Welcome one and all to the UK Scene with Mitchell Jones, the only column anywhere in the world right about now that’s free of Summerslam spoilers. Unlike those other columns, I won’t be telling you that Mae Young got naked and smeared ice cream all over herself (and if you believe that and buy the replay, I worry for your sanity). Instead, I’ll be guiding you through the latest of the UK news and views. So let’s get to it.
September 6th is important for one very good reason… well, two. The first would be my birthday, and I do expect presents (Jelly Babies please). The second would be the next show from OPWO, entitled Breakdown. This promotion shot to fame for all the wrong reasons earlier in the year after the now infamous Kriss Sprules/Cage Tyler match that has to go down as one of the worst matches in the history of anything ever conceived in the world. Unfortunately it overlooks the fact that the show itself got very strong reviews from an albeit small crowd. Hopefully OPWO can build on that and take to heart the constructive critisisms of the fans who DO want the owners to succeed. Alternatively, Kriss Sprules and Melicious could go on their websites and call my mom fat or something. Either way, check them out at the Claremont First Step Community Centre, Dickson Road, Blackpool. You get to see a Six-team/Twelve-man ladder match (did Vince Russo book that?) to compliment a load of other gimmick matches too. Tickets are £10 (ouch) on 07821 182 371 or through [OPWOPromoter@aol.com] for more details.
But that isn’t all, folks. Oh no, it isn’t. Want to learn how to cut a promo whilst a black and white camera shot zooms in on a variety of your body parts? Alex Shane is holding a training seminar for OPWO on the same day as the show. For £4.50 (under 16s) or £6.50 (16 and over), you will be taught from 3.30pm til 6pm. No special buffet unfortunately, so you should bring your own refreshments. The address, for those contemplating this special deal, is The Claremont First Step Community Centre, Methodist Church Buildings, Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AP. I cannot begin to imagine wrestling training under the house of God. But hey, worked for Vince Rus… wait a minute.
Some positive news for Universal Uproar, the London Expo team have announced that Kenta Kobashi will be making the trek over to the UK to be a part of the November 12th supershow. Kobashi joins a number of big stars on the show such as AJ Styles, Rhino, Mick Foley, and Kriss Sprules… just kidding (I should stop using him as the butt of my jokes, apologies for that). But seriously, it’s looking to be a strong show (even if their sponsorship package for Matt Hardy needs updating *cough*). It’s a shame that Homicide will be over, but can’t win them all. UniversalUproar.com is the place to be for the latest news, so check it out.
Unfortunately, with the positive comes a negative… although I’ve found nothing to confirm this, there is a rumour that TNA may pull it’s talent from the show due to a PPV the following night. I haven’t been able to get a final word on this, but hopefully I can give you one next week. Stay tuned.
1PW have been impressing with their upcoming card too (although their use of English is terrible). They continue to build up the matches they have in spite of Matt Hardy not being a part of the show anymore. In fact, The Blue Meanie vs. Tracy Smothers even has a video available in the media section of their website (1p-w.com). It’s actually mostly just some guy talking (admittedly quite well) amongst a loud locker room, and then Tracy talking about “shooting” (no chance). For those wondering, “shooting” means a real fight. I can see the match being stiff, but don’t call it a shoot if it’s not going to be one. Now if Tracy knocked Meanie out in one punch and ended it there, I’d be impressed, but until then, don’t hold your breath.
Speaking of FCW (hey, it’s my column and I can use a segway that makes no sense if I want to), their next show is Redemption next Sunday at Baggeridge Social Welfare Centre in Dudley. Added matches include Jay Icon vs. Celt Kennedy (Icon vs… Icon Slayer? Yes, much thought goes into my creativity), The Judge vs. The Bouncer and Devils Advocate vs. Spud and Laken Xander. Head over to FutureWrestling.co.uk for more news, and ignore the fact that the web design needs updating. The albeit sexy and gifted webmaster is lazy, even if he is a wonderful human being (who has an 18th birthday coming up as well, and would also appreciate Jelly Babies – Bassetts, not the cheap kind).
More bad news for Roy Bevis, aka The Zebra Kid. The Sunday Mirror has reported that the bad boy of British wrestling is facing a life-ban from football for using a wrestling hold to take down a rival player and the referee during a low-league match (thanks to Wrestlemag for that). This is one of a number of incidents involving the Kid, which have been reported here in past columns. We await to hear the verdicts for both current cases against him, and will inform you on the newsboard and here as it develops.
GPW present Trials And Tribulations on September 18th at The Cantebury Halls in Preston with JC Thunder and El Ligero fighting once again in “No Holds Barred II”. The first match was supposedly banned from their last venue for being so violent, and I’m sure they will try and get their wrestlers banned from this venue too. No more information is present, but they have time yet.
Ricky Knight’s WAW promotion have cancelled their August 26th show in Canvey Island, and are looking to reschedule for the Autumn.
What, you expected me to say more about it?
A promotion I don’t think I’ve covered much of before is WAR, or the Wrestling Association of Rugby (and by that, they mean they hold wrestling events in a place called Rugby, not that they’re a bunch of wrestlers playing the game of Rug… forget it). September 17th sees Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby become the venue for New Era 2005 with a contract signing (someone is getting beaten up I presume), Jonny Storm vs. Axel Bowen (Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin one… sorry, wrong Bowen), plus Spud, Rob Hunter, The Judge and many more. Check out http://www.waruk.co.uk
Incidentally, if you’re looking for some good quality UK scene DVDs, check out WARShop.co.uk
Quick results rundown of the past weekend.
ACW – Bletchley Leisure Centre, Bletchley, Milton Keynes – Saturday, August 20th, 2005
- Kid Regis defeated Kruiz
- Samson & Inferno defeated Rich’N’Famous & Tommy Gunn
- UK Freebirds defeated Pogo the Clown & Robbie Blaze
- Tom Beattie defeated El Ligero, Seb Drea and Silver Mask
- D.O.A (with Peter Staniforth) defeated Bull Harley (with Inferno)
IPW:UK Extreme Measures 2 – Orpington Halls, Orpington, Kent – Sunday, August 21st, 2005
- Spud beat Moralez
- Aviv Mayaan beat Darren Burridge
- Jack Storm beat Dragon Phoenix
- Flaming Red beat Jake
- Batallion beat Matt Damien
- Spud beat Jack Storm, Aviv Mayaan, and Flaming Red
- AK47 beat The Kartel by DQ
- Martin Stone beat Spud
IWF – Felling Cricket Club – Sunday, August 21st, 2005
- R.D. Wood beat “The Big Issue” Robbie Ryder
- IWF Junior Champion Max Heat beat “The Porn Star” Dave Styles
- Jed Masters beat Nick Damocles
- Pac beat Little Dragon
- Powerhouse Johnny Hogarth, Joey Wright, Lee Kyle and Jordan Wright beat the ASBOs
- Shaun Avery beat Assassin
- R.D. Wood won a 20-Man rumble style match.
Ok, that’ll do it for another week. I’ll be back next week as Saracen is away on holiday (probably scared of my bulging biceps and long, sexy hair… or more than likely not), so until next week, take care and have a good one.
Mitchell Jones