By Stephen Ashfield
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Welcome to a new column on Wrestlingclothesline.com. The British wrestling
scene now has over 80 companies and an average month sees over 70 shows
being held all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This
new column will keep you in touch with what’s happening and today
I’m looking at what’s happening in the North of England.
1PW fans might could have woken up on May 10th with a new World Heavyweight Champion. Current champ Sterling James Keenan put his belt on the line against Jake Manning as Steve Corino launched his new 3Kwrestling promotion. Keenan kept his title and also won the ZERO-ONE US Title. That won’t delight 1PW fans who hate Keenan but Manning had been even more controversial in his views on 1PW so it’s a case of better the devil you know.
Just about anything could happen on the next 1PW ‘Underground’ show. As a result of their win at ‘Know Your Enemy’ the Damned Nation are in charge of the May 24th show at The Granby in Doncaster entitled ‘Damned Nation: Will Not Die.’ Hubba Bubba Lucha, who won the tag titles from Damned Nation will be defending their titles but no opponents or match stipulation have been announced. More info at www.1pwonline.com
3CW hold ‘No Remorse 2008’ on May 16th at the Billingham Synthonia Club with former champion Stevie Lynn trying to regain the Heavyweight title from Cameron Kraze. Now one of the top tag teams in the UK is Hubba Bubba Lucha, two high flyers called Bubblegum and El Ligero and they could end up facing each other for the 3CW Young Lions title in the near future. Ligero has already tried unsuccessfully to get the title off Prince Mohmed Ameen and this week it’s Bubblegum’s turn to try and dethrone the champion. If he’s successful he’ll be up against the new number one contender decided this Friday by a match between Joseph Hayes and a certain El Ligero. More info at www.3cw.co.uk
FSW who hold cards in Stockport each month have a new Champion. On May 3rd Sam Bailey beat Dom Travis to win the belt.
Hubba Bubba Lucha are also having troubled times in GNP and NWL. GNP hold ‘Fresh Blood’ on May 23rd at the Creswell Social Centre and beware because a Juggernaught is on the loose. He made his debut on their last show beating Bubblegum and this month he has El Ligero in his sights. Meanwhile in NWL they’re feuding with Project Ego who took their tag titles from them at ‘Flying High’ held at the Thurcrort Miners Institute on May 3rd. On July 12th at the same venue it’s ‘Fight Night: The Big One’ and Ligero challenges Kris Travis for the NWL British Heavyweight title. If he wins then Project Ego have to disband, if he loses then he has to leave the company and that’ll wipe out Hubba Bubba Lucha’s presence in the company too.
GPW held their annual Crazy Cruiser 8 tournament in Wigan on May 2nd and it was The Juice who came out triumphant beating Chris Echo in the final. Earlier in the evening he’d beaten Sam Bailey and El Ligero (that guy gets everywhere). More info at www.gpwrestling.org.uk
If it’s hardcore wrestling that you love then try out MCW who describe themselves as the most hardcore company in the UK. Their next show is on May 16th in Langwith featuring a ladder match, a 2000 Thumbtack match, a First Blood match and a Bra and Panties contest. More info at www.mcw-wrestling.com
New Generation Wrestling hold their first show on May 16th at the Eastmount Recreation Centre with ‘The Human Hate Machine’ Dave Moralez taking on Stixx. Sam Bailey faces Dom Travis and Chris Egan and the Chemical Brothers are in action against Killer Instinct
There are new companies appearing everywhere these days and Shooting Star Wrestling have announced that they’ll be making their debut at the Montgomery Hall in Rotherham on August 2nd with a show entitled ‘Rites of Passage.’ More info in future reports and at www.shootingstarwrestling.com Also starting up soon apparently in the Leeds area is New Style Wrestling. However all isn’t going well as their website account has already been suspended due to non-payment and in a recent interview the promoter wanted to remain anonymous, hardly promising is it? More about that in future reports.
Companies tend to come and go but Futureshock Wrestling who hold cards in Stockport and Macclesfield celebrate holding their 25th show in June. At the Morton Jubilee Hall in Macclesfield they’re holding a one-night tournament with the winner getting a shot at the title.
DPW hold ‘Heated Exchange at the Ackroyd Street Working Men’s Club in Morley, Leeds on June 7th with Kris Travis having a rematch with G-Man after their dispute over the raffle on the last show. Mad Man Manson defends his Manson Weight Title against Prince Mohmed Ameen. More info at www.dpwrestling.co.uk
Dragon Aisu returns to TTP this week when the company are at the Harraby Community Centre in Carlisle on May 18th. He hasn’t been seen in the company for four years but seeing he’s part of the feared Damned Nation it’s unlikely he’ll be coming alone.
PCW hold a card at the Newton-Le-Willows Cabaret and Social Club in St Helens on May 16th with AC Kage facing Gary Wild in a Hardcore Rules match and former tag partners Angel D’Souza and Sean Phoenix face off in a lumberjack match.
Real Deal Wrestling hold most of their shows in the East of England but they’re branching out this month as they head up north for a show at the Goole Leisure Centre on May 31st. England take on Ireland in a Flag match as Deano Linski faces The Irish Powerhouse ‘Sensational’ Shawn Scott. German star Bad Bones now lives in England and he faces Bubblegum in a match to be fought under Blitz League Rules. Women’s action sees Bubblez taking on Roxi and it could be for the Women’s title if Bubblez beats Sweet Saraya in their title match on May 17th. More info at www.realdealpromotions.co.uk
Jordan Wright is still the IWF Champion after winning an "I Quit" match against Lee Kyle in Gosforth on May 10th but he should be a worried man as Assassin gets his title shot on the 24th at the Whitley Bay Centre.
It’s war in the Runcorn Wrestling Academy at the moment as new Chief Executive ‘The Beast’ Hannibal Ramseed feuds with wannabe Chief Executive Luke Marsden. As a result the first ever Marsden-Ramseed Cup starts at ‘Dogs of War’ which is being held at The Grangeway in Runcorn on May 24th. It’s also an important night for Angel D’Souza who takes on F8L in a handicap match where a win gets him a title match and a loss sees him out the company forever.
More news from the North next week, my next column looks at what’s going on in the Midlands with news of a new company soon to be making their debut and you’ll discover just what an Anti-Disqualification match is.
For a comprehensive news round-up from over 80 companies go to the UK News Centre at www.piledriver-online.co.uk with news and results from each company for the whole year all in one document. You’ll also find a list of current champions in the UK (over 150 at the last count) plus in the News centre, Indy and Fighting Females news. In the downloads section there are free pdf magazines to download, the latest edition includes interviews with Cheerleader Melissa, Steve Austin, Johnny Saint, Mal Sanders and Klondyke Kate.
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