Welcome one and all to another edition of the UK Scene. As our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tsunami we must try and continue normal service and that is what I shall do. This week I bring you news that will make all southwest wrestling fans including yours truly start believing there is a scene in the area. On top of this I will be talking about the progress on the big TWC show in March, the latest news out of the FWA headquarters and news on the efforts being made by UK promotions to help the victims of the tsunami.
So it’s with the news that all southwest wrestling fans have been waiting for that we start. After years of waiting we finally now have our very own wrestling training facility in the area which means no more money burning, time enduring journeys for wannabe wrestlers. Revolution British Wrestling as part of their 2005 expansion have set up weekly training sessions at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter starting this Saturday.
The training sessions will be run by former British welterweight champion Sammy Ray and will include frequent guests on a week to week basis. Anybody 8 years and over is welcome to attend with a basic training session and an advanced training session taking place every week there is something for everyone. For more information log on to: RevolutionBritishWrestling.co.uk
Add on top of this the extensive South West tours planned by WAW this year and the occasional All Star show it looks like my petrol bill will be going down this year. It is also hoped that as RBW start to establish themselves in the south west that they will go on to promote shows in the area so things look promising for 2005.
Following on from the announcements made by The Wrestling Channel over the last couple of months everyone thought that the station was on the ropes but once again TWC have fought their way out of a corner this week with some big announcements. They have arranged a new deal with NWA:TNA which will keep a lot of people happy and watching the station. More importantly to the UK Scene fan TWC have announced that “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels will be competing on their big supercard at the Coventry Skydome on March 19th.
I will give TWC their due when everyone thought it was the beginning of the end for the station they are rallying around well. TWC have invested a lot of money into their live show which I hope makes them the money they need to keep investing in the station so hopefully they can get a crowd which truly reflects the card they are putting on which in this day and age is hard to do but I have my fingers crossed for them.
FWA gave us their first big news update of 2005 this week. We may have to wait until February the 26th for the next FWA event but things are already starting to hot up in the build up to their first event in 2005 “New Frontiers” Two big title matches have already signed for the event which include Hade Vanson putting his All England title on the line against Spud and Alex Shane defending his FWA title against recently reinstated Jonny Storm. To add on top of this the FWA have announced that Chris Hero will be making his FWA debut at the event. Chris Hero has been in the UK a few times before working for various promotions but I bet he is chomping at the bit to finally step in to the FWA ring.
It’s not just the FWA’s first event of 2005 which is keeping FWA in the spotlight this week. To go alongside the new updates regarding “New Frontiers” they also released a statement about what will be happening in the FWA this year. A new division has been formed especially for Flyweights as the FWA encourage more high fliers in to its ranks. I can’t remember the weight limit for flyweights but I would certainly love to see Jonny Storm one on one with Spud in a FWA ring.
On top of this announcement the FWA have introduced an open door policy which will mean more talent from around the UK will be used on FWA shows and it will be up for the fans to decide who is worthy of a regular spot on the FWA roster. Other announcements include a change to the format of FWA’s TV shows and increases in their working relationship with RoH and an in the number of FWA training schools around the UK. All in all 2005 looks set to be another impressive year for the FWA.
In a big move by the IWF this week they have announced their next show will be “IWF vs. NWA Hammerlock”. It looks like NWA Hammerlock are trying to spread their wings a bit in 2005 and what a good place to start by putting on a joint show with another well established promotion. The show takes place on February the 5th at Consett Civic Hall and looks set to be a history making night of wrestling you don’t want to miss.
The UK wrestling scene this week have been trying to do their bit for the tsunami fund. Wrestler Stevie Knight took it upon himself to organise a live show with all proceeds going towards the fund. After advertising for the services of wrestlers for the show he has been inundated with offers and now has a roster of talent giving their time for free which reads like a UK supershow. The show will include Burchill’s last match before he leaves for the WWE so a very worthy cause and an awesome show could you ask for more? The show takes place from the Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes on January 20th.
WAW are also doing their bit by holding an online wrestling auction with all the proceeds again going to the fund. To find out more information on what you can bid for and how you can help by donating wrestling items for auction log on to WAWrestling.co.uk.
Until next time,
Adam Sibley
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