FWA @ London MCM Expo - DVD Review

It’s time to delve into the Frontier Wrestling Alliance box set again, and this time we’re going to take a look at the eighth show of the set, and a slightly different show this time as we look back at two days of matches at London’s MCM Expo last October.

Day one began with singles action as Jack Gallagher went up against Zack Diamond Gibson.

Just as the match was about to begin R.J. Singh and his Bhangra Knights appeared on the scene, with Singh informing everyone that he was here to watch the up and coming stars, people he’d be stepping over in the future, before he joined Dave Bradshaw at the commentary table.

This proved to be a nice little opener. Both guys put together some good sequences, although there were a couple of botched moments, but then again that’s to expected with two guys who are new to the game and just coming through the system.

Late on both men took to the top rope for their big moves, and both men missed before Gibson scored with a suicide dive.

It was then that the referee began his ten count. Gibson stopped Gallagher from getting back into the ring as both men were counted out.

Gallagher then grabbed the microphone, basically praising himself before he was once again interrupted by Singh, who challenged his rival Rock Star Spud to turn up early for their match.

It was then that Zack Sabre Junior came down to the ring, telling of how he was without his tag partner and his opponent for the show. Paul Tracey then made an appearance, and in not too many words offered to take the free spot in his match.

Again, just as the match was about to begin R.J. Singh made another appearance, saying that he was going to wait for Rock Star Spud to appear before once again taking a position at the commentary table.

This was a nice little match. Tracey did well with his superior size early on, but it wasn’t long before Sabre came back into the match, using his speed advantage to good effect, and his top rope dropkick looked particularly impressive.

Sabre came out on top in the end, basically tying Tracey up in knots before getting the pin with a roll up.

R.J. Singh then got back into the ring, along with his cronies, demanding his match with Rock Star Spud there and then. Seconds later the burly female security guard appeared, closely followed by the Rock Star himself, complete with new haircut, courtesy of BBC 3 show “Snog, Marry, Avoid”. My choice for that particular show is avoid….like the plague.

Spud then grabbed the microphone, telling Singh that because Jonny Storm had injured his neck he was unable to compete. He then told his rival that if Singh gave him an hour he’d find him a new opponent. It was a deal that Singh and his men readily agreed to.

So, by the magic of television, the hour passed very quickly, with R.J. Singh making another appearance, demanding that Spud bring out his opponent, who turned out to be high flyer Nick Riley. Singh then reminded Spud that as he didn’t have a manager’s licence he’d have to leave.

This match may have been quite short but it featured two impressive performances, with Riley pulling off some great high flying moves early on.

Singh came back well and looked like he was about to get the win several times, especially when his cronies at ringside interfered at periodic intervals.

But later on an upset was in the offing as Riley pulled off even more great high flying moves, but when Singh’s cronies distracted the referee the Bollywood Dream took Riley out with the back stabber, but just when it looked like he was about to get the pin his music played.

Distracted, Singh went to the ropes, only for Riley to follow him over and roll him up for the winning pin.

It was then revealed what had happened when Spud came back out and admitted to playing Singh’s music. Singh then said he wanted to avenge his loss, challenging Riley to a rematch on day two.

After Leroy Kincaide came out to join Bradshaw at the commentary table it was on to the next match, tag team action as Jack Gallagher and the massive Richter faced Zack Diamond Gibson and Axl Rage.

This was meant to be the continuation of the earlier Gallagher/Diamond match, but the problem here was that it just seemed a little disjointed. Richter did the usual big man moves while the smaller guys pulled off a few high spots.

The end came when Richter went for a top rope move, only to be stopped by Rage and Diamond as they threw him off the top rope. Moments later Diamond connected with a top rope splash for the three count.

Diamond and Rage’s celebrations were interrupted by three of the Agenda boys, Dave Moralez, Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees. Big Dave grabbed the microphone and basically ordered Diamond and Rage to face Rees and Redman.

The Agenda boys proceeded to dominate Rage and Diamond with their impressive offence, with Diamond taking the worst of the punishment. In fact it got so bad for Diamond that Rage didn’t fancy the prospect of any more punishment and jumped off the apron when Diamond went for the tag.

It wasn’t long before Rees and Redman sealed the deal when they took Diamond down with their super kick/back suplex finisher.

Then, just as Moralez was about to do even further damage to Diamond Kincaide left his commentary position and confronted his foes. Moralez sent Rees and Redman backstage before Kincaide said that they should wait for their match later in the day, that he wanted it now.

The pair locked up briefly and moved all along the ropes as Rees and Redman came back out. Moralez then left the ring, telling Kincaide that he’d have to wait an hour for their match.

Once again the hour passed with seconds before Dave Moralez, accompanied by Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees, went up against Leroy Kincaide.

Before the match began the referee informed Rees and Redman that they were barred from ringside, an idea that didn’t sit too well with the Agenda boys.

This was by far the best match of day one. A slow, methodical encounter with Moralez overpowering Kincaide to good effect, and Kincaide pulling off some good power moves himself, evening taking big Dave down with a fall away slam.

But just as Kincaide made his comeback and took Moralez down with the spear none other than World Champion Martin Stone appeared on the scene and pulled the referee out of the ring, earning Moralez the immediate disqualification.

Stone and Kincaide then had an impromptu brawl which Kincaide got the better off, and just when it looked as it the Agenda boys were about to launch a mass attack on the number one contender the baby face members of the roster in attendance rushed down to the ring to even the score.

Day two began three way action between Axl Rage, Zack Diamond Gibson and Jack Gallagher.

Once again, just as the match was about to begin they were interrupted by R.J. Singh and his director. Singh grabbed the microphone, telling those in attendance that he had prior business with Rock Star Spud and Nick Riley before taking a seat at the commentary table next to Dave Bradshaw.

Although the action was a little disjointed and forced at times this was a pretty decent opener. There were a couple of nice three way moves but overall all three up and comers put in good performances, with Diamond pinning Gallagher after a frog splash from the top rope.

So with the match over Singh and his director got into the ring and called out Nick Riley. But Riley was nowhere to be seen when Spud made his entrance. They then engaged in the usual verbal sparring, with Singh telling Spud that he had a big surprise for Riley in an hour. Spud responded with a big surprise of his own, mooning Singh in the middle of the ring.

Once again the hour passed extremely quickly as Singh and his director made their way to the ring again for his re-match with Nick Riley. But just as Riley was about to be announced Spud came down to the ring again so he could introduce Riley himself before joining Bradshaw at the commentary table.

Then, just as they were about to lock up Singh stopped and grabbed the microphone, informing Riley that his opponent would in fact be World Champion Martin Stone, who came out with his Agenda buddies Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees. Singh then told Spud that he had an hour to find him a new opponent.

Stone began this match with a swagger that made it obvious he thought this match was going to be easy. However, the champ didn’t have it all his own way as Riley took him down early on with a series of high flying moves.

But it wasn’t long before Stone took control, taking an almost sadistic pleasure as he looked to take the youngster apart. Riley put up a spirited comeback but in the end Stone took the win after taking Riley down with his London Bridge DDT.

After his henchmen Rees and Redman threw Riley to the outside Stone grabbed the microphone and called out his rival Leroy Kincaide. Kincaide was a no-show though as Stone promised to end his problem with his number one contender once and for all.

The next match saw yet another appearance from R.J. Singh and his director, with Spud having found an opponent for the Bollywood star in the form of Zack Diamond Gibson.

This was one of those short and sweet encounters. Diamond looked a lot better here than he did in the three way, putting on a good performance against his more experienced opponent.

Eventually Singh began to dominate, and it wasn’t long before he took Diamond down with the angel’s wings. Then, when it looked like he was going to get the pin he pulled Riley up, grabbing the microphone and accepting the challenge of El Ligero at European Uprising.

Singh then went to his director and took a mask off him, putting it on Diamond and taking him down with a second angel’s wings, once again pulling Diamond up as he was about to get the pin. He then applied a camel clutch, which Diamond quickly tapped out to.

But as Singh kept the hold on Spud came out to help, only to be stopped be Joel Redman. Redman held Spud by the neck and aggravating his neck injury as Singh demanded that Spud say that he wasn’t the new “wonderkid” of the FWA. It took him a while but Spud eventually relented.

This brought Leroy Kincaide out to the ring, just so he could tell Redman that his allies the Kartel would defeat Redman and his partner Iestyn Rees in the upcoming tag team match.

After an in ring appearance from Alex Shane in which he again mentioned a certain leading sports entertainment company “stealing” FWA storylines it was on to the weekend’s main event as the Agenda team of Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees, accompanied by Martin Stone, faced the Kartel, Sha Samuels and Terry Frazier, in a Tag Team Championship tournament quarter final replay. (No extra time or penalties in this one!)

This was a highly charged affair between two teams with a whole lot of history. The Agenda boys were at their sadistic best as they took their opponents apart, breaking a few rules along the way with Rees falling foul of the FWA’s card system as he earned both a yellow and a red card in quick succession.

This would later cost Rees his place in the match when the referee disqualified him for a third offence, but by then Frazier had been taken out, which meant that Redman wouldn’t have to go it alone.

After Samuels took Redman down with a spine buster Rees came back out, and while the referee was trying to send him backstage Redman delivered a low blow. When the referee returned his attention back to the match the first thing he saw was Redman covering Samuels. A three count later and the Agenda had advanced into the tournament.

Then, after Redman and Rees attacked Samuels after the bell all hell broke loose. Nick Riley was quickly taken out, and when Spud tried to help he was on the receiving end of a chair shot from R.J. Singh.

Alex Shane then left his commentary position and took out Rees and Redman before Martin Stone returned and clobbered Shane with his title belt, busting him open.

After Rees and Redman recovered and attacked Shane and Stone choked out FWA Managing Director Tony Simpson the champion taunted Shane with the title belt as Rees and Redman held him down. Stone told Shane to take the belt from him, but every time he tried he ended up being kicked in the head. Moments later and the Head of Content was thrown out of the ring.

As the Agenda gang celebrated in the ring Leroy Kincaide appeared out of nowhere and sent his rivals running for cover before he led the crowd in an FWA chant, which didn’t sit too well with Stone and his cronies.

In conclusion - I said at the beginning that this was a different kind of show, and it really was. Without regular wrestling fans in attendance this was more or less an advertisement for the FWA’s style of wrestling.

And it was a pretty good advertisement. All of the matches were very good, as were the majority of the performances, although constantly seeing the likes of Rock Star Spud and R.J. Singh all the time did get a little annoying after a while.

So in all this different kind of FWA show gets the thumbs up from this particular writer, not just for it’s performances but for the way it brought back fond memories of those holiday camp shows I used to help out with a few years back, and with just one more show left to review, our journey through the FWA’s first season is almost complete.

With thanks to the powers that bee supplying a copy of this release. FWA @ London MCM Expo is available to buy online either on it’s own or as part of the Season One box set at www.fwauk.com.

Don’t forget to check out my website at twoshedsreview.blogspot.com.