Welcome one and all to another intriguing look in to the crazy world of British wrestling. In a week where it seems every promotion is looking to turn their fans in to stars there has never been a better time to be a British wrestling fan. It’s a good week for Brits abroad as no less than 5 British stars head over to Italy and hot off the heels of British Uprising III, FWA present “Gold Rush.” So sit back and relax the last column before I reach another landmark.
Following along the same lines as those faltering Saturday night talent shows that we try and avoid the FWA presented it’s second ever Star Search but this time in association with The Wrestling Channel. The event took place again at the Red Rose comedy club. I am yet to hear how it went but I for one hope it is more successful than the last Star Search which only started the career of John Atkins who now somehow finds himself on the FWA TV show and ring announcing at FWA events which I bet not even he can believe.
Now I am a big fan of the FWA and on a personal level Alex is the nicest person you will ever hope to meet but even I have to say I don’t agree with this Star Search idea. The event it just inviting people that sit on the internet every day and don’t see the light of day who think they have talent to give the FWA ten pounds for ten minutes or whatever it is. Just advertising this on the internet and The Wrestling Channel is the wrong way to go about getting talent you should be advertising in trade publications for the set jobs you want people for. With being so vague about what jobs you are looking for it gives you the feel like last time that not many people will be discovered as you’re not getting the calibre of people you want. You don’t see a Saturday night television talent showcase programme saying we are not sure about what we are going to offer the winner but come and audition and we will see what we can do. These companies offer a recording contract but as the new show goes they are looking for the X-Factor which I think is the way FWA should be doing it offer certain jobs but let the people auditioning try and show you what they have that is better than everyone else.
If this situation isn’t crazy enough now The Wrestling Channel have thrown themselves in the mix. Yes ok The Wrestling Channel shows wrestling but running, operating and producing a TV station and TV shows is a completely different kettle of fish than working in a Wrestling promotion and I for one would see it as very unprofessional to hire some wrestling fan boy to do a skilled job in TV. Take the presenters on the channel for instance now in mainstream TV presenters are chosen for their presenting skills before their knowledge on the subject of the show which is something TWC don’t do. Above all else though in hindsight at least it’s better than just getting in every internet columnist or personality in.
RBW also announced their staff search this week just with a little less fanfare. There is no big event to audition at for this one it’s just a case of going to their website RevolutionBritishWrestling.co.uk finding a job that you think you have skills for and getting in touch with them. Either way I just hope this latest bout of star searches doesn’t mean we see too many fanboys at the shows we pay to see as what other industry do you know where fans get sling shot on to the shows. Take my good friend Simon Lilsboy down at The Sun for instance he is a top class journalist who happens to be a fan of wrestling and mainly writes on it now if his bosses said to him we don’t want to cover wrestling anymore he can move on to sport or entertainment as first and foremost he is a class journalist. Why should people like Alex Shane and Doug Williams go down the hard road to get in to the business just to have some no talent fanboy get helped in the door.
Now with that rant over let’s talk about some positive things like 5 yes you heard me right 5 British wrestlers heading over to Italy to appear on the same event. Burchill, 5 star Flash, James Tighe, Sweet Saraya and Doug Williams will all be appearing for ICW tonight (27/11) at Genoa. On behalf of Wrestling101 I would like to wish them good luck as they battle the best of Europe, do us proud guys.
There have been a lot of forum posts lately about young British Wrestling promoters and whether they help or hinder the business. Now as you know a lot of them have but that doesn’t mean they should all be tarred with the same brush so I must take my hat off to Daniel Edler. This guy is putting on solid shows and bringing in international talent to work for his event and is currently gearing up for his third event in January. Now yes the crowds are probably not what was hoped for and he must be losing money at the moment but you got to give it to him for sticking it out and not giving up after his first event like so many do. Just to work on your advertising and promotion and it should come good.
Now to pimp the FWA as like I say no matter how much I rant and rave I do like them. The FWA will be promoting their last card of the year this weekend from one of their home venues the Broxbourne Civic Hall. The event will be a history making night as we see Burchill in what could be his last ever match for the FWA going one on one with the FWA champion Alex Shane in a non title match. The event will also see the Gold Rush match which will be a fifteen man battle royal to see who will be the top challenger for the FWA title in 2004. On top of all these goodies Low-Ki, Chad Collyer and Joe E Legend will be making their way to the UK to compete on the card as well as Ulf Herman competing in his first match back in the FWA after getting involved in British Uprising III.
“Gold Rush” should see the FWA leaving 2004 with a bang and it’s an event not to be missed. Hopefully the FWA can cash in on the success of Uprising III with the event being so close and attract some of the new fans to get their second dose of FWA action. The only way to see what goes down is to be at the Broxbourne Civic Hall this Sunday the 28th of November. Tickets range from £10 to £35 pounds and doors are at 6pm for the main show and at 5:40 for ringside ticket holders and FWA fan club members.
Now that’s for this week as I gear up for the big 150 going to go and pick out my favourite birthday hat and cake I think this year it has to be Marks Spencer for those items. So I hope you can all join me in the celebrations next week and I promise you all something special, I don’t know what that will be yet but you will be the first to know.
Until next time,
Adam Sibley
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