for your time! Firstly I'd like to ask: being a Brit that has spent a lot of time over in America, how do you find coming back to the UK?

Doug: To be honest, I spent a lot of time in UK last year so coming back I haven't seen any great changes or needed to make any dramatic adjustments. It's just really good to be wrestling in front of British fans again, they are the best in the world.

Do you see any similarities between the US and UK or are things very similar?

In terms of styles of Wrestling things are getting very similar. As for fans, I find the UK fans are a lot less jaded and just come to have a good time, which I really appreciate when I perform for them.

Are there any UK wrestlers that stick out as being rising stars to you?

Plenty - Noam Dar, Marty Scurll, Johnny Moss are three of my favourites. In reality the UK scene is rammed with talent at the moment.

Is it easy for a UK star to get noticed by the big leagues of America? How would this process work?

It's easy to get a tryout and the opportunity to show them what you've got. Securing a job, now that is much more difficult.

What UK promotions have you worked for? How have you found the organisation of these promotions?

Pretty much all of them! The organisation ranges from incredibly professional to barely passable as you might expect!

What advice would you give youngsters who want to get into the business? Are there any common mistakes made by youngsters that lead them down the wrong path? What would you advise to iron these out?

Make sure you are in shape and at least look like an athlete. The most common mistake I see is young guys who do not have a clear grasp of the fundamentals. Walk before you can run! Training, practice and working as many shows as possible is the best way to improve on these.

 

Finally, I'd just like to get your thoughts on your opponent for this Saturday - Justin 'The Hammer' Sysum?

 

I've only met Justin a couple of times and he seems very eager to learn and improve. He's a very polite and respectful guy, too. Admittedly, I haven't seen him in the ring and this is to his advantage, but I have experience on my side and this will mean that I will have the upper hand. It'll be very interesting to see how our match goes, but I fully expect Justin to show me what he's got; as I will, too. Unfortunately for Justin, I will be looking to pick up his Pro EVW Championship by the end of the night!

 

 

Jimmo's Angle: Thank you to Doug and Justin for their comments going into their championship match this Saturday. I urge you to make the trip to see this show - another match that will be must see, will be the Pro Evolution Wrestling Tag Team Championship match between The Magnums and the newest tag team in Gloucester; The Alpha Males. This will all happen, along with other top matches, this Saturday (12th October) at the Wotton Hall Club in Gloucester!

Pro EVW Tag Team Champions: The Magnums

For more (and up-to-date) information please visit the Pro EVW Facebook page and follow them on Twitter - @ProEvoWrestling

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Iestyn Rees

In the last six months, I have been lucky enough to go 'behind-the-scenes' of some local wrestling shows. This has given me the chance to see how things are set up and the amount of work that goes into each one. It has also given me the chance to meet the wrestlers and in some cases get a good rapport with them. I still consider myself an outsider to a certain degree; always trying to be respectful and using the rule that I should 'speak-when-I'm-spoken-to'.

Iestyn Rees

In the last couple of shows that I've been to, I have been very grateful that Iestyn Rees - one of the wrestlers on the show - has been very welcoming and has even asked my opinion of his matches. I felt a little under-qualified, but definitely very honoured that an experienced worker would like to know my thoughts. If I'm honest, it impressed me that a guy that's been wrestling several years would take advice from the unlikeliest of sources; it showed me that he is always looking to improve and that can only be a good thing for fans that come to see the shows. It must be a nice thing to know if you're a Promoter booking Iestyn for a show, too - you know that you're going to get something new and potentially great for the show you're putting on.

I spoke with Iestyn recently and he answered some of my questions:


Jimmo's Angle: Hi Iestyn, how did you go about becoming a wrestler? Where did you train? Did anyone of note train you?
Iestyn Rees: I was a massive WWF fan when I was a kid. My cousin used to tape the PPVs and occasionally Superstars (TV show), and would send them to me. Then he stopped watching wrestling so I wasn't able to watch anything. In 2000, the Royal Rumble was on channel 4; I recorded it and I was hooked again. I followed WWF on TV and the Internet all through University. After I finished Uni, I was searching on the Internet and thought “what the hell?” so I searched for wrestling schools. There were three close to me - 4FW (based in Swindon) looked the most professional by far, so one Sunday I bit the bullet and travelled down there. The ring wasn't there as they had a ring-job so we completed drills on mats for the session. I loved it and couldn't wait to go back the next Sunday. Soon, that became my Sunday routine; get up, drive to Swindon and train from 10am until 6pm.

The trainer was Dave Sharp and he was assisted by The Saint. I started training in July and after a few losses wearing a mask (doing a Mexican gimmick), I debuted in May the following year. I was really lucky as my debut was in a tag team match vs The Kartel (Sha Samuels and Terry Frazier). Over the next 6-9 months I was lucky enough to wrestle The Kartel, Martin Stone and Dave Mastiff; they all gave me loads of advice and really helped me develop in the ring.

JA: Who do you look up to? Who do you feel you have learnt the most from? Who do you admire/respect?
IR: The guys I look up to in the business are really good friends of mine as well - Dave Mastiff, Sha Samuels and Joel Redman (NXT's Oliver Grey). These guys, along with Al Snow have taught me the most. Gilligan Gordon, Chris Roberts and Dave Mastiff and I were lucky enough to spend an entire week with Al which was an incredible learning experience.

JA: I've seen you at three different shows (NBWA, Welsh Wrestling (for James Mason) and Pro EVW) - which promotions do you enjoy working for? Do you see any differences between promotions you work for?
IR: I really enjoy working for Welsh Wrestling, Pro EVW and IPW along with others. I feel these promotions make it easy for you to do your job as all aspects of the show are well organised and run effectively.

Obviously, there are differences between all the companies I work for, mainly with the audience they cater to and this causes slight changes to the style of the shows. IPW run a regular venue for the most part so the crowd become very invested in the wrestlers and their feuds. Pro EVW run regular venues in an expanded area but with a regular roster plus various different wrestlers from across the country. The shows include feuds and rivalries as well as top exhibition matches.

Welsh Wrestling run a touring schedule, therefore shows will be in venues one or two times a year. This will allow maximal advertising and usually the biggest house possible. There have been some venues that we've run more regularly including Welshpool where there was an ongoing storyline between myself, Kade Callous and Lembit Opik (MP), which lead to a match that was covered in ten national newspapers and reported on ITN and BBC news.

JA: What is your view of British Wrestling? What improvements do you think need to happen to get to the next level?
IR: British wrestling is doing very well in some areas of the country and there are some excellent talents here in the UK. This is plain to see by the number of guys signed to WWE and TNA contracts. In the areas that are doing well for themselves, I would say that the promoters of those promotions are working hard and understand their business model, ensuring their product is seen by as many people as possible.

The main improvements that need to be made, need to be made by both the wrestlers and promoters; working together. Promoters need to realise that to be successful and fill venues they need to advertise, advertise, advertise. This means posters, flyers, banners and newspaper ads – any way of getting the product across to as many fans as possible.

The Promoters then need to work to a realistic budget for their venue and use the best talent they can afford. If the budget can't stretch to getting respected pros then the Promoter shouldn't just throw any old talent out there; they should go back to the drawing board, look at their venue choice, advertising process and talent choices. If they still can't put on a decent show then they really shouldn't be promoting.

JA: At the last Pro EVW show you spoke with me briefly about your matches with Nick Riley (of The Magnums) - do you feel you guys have good chemistry? Who else do you think you click with in the ring?
IR: Recently, Nick is one of the guys I've worked with the most; I feel that our matches are always entertaining and hard hitting. We had a great one-on-one match at a recent show at the Wotton Hall Club in Gloucester for Pro EVW (see video below).

Other guys that I always have a great scrap with are Sha Samuels (most underrated wrestler in the UK) and Kade Callous, who I feuded with for the first half of this year for the Welsh Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

JA: I believe that you and Charlie Garrett have started to team as 'The Alpha Males' - how's that going? Have you got any bookings as a team yet? How did this team come about?
IR: I was working at the Pro EVW Training Centre in Gloucester where myself and Gilligan Gordon are part of the training staff. Gilligan commented on how me and Charlie looked a bit alike and also that there is a big gap in the British wrestling scene for a tag team that combines both power (me) and high flying/speed (Charlie).

Gilligan Gordon; a good friend of Iestyn's

So Charlie and I had a chat and we decided we could work well together. So we've put in some serious time at the Training Centre and I feel we're now ready to take British Tag Team wrestling by storm! So far we are booked (as a team) on the following shows:

• Sat 28th Sept at Pro EVW in Dursley, Gloucestershire
  
• Sat 5th Oct at Pro EVW in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
  
• Sat 12th Oct at Pro EVW in Gloucester
  
• Sat 19th Oct at DWA Barnstaple, Devon (vs The Magnums in a TLC Match)
  
• Sun 28th Oct at DCW Crediton, Devon (vs Pretty Marvellous)
  
• Sat 2nd Nov at Pro EVW in Cinderford, Gloucestershire
  
• Sat 7th Dec at Pro EVW in Gloucester
  
• Sat 14th Dec at DWA Tiverton, Devon
  

The Alpha Males (with Charlie Garrett, left)

PLUG: Promoters interested in booking The Alpha Males - Check out their twitter page @The_Alpha_Males or search for 'The Alpha Males' on Facebook. Both of which have the dates that they are available.

JA: Tell me about your ambitions in wrestling?
IR: I'd love to travel the world working for as many top promotions as possible. I am also always looking at ways to improve my matches and come up with new and interesting ways to entertain the audiences that come to see the shows that I'm on.

JA: As Iestyn mentioned in this interview, he is part of the training team for Pro EVW. Some of the trainees there gave their thoughts on Iestyn's efforts:

Katy Lees:

“I would say that Iestyn has brought the spark back at Pro EVW and made everyone way more focused. He's also starting to help us all with gimmicks, our own move-sets and promo/acting work which we haven't done a lot of before. If we want to talk about wrestling outside of training he's made a page for us all to talk on. He also posts helpful videos for us to learn from. He's given us a lot more help than we've had before. When I first saw him I just thought “eeeek scary, evil training man!”... but now I realise that his training sessions are brilliant and help loads!”

Tom Carr:

“Katy summed him up perfectly. Iestyn is going to a great effort to help polish up the advanced trainees to a strong show standard and show the inexperienced guys the basics. It's great to have someone like Iestyn who wants us to do well and gives us the means to do so.”

David Stone:

"We've been really fortunate to have trained with many of the UK's top wrestlers at the Pro Evolution Wrestling Academy. Iestyn's a great example of that - his knowledge, confidence and ability to lead a class make him a fantastic mentor for us.

He shows a genuine interest in helping us improve our skills and attain our goals, and we're all genuinely thankful for the time he puts in to the academy."

 JA: If you'd like to book Iestyn then you can find him on Facebook or on Twitter (@Iestyn_Rees)

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