My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 11

Sunday 16th June 2013 - NBWA - 'Home is where the Hart is'

I need to get something off my chest. So unfortunately this post isn't going to be a show review in terms of the matches and what went down. That's not to say that nobody put in a good performance - there were several good matches and positives to take from this show wrestling-wise. My problem, which has been a problem for me since the first show, is with the logistics of the show.

I need to make two things very clear before I get into this -

1. I am not a promoter and I have never put on a wrestling show; 
2. I very much want there to be a local wrestling show in Oxfordshire, the area that I live. 

My problem is that I don't think this is going to be the case if glaringly obvious things do not change. And this saddens me.

After the first couple of shows that the NBWA put on I addressed a few issues that bothered me and it appeared that small teething problems were addressed, creatively. In my opinion, this continues to improve in some parts of the show - there is some storyline progression. Well done on that aspect.

My continued issue since the first show revolves around the quantity of wrestlers being used and in some part the confusing nature of several types of match being used on the card. Maybe the reason for this is to accommodate all the talent that is booked each show.

The last few NBWA shows that I have attended have had, on average, 8 matches, 25 wrestlers and 2 managers. This is a huge amount of people working on one show! As a result of so many matches (along with promos etc) the show's duration goes from 6.30pm until around 10pm. This is a very long show. There is a lot to take on board in that time - I sometimes feel that the first couple of matches have been forgotten about by the time the main event happens - and that's a shame to them guys in them first matches as they put in effort to entertain and it could be for nothing due to the length of the night and people's attention span.

Another issue here is that this is not ideal on a Sunday night. Kids have school on a Monday morning and I can't imagine it's great for their bedtimes. I have work on a Monday morning and it can be a chore for me to get through a show of this length with all the many things and matches going on!

I've put together some stats from other shows that I've attended, as well as stats from WWE PPVs to show how simple things should and could be:

• Pro EVW: Each show, on average, have 5 matches and use 12 wrestlers

• James Mason/GSW/Welsh Wrestling: On average have 5 matches and use 9 wrestlers

• NBWA: On average have 8 matches and uses 25 wrestlers and 2 managers

• WWE in 2013 (not counting Royal Rumble): On average have 8 matches and use 20 wrestlers and 4 managers

I think these stats speak for themselves; the other shows (above) seem to have a formula; a formula that works and makes money - otherwise why do this? As much as I despise talking about this aspect of wrestling, I understand that the whole point and the main reason for putting on a wrestling show is to make money. If you're not making money then you're are simply doing it wrong. From the stats above, you can see that the NBWA are having the same amount of matches and using more workers than the WWE use (yes, this is an extreme comparison, but you get the idea).

The WWE are able to use so many wrestlers as they don't just draw a few hundred fans; they draw thousands, every show, all throughout the week. They also have several incomes and are a global force - they can afford to do this on the biggest scale. They can cover the costs of their workers and amount of matches that they put on. They also have a cast of wrestlers that the audience are familiar with - they don't need to introduce them every show as a local show might have to to a new audience.

Local shows haven't got the luxury of deep, deep pockets. This is why the majority of shows that I've been to have the above format (5 matches, 9-12 workers per show) - it's simple, it works, it entertains and makes money.

I hate to be hard on local shows but this has annoyed and baffled me for some time now. It's funny how it's our gain as fans to see so many talented guys on a show, as well as International stars (Harry Smith and Doug Williams on the last show), but it could be our loss in the long term if the cost of all this talent brings about the downfall of our cherished local promotions.

Results

• NBWA Contract match: The Big Grizzly defeated Kenny Williams
• 'Showcase' Stu Oddyseey & Frankie Fellasarno defeated The McCoy Family; Kristoff Walton & Scotty Riot w/ Mr McCoy
• Handicap match: 'Shining' Johnny Searle defeated The Heavy Metal Cowboys w/ Marcus Thorne
• Mask vs Mask match: Sancho Cortez defeated Kirk Langley
• Loco Mike Mason w/ Rebecca defeated Mad Man Manson and Sam Wilder
• Doug Williams & T Bone defeated Pro EVW Tag Team Champions The Magnums; 'The Filth' Chris Walker & 'Dirty' Dick Riley
• Alpha Female & Nikki Storm defeated Kay Lee Ray & Pollyanna
• Davey Boy Smith Jr defeated Andy Wild
• NBWA Championship: 2 out of 3 falls: El Ligero defeated 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler (c) in sudden death to become new champion.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

In Depth: WWE's Future Stars - revisited

Back in November of last year, I wrote an article about where the future stars of the WWE were going to come from - examining the last ten years worth of attempts. My conclusion was that I was worried as to where the next crop of stars were going to come from.

What a difference six months make!

2013 has seen the emergence of some young talent that has really added, and improved, to the current roster of the WWE. Dolph Ziggler has finally cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and it's now his time to shine. Ryback has grown and emerged as a genuine threat to John Cena's WWE Championship. And most recently, Daniel Bryan has sparked a new phase of popularity with his 'weak link' talk; showing great intensity and gaining huge reactions from live audiences as well as the IWC.

Along with these three, there are also a line of young up-and-comers who are making great strides and turning heads. Here are my '10 to watch' (individuals/teams/factions) in the coming months:

1. Curtis Axel (age: 33)

After a failed and potentially career suicide name 'Michael McGillicutty', the real-life Joe Hennig has now been repackaged as the newest 'Paul Heyman Guy' - Curtis Axel; taking his father's first name and a variation of his grandfather's nickname for his last name, Axel has now got a name and an association (in Heyman) that should take him places. Added to this, he has been thrown in at the deep end - facing John Cena and Triple H in his first few matches in his new persona.

Clearly there is a lot of faith in Axel this time around, and it'll be interesting to see where/how far this new path can lead him. He competes for the Intercontinental Championship at Payback on Sunday.

2. Antonio Cesaro (32)

Antonio Cesaro has been on the main roster for nearly a year now. He made an instant impact by defeating Santino Marella and capturing the United States Championship on the pre-show of Summerslam 2012. Subsequently, he went onto have a very successful and dominant reign before losing the title to Kofi Kingston a few weeks ago. This filled me with wonder as to how he would then be used.

Antonio Cesaro

I saw some positives in Cesaro's run of matches after his title loss. Despite losing the majority of these encounters (to the likes of Orton and Del Rio), Cesaro still looked very strong, getting in an above-average amount of offence against these bona fide main eventers. This leads me to think that he is simply waiting his turn to challenge for one of the World titles. Whether this is the current plan or not, Cesaro will be a World Champion in the not-too-distant future. It appears that Zeb Colter might be showing an interest in him after Raw this week...

3. The Usos (both 27)

When it comes to tag team wrestling, I'm a fan of traditional tag teams. This is why I'm not a fan of Team Hell No or Rhodes Scholars; I'm not big on two singles wrestlers being thrown together because there's nothing else for them to do. Due to this, I have a great appreciation for the Usos. Like many of the current crop of WWE superstars, they have the heritage - being the sons of Rikishi. They also have a unique look and a great entrance - modern, and also paying homage to their Samoan roots.

The 'powers that be' in WWE seem to blow hot and cold with regards to the tag team division in the last few months, with Kane/Daniel Bryan being the stand out performers allowed to shine. With the newly crowned Reigns/Rollins as Tag Team Champions, though, new contenders must be found. Realistic contenders at that.

This seems to be where the Usos fit in. The last few weeks have seen a slight change in appearance - with the introduction of face paint - to go with a strong, winning run in their matches. The tag team division should start to look bright from now on and a new charge could be led by the Usos.

4. The Shield (Ambrose 27, Rollins 27, Reigns 28)

Possibly the best build of any debuting faction in the history of the WWE is that of The Shield. Back at the Survivor Series (2012), the 'Hounds of Justice' - Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns - interfered in the WWE Championship match between CM Punk, John Cena and Ryback, powerbombing the latter through the announce table to allow Punk to retain his championship. Since then they have been on a path of destruction, fighting what they deem as 'injustices' and defeating every three-man-team that have stood in their way.

Nobody has gotten away. Not even the legendary and superhuman have been able to resist this threesome. John Cena, The Rock and The Undertaker are probably the three biggest names that have felt The Shield's wrath.

To freshen thing up, and to further their story, all three members of The Shield won gold at Extreme Rules; Ambrose winning the United States title and Reigns/Rollins capturing the Tag Team titles. These title wins have shown that they can work well individually as well as a complete unit. I think that there's still a lot of mileage in them as a team, but when they do eventually go their separate ways I feel that there will be even greater storytelling and matches for us all to enjoy.

5. Fandango (31)

Fandango danced onto the scene at the start of March on the lead-up to Wrestlemania 29. In a few short weeks, he went from correcting people who couldn't say his name perfectly to having his debut match against the ever-giving Chris Jericho. To top it off, he gained his first feather in the cap with a win over Y2J in their match at Wrestlemania.

The night after Wrestlemania saw a partisan crowd confirm that Fandango is well-and-truly 'over'. It has been all uphill since; competing in another decent outing with Jericho at Extreme Rules and now in the Intercontinental title picture (although a recent concussion could put a halt on that for the time being). Don't be put off by the current gimmick, though. Look past this Fandango character as somewhere down the line we will see the true Johnny Curtis - and he'll be a star with a normal name, too.

6. Bray Wyatt (26)

Wyatt - and his family - will soon be lighting up our Monday (and Friday) nights. This debut could be on par with that of fellow NXTers, The Shield. The emergence of Wyatt and his disciples has been highly anticipated for a while now and this is a great opportunity for the second generation Rotunda.

Bray Wyatt

After a failed attempt on the main roster in 2011 (as New Nexus' Husky Harris), the elder brother of Bo Dallas went back to developmental and has now struck gold with the Bray Wyatt character - described as Max Cady (Cape Fear) leading The Devil's Rejects. A perfect description of how freaky, hypnotising and unpredictable these three may be presented to us. They're coming.

7. Big E Langston (27)

With the emerging news that Langston lost the NXT Championship to Bo Dallas recently, are we now going to get the big man exclusively on the main roster? I hope so as he has definitely earned his stripes in the last few months as Dolph Ziggler's 'heavy'.

When Ziggler suffered his concussion we finally got to see Langston's potential come to life - having several matches with number one contender Alberto Del Rio - looking very strong and even winning a couple. These are huge results so early on for Langston and could also add fuel to any potential program that might happen with Ziggler.

It also appears that Langston has a great personality going forward, too - showing confidence and wit on the mic and in hilarious responses/tweets on Twitter.

8. AJ (26)

Despite Kaitlyn being the current Diva's Champion, the stand out diva in the last year has been AJ by a mile. Lately, she has taken a back seat to Ziggler and Langston in more of a valet's role. This seems to be changing in the last week as she was revealed as the mastermind behind Kaitlyn's secret admirer - this being for the purpose of building to their title match at Payback.

Prior to all of this, she was the young, innocent girlfriend of Daniel Bryan who accompanied him to ringside before cracking and becoming the crazy chick who took a shine to CM Punk, Kane, John Cena and now, Dolph Ziggler. Also, during this time she has shown her talents in the ring and on the mic. All these 'layers' that AJ has shown add positives to the future of the Diva's division.

9. Cody Rhodes (27) / Damien Sandow (31)

I'll focus on these two as a pair. Both seem to be talented and ready for the big-time, but both are stuck in a rut right now.

Cody is a former Tag Team Champion, a credible former Intercontinental Champion and a former associate of Randy Orton in Legacy, but still he remains firmly rooted to the mid-card, jobbing to the likes of Sheamus whenever he needs another win from somewhere. Surely there should be a better use for the young Rhodes?

Damien Sandow has quickly emerged as a great talker in the last year. Very much talking the talk with regards to his 'Intellectual Saviour of the Masses' gimmick. But similar to Rhodes, he constantly loses to top talent with no obvious direction in sight. This has changed in the last few weeks with some good TV time on Smackdown where he conducts intellectual challenges; Sheamus accepting these invitations. The first couple of weeks saw Sheamus get the better of Sandow, but recently Sandow got his revenge; putting the boots in on Sheamus. This has resulted in a match between the two on the pre-show of the Payback pay-per-view - with the result being fairly predictable, I feel.

Damien Sandow & Cody Rhodes

Although both Rhodes and Sandow are stumbling along as singles wrestlers, they almost found success as a team - Rhodes Scholars - at the turn of the year, feuding with the then Tag Team Champions Kane/Daniel Bryan in several losing efforts. I still feel that this was a missed opportunity in not putting the tag team titles on two of the most talented individuals on the roster today.

10. NXT

The Breeding ground for pretty much all of the talent on this list was NXT. And if you think these names are the only ones that will flourish from NXT then you need to start watching this fantastic 'developmental' show that WWE has.

Waiting in the wings to make their main WWE roster debuts are the likes of Leo Kruger, Corey Graves, Adrian Neville and the outstanding Kassius Ohno (formerly Chris Hero). Along with these gentlemen, a young English lady by the name of Paige will also be waiting to make a much anticipated showing on WWE's flagship show. That could spark new interest in the ladies division.

I started watching NXT regularly from around February and I find that it's really interesting to see where the 'future' is coming from.

Summary

Unlike my article in November 2012, I am now a lot more optimistic about the future main eventers. All in this article (with the exception of the Usos... at the moment) I can see becoming World Champions. They all have youth on their side coupled with an enormous amount of talent.

I'm very glad that this crop of talent has arrived in the last six months, and if things continue to improve then I'll be happy to say that I overreacted back in November.

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: MC Hank McCoy

Unsung Heroes - The Ring Announcer/MC

When it comes to putting a wrestling show together I can imagine that it's not as easy as it looks compared to how good it actually looks, and how flowing and entertaining it may feel to the audience. I think there are many factors that make up, and add to, a good wrestling show.

I've been lucky enough at times to see behind-the-scenes of some wrestling shows and see how much time and effort goes into them. A big reason why I have been so privileged is because of a good friend of mine – Hank McCoy – who has announced for several promotions since starting out in 2010.

Hank McCoy announcing for AWW

Since his debut, Hank has gained in confidence and experience to become one of the most underrated talents contributing to British Wrestling. It is my intention in this interview to highlight a Ring Announcer's worth to a wrestling promotion, as well as Hank's very valid thoughts on the subject.

I caught up with him recently to go over his role as an MC/Ring Announcer and why he feels it's an important, but sometimes overlooked, part of the show.

Jimmo's Angle: Hi Hank, how long have you been Ring Announcing for? Which promotions have you worked for?

Hank: I've been regularly announcing for about 3 years, working mostly the South and Midlands areas of the England. Companies I've worked for include FWA, Pro EVW, AWW, DWA, and BAWA. I'm really enjoying being an announcer and hope to continue for a long while yet. Obviously I'd love to have a go at being an announcer for WWE or TNA, but in the UK I'd like to work some shows for PCW, Progress and 4FW. I'm also a decent heel manager, working James Mason's GSW and NBWA.

JA: How did you get into the role?
Hank: It's not that well known but my original plan was to be a wrestler, so like everyone I started my career in wrestling as a trainee with a local promotion. I can't really remember how the announcer gig came up - it was more a case of needing to fill in as an emergency but ended up staying. The intention was to still wrestle one day but it turned out that I was really good as an announcer. I enjoyed the wrestling training and continued to train with the boys for about two years until the promotion closed. I guess I was hard to replace and more use to the company as an announcer. I didn't really fancy starting again as a trainee elsewhere and already had established myself in the area as an announcer, so it continued as-is.

JA: What relevant training and experience did you go through before taking up Ring Announcing?
Hank: Before getting involved with pro wrestling I was a radio presenter for a few years. It's where I developed mic and presenting skills. It's also the reason how I know my way around the PA kit. When I started I was mentored by the promotion's existing announcer, Dragongate:UK's Larry La Rue. In addition to this I've taken acting classes to help with presenting skills.

JA: How important do you feel the role of Ring Announcer is?
Hank: Having a good announcer is very important. Unfortunately it's one of the things that a lot of promotions tend to overlook or put little effort into finding, but can make a huge difference to the show and the company running it. From experience I've found that quite often it's the first name to be dropped from the card if pre-sales are down, often being replaced by whoever is willing and able to do it for free. This actually does more harm than good.

JA: Why?
Hank: There's lots of reasons. Don't get me wrong, rarely do fans go home after a show and say to the people they're with "that was a really great announcer." But they will definitely say things like "that announcer really screwed up/looked a mess/sounded awful/talked too much." An announcer is the face and an official of the promotion they are working for. They need to look, sound and act as such. They are an extension and a public representative of the brand. If they screw up or look awful, it is a reflection upon the company that hired them, and actually can do more damage than hiring a really terrible wrestler. At least a bad wrestler can take a beating, finish the match and get out - after all, it's supposed to look like a fight. An announcer that can't hold an audience, is visibly nervous, or even gets the names wrong has nowhere to hide and worse still, will be back on again in 10 minutes for the next match. As a promoter, it makes sense then to spend a few minutes considering your options and booking a decent front of house team. (Good referees and effective managers are also generally under-appreciated).

JA: In your opinion, what factors make a good Ring Announcer?
Hank: A good ring announcer at very least should look and sound the part. They need to have a good commanding voice, but with a friendly demeanour, and be dressed accordingly. Shoes, shirt and jacket are minimum. Personally, I really dislike the "loose tie, unbuttoned collar" overly casual look.

Announcing isn't just reading out names. There's much much more to it. In this day and age of shiny floor shows such as X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent, audiences expect "hosts" and not just MCs. Really good ring announcers build on basic expectations by being charismatic performers and know exactly how to work the crowd, interact with them and build an energy. Everyone knows that shows are better with a hot audience so knowing how to warm them up and being able to force them through their inhibitions is vital. They can also bring back an audience's attention if a match happened to be a disaster. I've found being able to bump, sell and being expressive is really handy too. Being able to think on your feet and react to situations is vital, especially if you're wearing an ear-piece and things change. I was taught that you had to be like a swan - on the surface things look great and glide along nicely, but hidden under the surface you have to be paddling like crazy to stay afloat. This is so true!

The best announcers go even further still and taking advantage of the relationships they've built with the audience, use this influence to convince them to buy merchandise and come back to future shows. I always work the house during the intervals, constantly pushing backstage passes, in-ring photos and anything else that would help draw income into the company. Put simply, the best announcers not only pay for themselves, but bring in profit. This is why dropping a good announcer from a card when your pre-sales are down can help makes things worse - we could help claw back a profit either pushing merch sales, or using some effective crowd psychology, send people home on a high so they return with friends.

JA: Finally, have you taken anything from the likes of The Fink, Justin Roberts, Michael Buffer or other Ring Announcers?
Hank: The Fink is the best announcer ever in my opinion. You look up 'Ring Announcer' and you will see a picture of him. He looks and sounds the part. He's charismatic, likeable and really over with the audiences. He's one of the reasons why I wear a tux in the ring. Unlike Buffer, he's not just about the vocal skills - he got actively involved with the show, playing the character of a much-loved but pudgy, balding, dweeby guy; a perfect target for heels and a great heat opportunity. How many other announcers do you know that can be identified by nickname alone? Exactly.

JA: Thank you for your time today, Hank!

If you would like more information on Hank then please visit his Superkick Media page

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: Referee Marc 'Paz' Parry

Unsung Heroes - The Wrestling Referee

When you think of referees in Pro Wrestling you probably just remember that they were the guy in the black and white stripes or the shirt and bow tie. Maybe you know a few of the most famous, such as Earl Hebner, Mike Chioda or Nick Patrick. Not many people realise that the referee can have great bearing on a contest and add to a so called 'great' match.

Referee Marc 'Paz' Parry

One such fellow is a friend of mine, Marc 'Paz' Parry. Paz has been refereeing Pro Wrestling matches for 6 years now, starting out in 2007, and has grown in knowledge, confidence and experience in that time. Whilst being a fan, Paz still 'marks out' at watching some of the biggest names in Pro Wrestling but whilst in the ring, Paz is always professional regardless of who he is refereeing.

I caught up with him recently to discuss why he does what he does and also why the wrestling referee is the quiet, overlooked, unsung hero of a wrestling match.

Jimmo's Angle: Hi Paz, thanks for giving me some of your time. Let's start at the beginning; What/who inspired you to start refereeing?
Paz: I accidentally fell into the ref role. The company I was training with (BAWA) had lost its ref so I stepped in temporarily to fill the gap until a replacement was found....that was 6 years ago! But I wouldn't change a thing if I had the chance!

JA: In your six-year career who have you had the privilege of refereeing?
Paz: In terms of international talent I've reffed: Colt Cabana, Jimmy Jacobs, Dragon Phoenix, Ricochet, Brian Kendrick, Emi Sakura and Shanna. In terms of UK talents, I've been in the ring with the majority of the UK's top guys; Mark Haskins, El Ligero, Wade Fitzgerald, Kid Fite, Dominator, Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, Noam Dar, Dave Mastiff, Chris Andrews, Skarlett, Charlie Rage, Stixx, Nathan Cruz, Stu Odyssey, Team H8, The Hunter Brothers, The London Riots, UK Dominator and many more.... I should be reffing Kid Kash in May and Doug Williams and/or Jay Lethal in May as well; fingers crossed!

JA: What has been your favourite match to referee? why?
Paz: Favourite match.... I have a few I guess; Skarlett vs Sweet Saraya (EWW): Going into this match I wasn't a big fan of women's wrestling but knowing Skarlett as long as I have I knew this wouldn't disappoint and I was right! Both Skarlett and Saraya are excellent technicians and storytellers!
Shanna vs Emi Sakura (AWW): Any UK fan will have heard of THIS match, and I had the pleasure of reffing it! This match had it all, stiff shots, near falls and the crowd in the palm of their hands, plus after this match my reffing was praised through the roof by Dann Read (Pro-Wrestling:EVE promoter!) who is a guy I have the utmost respect for!
El Ligero vs Ricochet (PROGRESS): Ligero has been my favourite UK guy since I was a fan before I entered this business. To share a ring with him for a company like PROGRESS was a MASSIVE honour, and seeing as Dragon Gate is my favourite company and Ricochet represents DG:USA, this made this match extra special. Both guys gave 150% and all three of us had fun in the ring and even shared a joke or two during the match!

JA: Possibly the most important question I wanted to ask you; What do you feel is the importance of referees in Pro Wrestling?
Paz: To quote the Iron Shiek - "A good match needs three things; a good face, a bastard heel and a good referee". The referee isn't just there to count to three, five or ten like people think; a referee is much more important. A referee needs good body language and good expressions; the referee needs to sell the situations as well as the wrestlers do; if a wrestler hits a big move and the ref just stands in a corner looking into space it makes the move look dire! A good referee will also show concern for the 'injured' face when he's 'hurt' and cower away from a threatening heel when needed. The referee is the authority and needs to show it without overshadowing the match... In my opinion it takes years of practice to get all this down.

JA: I couldn't agree more, Paz! Finally, what has been the funniest moment you have had whilst refereeing?
Paz: I'd have to say Eddie Dennis ripping my trousers in the finish of a Tag Team Championship main event for PRO EVW. It was Dennis and Wild Boar vs The Hunter Brothers, and for the finish Eddie pulled me out of the ring when I went for the three-count; as he did he ripped the crotch of my trousers, it was about a nine-inch rip! Hilarious after the match, slightly embarrassing during!

Paz would also like to take this opportunity to thank a few people:
Paz: Thanks to the promoters who continue to book me. Thanks to the guys who have to share cars with me on the way to shows. Thank you to my Supervisor Anna and Manager Alex at Fresh Direct, who approve all my holiday requests so I can indulge in this sport I love so much! And a big thank you to my better half, Mary, who puts up with me being away most weekends!

JA: Great stuff! Thank you very much for taking time out to talk to Jimmo's Angle! I really hope that we've opened people's eyes about the wrestling referee and they now realise the referee is an extremely important factor in mapping out a match.

Marc 'Paz' Parry has refereed for several UK promotions: AWW, BAWA, CSF, EWW, NBWA, NLW, Pro EVW, PROGRESS and Welsh Wrestling.
For more information on Paz, please visit his Superkick Media page.

Support British Wrestling!

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 10

Wrestling - Didcot Town Football Club - Thursday 30th May 2013

Ok, so I realise that Thursday isn't the weekend, but it goes along with the theme of my previous posts?!

THURSDAY saw me go along to another local wrestling show organised by James Mason (in association with Alan Ravenhill and Welsh Wrestling). This one was at Didcot Town FC - low ceiling et all!

If you've read any of my other posts on my attendance of other wrestling shows, then you'll know that I'm not a huge fan of low ceilings - it just limits you to what you can do. On this occasion, it didn't seem to hurt anything on this show - none of the wrestlers on the show were particularly high-flying so you wouldn't expect them to climb the turnbuckles for any reason.

Flatliner

The only exceptions to this was a suplex where the suplexee's foot brushed one of the ceiling tiles, and in the main event when Flatliner, probably the tallest (and most colourful) wrestler of the night, climbed the corner and almost stood completely upright on the top turnbuckle - putting his head and upper-body through one of the ceiling tiles!

This added to the comedy of a really entertaining main event between the crazy Flatliner and the mysterious Japanese warrior Tagori. This match was a great comedy match to send everyone home happy. At one stage it was pointed out to me that I was grinning from ear to ear at the match - that's the beauty of these shows - they bring out the inner kid in me! The silliness and pantomime of it all makes me smile and chuckle uncontrollably!

There were a lot of positives to this show. On previous outings there were a lot of the same faces and at times, same matches. This show was different, though, as there were a lot of fresher faces on offer - Mr USA Paul Ryker, 'Charismatic' Chris Walker and Kristoff Walton, just to name a few.

A big positive with regards to Kristoff Walton was the contribution (to the show) that he and his manager, Mr McCoy, provided. I've seen both of them several times now and they work very well together; Walton, the muscles of the pair - physical and aggressive, and McCoy, the brains and competent mouthpiece. McCoy is great at gaining heat for his client, as his client dishes out the punishment - gaining even more hatred from the audience. On this occasion the crowd seemed to have more contempt for the pair. I think it helps a hell of a lot more when the audience is 'into' the show - as the Didcot faithful were. I think another invaluable factor in this working is a popular face - something that James Mason is excellent at portraying.

I don't feel that the Mason vs Walton match was the best match of the night, but the cheers that Mason worked from the crowd coupled with Walton/McCoy's work in getting the audience's hatred was a great example of simple Good vs Evil. Thank you and well done to all three!

Lord Jonathan Windsor

A special mention for Lord Jonathan Windsor, who's gimmick I really enjoyed. I don't recall seeing too many British/Royal characters out there. It kind of reminded me of George (Prince Regent) from Blackadder 3?!

Results

• Lord Jonathan Windsor defeated Andy Boy Simmons
• Mr USA Paul Ryker (USA) defeated 'Charismatic' Chris Walker (England)
• James Mason defeated 'The Casual One' Kristoff Walton (w/ Mr McCoy)
• Andy Boy Simmons & AD Wright defeated Lord Jonathan Windsor & Saint Lucian
• Flatliner defeated Tagori

A really good show put on by everyone, with a special thanks to whoever was in charge of the music...

James Mason

If you would like to catch a local (Oxfordshire) show then James Mason and company will be at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Oxford on Sunday 23rd June.

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Interview: The Magnums

Tag team wrestling is an important alternative to a wrestling card simply full of singles and title matches. In some ways, there is more to watch, more to focus on and, maybe even, more excitement.

When you look through the history of tag team wrestling you come across legendary, hall-of-fame worthy names such as The Road Warriors, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, and The Briscos – just to name a few. One thing that all of these teams have in common is that they could never dream of reaching the level of 'sleaziness' as British wrestling's brightest and funniest tag teams – The Magnums.

The Magnums comprise of 'The Filth' Chris Walker and 'Dirty' Dick Riley.

I requested an interview with these... gentlemen. I use that term loosely as the interview was agreed to but on their terms; meeting at a seedy, dirty strip club – South of the Gutters of Soho. I arrived at this location and was greeted by a barrage of old, sagging, battered, worn-out, forty-something strippers eventually finding The Magnums VIP booth...

Jimmo's Angle: Hi guys, nice choice of venue... let's get down to business then – the quicker we're done, the quicker I can get out of here! Where were you previously before 'coming together' as a tag team?
Riley: I previously made a name for myself through the DWA (Devon Wrestling Association), and was trained by the now WWE/NXT Superstar Oliver Grey (Joel Redman) and 15-year-veteran UK Dominator. Most people know of me through my series of matches with him... Or through my breakthrough in the FWA (Frontier Wrestling Association) promotion. I also featured heavily in the Agenda/Resistance feud. I am a former DWA Devon Trophy winner and a current Pro EVW Tag Team Champion with my partner 'The Filth' Chris Walker.

Walker: I started out in 2006, spending time training with FWA in Portsmouth, 4FW in Swindon and BAWA in Banbury, Oxfordshire. My first professional match was in 2008. I have worked for numerous companies across the country and wrestled many high profile names, including current WWE Star Daniel Bryan, NXT's Oliver Grey and ROH's Jimmy Jacobs. I also took 2009 off to recover from a broken neck to return better than ever. I am a two-time Pro EVW Tag Team Champion, three-time BAWA Champion, two-time BAWA DVD Champion. I also had the 2010 BAWA Match of the Year vs Joel Redman.

JA: Impressive credentials there! What brought you together?
Riley: We met on the set of the porno 'Die Hard-On'. Actually, after shooting the movie we packed four Polish hookers with nine-pints of Man Relish... whilst snorting coke off of their breasts. The next morning we'd been hit by a revelation to start The Magnums. We then realised that we share a love for powdered substances, porn, hookers, getting laid... and most importantly wrestling.

Walker: We also did MOvember last year – individually - and complimented each other on our awesome 'taches once we met. We were then given the opportunity (with Pro EVW) to compete as a tag team, so I thought that we may as well play on the mustaches, and give a nod to the King of Sleaze – Magnum P.I, by naming ourselves 'The Magnums'. At their next show we won the Pro EVW Tag belts.

JA: Lovely images there, Dick... What are your aims, goals and ambitions?

Riley: One of main aims is to work in Europe; Amsterdam and Germany. It was always one of our main aims when we started as a tag team to wrestle in some of the sleaziest locations there is! We also want to work for the top promotions of the UK. We have worked either singles or as a tag for 7 promotions in around six months as a team!

Walker: Obviously, we want to work with all the top tag teams in the country for the top promotions. As for tag teams; we know we would have an outstanding match whether it be with The Bhangra Knights, London Riots, The Hunter Brothers, Project Ego, The Predators or The LDRS. To be honest, we could have a decent match with any tag team in the country, bro.

JA: Why should people take notice of The Magnums?

Riley: People should take notice. 'cause we are not your every day tag team... We will be the guys you won't forget on the show - the guys that stand out. Not only can we perform good wrestling matches, but we have charisma, charm, and interact with the crowd – especially the ladies - from start to finish - which a lot of tag teams lack and don't do.

JA: Speaking of 'ladies', what type of women are you into?

Walker: What type of woman? We like them busty and filthy! 18-81 years old! We don't care... as long as they can hang with the wang!!

JA: I see. What's a typical day in the life of a Magnum?
Walker: A day in the life of a Magnum?? Well, just watch SleazeTV and you'll see for yourself, BRO!!

JA: I'll be sure to check that out! Finally, have you got a message for the UK wrestling scene?

Walker: We want to make sure that all the promotions and tag teams in the country are aware that THE MAGNUMS are here and we are going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come!

Riley: Wrestling Promotions... Women... with testicles... We coming for you SUCKAS!

 

Pro EVW - Magnums vs Lion Hearts (Feb 2013)

I'd like to thank The Magnums for their time during the interview. If you'd like to know more about them then visit their Superkick Media page. If you'd like to continue your 'sleazy tour' of them then check out SleazeTV on YouTube:

• Episode 1 - SleazeTV
• Episode 2 - SleazeTV

Note: It should also be noted that The Magnums became the first ever Pride Tag Team Champions over the weekend (Exeter). Congratulations!!

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Jimmo's Angle Special: Thank you Paul...

I've been attempting, trying to improve, persevering and enjoying this writing/blogging experience for over six months now and I owe a big 'thank you' to one of my best friends Paul Green.

Paul has been my friend since we were about 14 (we're both as good as 30 now!) and I class him as my most intelligent friend! He's always been interested in computers and came through university with a degree in the subject. Since then he has taken these skills and added his passion for Photography to create Superkick Media.

This is Paul's venture into continually bettering himself. Over the last few years, Paul has taken his hobby of Photography and improved his skills, learning masses along the way to become a unique photographer. He is always willing to learn more and listen to established people in his chosen field to improve further.

It should be noted that Paul is my favourite photographer!

Paul has also tried his hand at Radio Production and Broadcasting. The presenting aspect of this, coupled with Paul's natural enthusiasm have also contributed to him becoming an excellent and competent Ring Announcer in wrestling promotions in the South of England. Added to this, he has also attempted to be a villainous wrestling manager - doing anything it takes to win and gaining as much 'heat' and hatred from the audience for his client that he can generate.

Paul in the middle of Mr McCoy (left) and MC Hank McCoy (right)

I have so much respect for Paul for trying this varied list of activities - and succeeding in all of them. It has, and continues to, inspire me to better myself. As well as discovering a new drive in me in the last couple of years, I have looked up to Paul and his determined approach to the things that he does and felt I'd like to give my interests a good attempt, too - mainly writing.

This post's intention is to highlight my friend's positives and to say a big thank you to him for supporting me in my attempts to improve myself. Recently, I have been disappointed with the lack of support my friends have shown me regarding my writing, but Paul is amongst a small group who do believe in me and what I'm hoping to achieve.

This support, along with the determination and dedication I see from Paul is a great inspiration to me in achieving my ambitions.

Cheap Plugs!

You should check out Superkick.co.uk (see link further up the page and on my 'Friends of Jimmo's Angle page', too) and look out for Paul's studio days - Photography - where he offers hourly slots for you to get quality photographs at outstanding value.

You can also see Paul as his alter-ego Hank McCoy on the British Wrestling circuit - mainly working for Pro EVW (Gloucestershire-based) and NBWA (North Oxfordshire). Link - Superkick Media: Hank McCoy

Support British Wrestling
Support your friends

@jimmosangle

Curtis Axel: Perfect for the Future?

On Monday Night Raw, we saw the return of Joe Hennig to WWE's flagship show. Repackaged as the newest 'Paul Heyman Guy' and renamed as 'Curtis Axel', this appears to be the start of a promising push for the son of the legendary Mr Perfect; Curt Hennig.

I've always liked Hennig Jr since his time with the New Nexus through to his time in NXT; having stand out matches with Tyson Kidd in particular. New Nexus never really did well or got the billing in the same way as the original Nexus and, ultimately, felt like just a stepping stone for CM Punk to finally solidify a main event spot. Hennig, then known as Michael McGillicutty, was one of the only positives of that incarnation of the group, winning the Tag Team Championship with fellow member David Otunga.

Tag Team Champions with David Otunga (New Nexus)

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that it has always been acknowledged that Hennig was the son of a WWE legend. One of the biggest problems for me has always been the name he was given in that period - Michael McGillicutty - as a reason for him not getting far. I know talent and ability should get you noticed and 'over', but I can't help but feel that a good ring-name is sometimes very important. The Ringmaster was an awful name, but when changed to Stone Cold Steve Austin, we all know how huge and successful that guy became!

I'd love it if Hennig could use his given name as it would help him more than hinder, as well as give credit to his bloodline. It's worked for Randy Orton and to a lesser extent (at the moment) for Cody Rhodes. I suppose that at least WWE have made an effort and continued to acknowledge Hennig's heritage by naming him Curtis Axel - using his father's first name and slightly adjusting his grandfather's nickname. I realise that WWE wouldn't own the name 'Joe Hennig' so it's not in their interest to allow him to use the name. We, as fans, know who he is though and that's the most important thing.

Association with Heyman could be invaluable

Another important aspect going forward is who Hennig is associated with. Being the newest 'Paul Heyman Guy' should be nothing but a good thing. On Raw, you could hear Heyman very clearly shouting encouragement and advice to him throughout the match with Triple H. Of note was when Heyman screamed "They didn't know Brock Lesnar's name; they didn't know CM Punk's name; they're gonna know the name of Curtis Axel!" Although this statement is very true, it also adds a huge weight onto the young shoulders of the newly christened Axel. Can he handle this? Clearly, many in the WWE believe so.

I've read a lot of people criticising the end of Raw as being more about Triple H's condition than Curtis Axel getting the spotlight. I'd rather look at the positives; Axel became associated with Paul Heyman AND had a match with Triple H - two huge pluses - on his return to main-WWE television. Along with this criticism, there were also calls for him to have put a beating on the fallen Triple H. I think that would have been too much, too soon for Axel who I don't think will be thrown into main event feuds just yet. A mid-card run is a more realistic path right now. Maybe a simple pinfall win over Triple H - in his concussed condition - would have been a better finish for all concerned?

The great Curt Hennig

I really hope that this is going to be the start of something special for Hennig as he, along with a lot of NXT talent, deserve spots on the top WWE shows. As well as having a great wrestling family tree, Hennig has the talent to go far. I'm excited to see where this goes in the next few weeks - with Heyman on the mic and by his side, he can only improve and gain valuable experience on the way to the top.

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 9

Sunday 19th May 2013 - NBWA - Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire

I went to my first wrestling show in a few weeks as I attended the fourth NBWA show - Passion 4 Glory. This had also been my first show at the Spiceball Leisure Centre, which to me seemed like a much better venue than the first two shows that NBWA had put on. For starters, the ceiling was not going to be an issue!

The headline act on this show was the appearance of Kid Kash - former WWE, TNA and ECW star. I only really remember him from his time as a tag team with Jamie Noble from WWE but appreciated that he has been around for a long time - and it showed in his match with NBWA Champion Kay Jutler; a great showing of how experienced and polished he is as a wrestler. These two put on the match of the night (for me). The end of the match saw a DQ finish, with Kash hitting Jutler with a chair, giving the win to the Champion. The aftermath was very nice to see, too. Although Kash had played heel throughout the night, this was the time when he would endorse the younger Jutler in a great show of respect.

Demanding Jutler to 'get up, boy', Kash then looked him in the eye and told him that he had given him a great match and that one day, with improvement, he could be a top wrestler. Triple H and The Rock should take note; this is the type of moment that encourages the future to progress and grow. In turn, Jutler thanked Kash for giving him his greatest career highlight to date.

Another match that caught my eye, and came a close second to Kash vs Jutler, was the triple threat number one contendership to the NBWA Championship match. This match pitted three very good and accomplished guys in Stixx, Iestyn Rees and Mexican sensation, El Ligero. Rees would stay on the outside for a good chunk of the match, refusing to join in with crowd-pleasing two faces in the ring. This allowed Stixx and El Ligero to put on a smooth and pleasing match before Ligero gained the pin and claimed number one contendership to Kay Jutler's title.

Before these two main event encounters, my favourite match to that point had been 'The Filth' Chris Walker against Harvey Dale-managed T-Bone. I was expecting good things here as I think both guys are entertaining and more than capable of putting on an enjoyable match. From the start, it looks as though T-Bone would simply squash the sleazy, cowardly Walker. This was not the case though as Walker held his own before delivering a severe blow to T-Bone's future ambitions of having children and gained the surprise win. I really liked this match because, as I said, I felt T-Bone should have dominated and won convincingly. It was a nice surprise that Walker sleazed his way to victory, though. I also thank him for giving me a handful of sweat on his way out!

Other good performances were put in from Kristoff Walton, Stu Oddysey and Richtor, with the token comedy showing from Sancho Cortez - in a nice opener to get the crowd warm and make me laugh at the silliness!

The only thing that put a downer on the night for me was that there were eight matches. This made the night drag on - with a 10pm finish on a Sunday night. Obviously, it's up to the powers-that-be to decide the match quantity and lengths, but this seemed a lot - this isn't a WWE Pay-Per-View so I don't think eight stacked matches are really necessary. The bonus for the fans was that there was a lot of talent on display but I can't help but feel that the promoter needs deep pockets to cover all of this.

Results

• 'The Black Messiah' Marshall X defeated 'The Aztec Curse' Sancho Cortez
• Kid Kash/Kay Jutler confrontation
• 'Showcase' Stu Oddysey defeated Richtor
• Heavy Metal Cowboys & Michael Adams (w/ The Management) defeated 'Special K' Kirk Langley, 'Iron Fist' Frankie Fellasarno & 'Shining' Johnny Searle
• 'The Filth' Chris Walker defeated T-Bone (w/ Harvey Dale)
• Fatal Four Way (Elimination): The Alpha Female defeated Leah Von Dutch, Bacardi and Jezabeth before turning heel and joining The Management
• Marc Massa & Kristoff Walton (w/ Mr McCoy) defeated Tukay & C-Ray Johnson
• No 1 Contendership to the NBWA Championship: El Ligero defeated Iestyn Rees and Stixx (w/ Harvey Dale)
• NBWA Championship: 'The Male Model' Kay Jutler (c) defeated Kid Kash by DQ

Overall, an enjoyable evening returning to an NBWA show. There was a decent size crowd - possibly 150 or above. This has got to be a positive for the Banbury-based promotion!

The next show will be on Sunday 16th June in the Spiceball Leisure Centre. It will be another exciting show to watch as joining the UK's talents that already exist in NBWA will be NJPW and former-WWE star Harry Smith - son of the legendary British Bulldog.

Check out the NBWA Facebook page and follow them on Twitter - @NewBreedWA

Support British Wrestling

@jimmosangle

Brock Lesnar - What's Next?

Brock Lesnar returned to our screens last year, on the night after Wrestlemania 28 to a huge pop from the live crowd and probably the majority of the TV audience who hadn't read spoilers leading up to the event.

He entered the ring, where John Cena was standing; Cena offering his hand in greeting only to be dumped on the mat by an earth-shaking F5. In the staleness that we're presented with over the last few years in the WWE, this seemed like a huge coup and a huge moment to be a wrestling fan. Unfortunately, that's about as good as it's got.

Typical Cena before receiving an F5

Cena would go onto solidify his 'Superman' status by defeating Lesnar at the Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View that month. Many, including myself were baffled that Lesnar would make such a dominant entrance only to be beaten by the man that was so distraught and defeated by his loss to The Rock at Wrestlemania. Surely a more logical way forward would've been for Lesnar to win his first match back and continue Cena's loss in form?

Lesnar continued and finished 2012 with sporadic and brief appearances (as per his years contract) feuding with COO Triple H. The loss to Cena was soon forgotten as Lesnar proceeded to break Triple H's arm before fighting, and beating, him at Summerslam. Dominance restored?

Unfortunately, after this win we didn't see Lesnar again until late-January 2013 when he returned to save Paul Heyman's job and F5 Vince McMahon. As crazy-dominant as Lesnar looks every time he returns, it's a shame that he comes and goes in the manner that he does as it loses any momentum each time. This seems to have changed in the last couple of months, though. In the lead up to Wrestlemania and in the last few weeks since, Lesnar has been on our TVs a lot more. I don't expect this to continue past Extreme Rules.

I'd like to think, and I'm sure it will be the case, that the Lesnar/Triple H feud will have run its course by the time Extreme Rules has been said and done. But then what should we expect? As far as WWE is concerned, I hope that they will put trust in their full-time stars to draw month-to-month on Pay-Per-View. But where does Lesnar go from here?

I have thought about this a lot over the last year and I continue to be at a loss for ideas. I cannot think of anyone that he can feud with and be seen as having a realistic chance of defeating the 'beast'. He is employed to have matches against the top, top guys on the roster to bring in money and interest from a wider audience. After the match with Cena and the overrun feud with Triple H, I can't think of any top guys that can go toe-to-toe with Lesnar.

Undertaker, like Santa Claus, is around once a year. That's going to come to an end in the not too distant future. Can he even have one more physical match - especially on the level that would be provided by facing the vicious Lesnar? I very much doubt it.

There has also been talk of a match/feud with CM Punk at some point in this latest run by Lesnar. As mouth-watering a possibility as this is, it just seems to be a complete mismatch to me. Simply put, Punk is too small to trouble Lesnar. I say this because in Lesnar's first run in the WWE (2002-04) he only faced the biggest challengers and only lost to the smaller, late, great Eddie Guererro due to being on the way out of the company (and due to interference from Goldberg) and needing to pass the torch.

Lesnar has such a vicious, dominating presence every time that he shows up that only the biggest, strongest opponents will do - and will stand a chance. Does anybody even fit into that category anymore?

You could throw names such as Randy Orton, Sheamus or Big Show into the hat to face Lesnar, but unfortunately the era we live in now mean that these guys might be top stars of today but they are simply snacks for Lesnar. These guys have been so watered down by the 'rules' that WWE has to live by that they would just not be believable in a feud with the aggression-filled Lesnar. On the other hand, Lesnar - to a certain extent - has nothing limiting him. He's not a full time guy; he's a former UFC Champion; he probably doesn't even need this gig with the WWE anyway. Therefore, he can be as badass as he likes. And he is.

Lesnar's first run in WWE came at a time when blood was allowed, weapons in matches were allowed, and Pay-Per-Views were regularly '18' certified (DVD; VHS). In a way, that reputation has no place in WWE of 2013. It is too 'adult' for the target audience. So I ask again; what or who is there to fill the next two years for Brock Lesnar?

@jimmosangle