Post by Head Booker on Nov 24, 2006 11:16:14 GMT -6
So, without going into the whole history, a few months back a number of promotions around the country agreed to pull together and promote a show which would produce an Under 23 Champion. This champion would then go on to tour around Great Britain and defend the title against other wrestlers in promotions that are part of the collective known as the British Wrestling Union.
So on the 18th of November in Ware, Hertfordshire, the Under 23 Title Tournament was held. Eight men from different promotions were chosen to face off against one another, some were well known nationwide, others were only known in the areas they regularly worked, but that is what this show is about, showcasing all the British talent.
Anyway, the brackets were as follows...
Spud (Freelance) Vs. Sam Slam (World Association of Wrestling - Norwich)
Chris Whitton (Three Count Wrestling - Middlesbrough) Vs. Bubblegum (Real Quality Wrestling)
Aviv Mayaan (Frontier Wrestling Alliance: Academy - Portsmouth) Vs. Paul Robinson (International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom - Kent)
Stiro (Triple X Wrestling - Coventry) Vs. Marty Scrull (LDN Wrestling - London)
Spud Vs. Sam Slam
Spud was initially going to represent the FWA in this tournament, but due to the FWA Vs. IPW:UK angle that is currently going on and the fact that he is on the IPW side of things, he became a freelancer for the tournament. Now on paper this match would seem obvious, Spud is one of Britian's biggest stars, a guy who has worked throughout the Europe and for Ring of Honor, well for those people who thought that, they'd never seen Sam Slam. Slam was a guy that no one in the crowd had really seen, he works for a company can never really get out to see, there are stories of him picking Bulk from the UK Pitbulls (A legitimate 40 stone guy) over his head and when he walked out to the ring you could see why, the guy was a block of muscle. Anyway, Spud fought valiantly but it was to no avail as Slam desimated him with everything, speed was no match for the power of Slam as he nailed a Spear/Rubgy Tackle of Spud and advanced to the second round.
Aviv Mayaan Vs. Paul Robinson
Aviv Mayaan qualified for this tournament by beating Ollie Burns on the afternoon show, strangely Paul Robinson qualified by beating Aviv Mayaan on an IPW:UK show earlier in the year. The dastardly member of the Hated Heroes had found his way back in the tournament and was out for revenge but Mayaan's usual trick of holding onto the ropes during pinfalls backfired on him as Robinson countered and pin Aviv for the second time in the tournament to advance.
Stiro Vs. Marty Scrull
The two most technical wrestlers in the tournament locked horns in the first round, Marty Scrull was accompanied to the ring by LDN's 'Life Coach' John David Bruno Bernard Chapman. Certified, yes indeed., while Stiro was accompanied to the ring by a large number of the Triple X Wrestling roster. Stiro eventually sent all but one of the TXW roster to the back to keep things even. The two men battled back and forth for a good ten minutes before the Hated Heroes (ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?!, Aviv Mayaan and LT Summers) interfered and took out both men. A No Contest was called meaning that neither man advanced.
Chris Whitton Vs. Bubblegum
In what was the best match of the first round, 'Simply The Best' Chris Whitton came up against the fan favourite Bubblegum. The match built from the outset as the cocky Whitton took pleasure in both belittling the crowd and his opponent, in a engrossing back and forth contest it was eventually Bubblegum that scored the duke when he reversed one of Whitton's trademark moves with a roll up.
------------------
Sam Slam Vs. Bubblegum
For those that have never seen Bubblegum, imagine Spud but with a lot more likeable face. The Hubba Bubba man was the clear fan favourite here as the big but dim Sam Slam looked like he was about to kill and then eat his poor opponent. The match was much like Slam's first in the tournament as Bubblegum attempted to use his speed to keep out of the way of the big man with Slam looking to kill anything that moved. The closing moments saw 'Gum on the attack, eventually knocking the big man down and looking to go to the top rope to finish it, as Slam slowly pulled himself to his knees 'Gum came off the top rope looking for a Crossbody, Slam sprung into the air and Speared 'Gum in midair and we had a winner.
Paul Robinson Vs.
Well, with both potential opponents eliminated in the previous round you'd imagine that Paul Robinson would get a bye straight to the final, right? Wrong, the Hated Heroes saw to that. ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! and his group came out and cut a promo, you see despite having a broken ankle, ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! is the IPW Heavyweight Champion and has to defend his title every 60 days. Cue a squash match where LT Summers took the place of ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! against jobber, Tom DeMorley, Summers won in 45 seconds with a Joker Driver. With that done, ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! announced that Aviv Mayaan was back in the tournament and would be Paul Robinson's opponent for the semi finals.
Paul Robinson Vs. Aviv Mayaan
Robinson charged to the ring from backstage, straight through the Hated Heroes, Aviv went to Clothesline but missed, Aviv turned around and Robinson scored with a Small Package to win in six seconds and head to the final.
------------------
Sam Slam Vs. Paul Robinson
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The massive, powerful beast Vs. The small, dynamic hi-flyer had worked so far and it worked in the final. The match was perfectly built as home promotion boy Paul Robinson time and again seemed to be able to do the impossible and overcome the dominant force in front of him, but with each time Slam kicked out the crowd began to realise they were in the presence of the future of British wrestling. Robinson refused to give in though and even kicked out the Spear from Slam, Slam didn't quite seem to understand what had happened but he had one trick up his sleeve that no one was expecting... A 450 Splash. It was over. The first champion had just been crowned and his name was Sam Slam.
Other results from the show:
BWU U23 Title Tournament, Afternoon Show:
William Grange © defeated Kid Richie and Martin Kirby [3CW Guest Match]
"All Eyes On Me" Dave Sharp defeated "Better Than You" Ashton Brown [4FW Guest Match]
jeKKel and eXodus defeated 'Suicidal, Suicidal, Suicidal' Jimmy Havoc and Zack Sabre Jnr [TXW Guest Match]
Aviv Mayaan defeated Ollie Burns [FWA:A Guest Match and BWU U23 Tournament Qualifier]
BWU U23 Title Tournament, Evening Show:
El Ligero defeated Charlie Rage (X:SW), Chris Stone (LPW), Chris Recall (4FW)
So yeah, Britain now has a recognised Under 23 Champion who will be out making defences around the country probably in a promotion near you. In fact, he made his first defence the next night at the IPW:UK show in Orpington where he beat Paul Robinson and Darkside in a three-way match. In a fun note, Robinson received the Spear once again from Slam and few out of the ring through the top and middle rope to the floor, where he was promptly sick into a bin. Turns out Robinson broke a rib in the match with Slam the night before. Oh and El Ligero is the current Number One contender due to him winning the four-way elimination match.
So on the 18th of November in Ware, Hertfordshire, the Under 23 Title Tournament was held. Eight men from different promotions were chosen to face off against one another, some were well known nationwide, others were only known in the areas they regularly worked, but that is what this show is about, showcasing all the British talent.
Anyway, the brackets were as follows...
Spud (Freelance) Vs. Sam Slam (World Association of Wrestling - Norwich)
Chris Whitton (Three Count Wrestling - Middlesbrough) Vs. Bubblegum (Real Quality Wrestling)
Aviv Mayaan (Frontier Wrestling Alliance: Academy - Portsmouth) Vs. Paul Robinson (International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom - Kent)
Stiro (Triple X Wrestling - Coventry) Vs. Marty Scrull (LDN Wrestling - London)
Spud Vs. Sam Slam
Spud was initially going to represent the FWA in this tournament, but due to the FWA Vs. IPW:UK angle that is currently going on and the fact that he is on the IPW side of things, he became a freelancer for the tournament. Now on paper this match would seem obvious, Spud is one of Britian's biggest stars, a guy who has worked throughout the Europe and for Ring of Honor, well for those people who thought that, they'd never seen Sam Slam. Slam was a guy that no one in the crowd had really seen, he works for a company can never really get out to see, there are stories of him picking Bulk from the UK Pitbulls (A legitimate 40 stone guy) over his head and when he walked out to the ring you could see why, the guy was a block of muscle. Anyway, Spud fought valiantly but it was to no avail as Slam desimated him with everything, speed was no match for the power of Slam as he nailed a Spear/Rubgy Tackle of Spud and advanced to the second round.
Aviv Mayaan Vs. Paul Robinson
Aviv Mayaan qualified for this tournament by beating Ollie Burns on the afternoon show, strangely Paul Robinson qualified by beating Aviv Mayaan on an IPW:UK show earlier in the year. The dastardly member of the Hated Heroes had found his way back in the tournament and was out for revenge but Mayaan's usual trick of holding onto the ropes during pinfalls backfired on him as Robinson countered and pin Aviv for the second time in the tournament to advance.
Stiro Vs. Marty Scrull
The two most technical wrestlers in the tournament locked horns in the first round, Marty Scrull was accompanied to the ring by LDN's 'Life Coach' John David Bruno Bernard Chapman. Certified, yes indeed., while Stiro was accompanied to the ring by a large number of the Triple X Wrestling roster. Stiro eventually sent all but one of the TXW roster to the back to keep things even. The two men battled back and forth for a good ten minutes before the Hated Heroes (ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?!, Aviv Mayaan and LT Summers) interfered and took out both men. A No Contest was called meaning that neither man advanced.
Chris Whitton Vs. Bubblegum
In what was the best match of the first round, 'Simply The Best' Chris Whitton came up against the fan favourite Bubblegum. The match built from the outset as the cocky Whitton took pleasure in both belittling the crowd and his opponent, in a engrossing back and forth contest it was eventually Bubblegum that scored the duke when he reversed one of Whitton's trademark moves with a roll up.
------------------
Sam Slam Vs. Bubblegum
For those that have never seen Bubblegum, imagine Spud but with a lot more likeable face. The Hubba Bubba man was the clear fan favourite here as the big but dim Sam Slam looked like he was about to kill and then eat his poor opponent. The match was much like Slam's first in the tournament as Bubblegum attempted to use his speed to keep out of the way of the big man with Slam looking to kill anything that moved. The closing moments saw 'Gum on the attack, eventually knocking the big man down and looking to go to the top rope to finish it, as Slam slowly pulled himself to his knees 'Gum came off the top rope looking for a Crossbody, Slam sprung into the air and Speared 'Gum in midair and we had a winner.
Paul Robinson Vs.
Well, with both potential opponents eliminated in the previous round you'd imagine that Paul Robinson would get a bye straight to the final, right? Wrong, the Hated Heroes saw to that. ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! and his group came out and cut a promo, you see despite having a broken ankle, ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! is the IPW Heavyweight Champion and has to defend his title every 60 days. Cue a squash match where LT Summers took the place of ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! against jobber, Tom DeMorley, Summers won in 45 seconds with a Joker Driver. With that done, ANDY SIMMONZ!?!!?! announced that Aviv Mayaan was back in the tournament and would be Paul Robinson's opponent for the semi finals.
Paul Robinson Vs. Aviv Mayaan
Robinson charged to the ring from backstage, straight through the Hated Heroes, Aviv went to Clothesline but missed, Aviv turned around and Robinson scored with a Small Package to win in six seconds and head to the final.
------------------
Sam Slam Vs. Paul Robinson
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The massive, powerful beast Vs. The small, dynamic hi-flyer had worked so far and it worked in the final. The match was perfectly built as home promotion boy Paul Robinson time and again seemed to be able to do the impossible and overcome the dominant force in front of him, but with each time Slam kicked out the crowd began to realise they were in the presence of the future of British wrestling. Robinson refused to give in though and even kicked out the Spear from Slam, Slam didn't quite seem to understand what had happened but he had one trick up his sleeve that no one was expecting... A 450 Splash. It was over. The first champion had just been crowned and his name was Sam Slam.
Other results from the show:
BWU U23 Title Tournament, Afternoon Show:
William Grange © defeated Kid Richie and Martin Kirby [3CW Guest Match]
"All Eyes On Me" Dave Sharp defeated "Better Than You" Ashton Brown [4FW Guest Match]
jeKKel and eXodus defeated 'Suicidal, Suicidal, Suicidal' Jimmy Havoc and Zack Sabre Jnr [TXW Guest Match]
Aviv Mayaan defeated Ollie Burns [FWA:A Guest Match and BWU U23 Tournament Qualifier]
BWU U23 Title Tournament, Evening Show:
El Ligero defeated Charlie Rage (X:SW), Chris Stone (LPW), Chris Recall (4FW)
So yeah, Britain now has a recognised Under 23 Champion who will be out making defences around the country probably in a promotion near you. In fact, he made his first defence the next night at the IPW:UK show in Orpington where he beat Paul Robinson and Darkside in a three-way match. In a fun note, Robinson received the Spear once again from Slam and few out of the ring through the top and middle rope to the floor, where he was promptly sick into a bin. Turns out Robinson broke a rib in the match with Slam the night before. Oh and El Ligero is the current Number One contender due to him winning the four-way elimination match.
I hope he gives the robe back to cambridge uni!!