This is going to be a strange experience. Almost four years ago I, along with about 2,000 other people, filled the Norwich Sports Village for one of the biggest wrestling shows in Britain, ever - the World Association of Wrestling's Fightmare show. Now, nearly a year after part one was released on DVD, and almost silenced by aching tonsils, I have decided to relive some old memories.
The DVD starts with a nice video package featuring music from Overboard 3, who count the Bulk among their number. This montage only gives you a brief glimpse of just how good the production quality is.
The show starts off with the veteran, "Gentleman" Jimmy Ocean, against the masked Battlekat. The crowd are firmly against Ocean in this one, probably because he insulted the fans on the microphone before the match started. This was a good show opener, with the crowd going wild for Battlekat's high flying tactics. However, Ocean grounded the Kat and pounded on his leg before the Kat tapped out to Ocean's half-Boston Crab. A good opener here.
Next up is a man I'd never heard of before and I've never heard from since, "The Model" Dale Preston, against James Mason, a definite few pounds lighter than in his TNA X-Cup appearance. Preston used his superior size and strength to dominate Mason, but Mason fought back with some good wrestling and came back to defeat Preston with a flying body press off the top rope. The 2001 model of Mason is far superior to the 2004 model. This earlier version would have done a lot better over in TNA last year.
Then it's time to bring out the toys as one half of the U.K. Pitbulls, Big Dave, takes on then-Youth Champion Lee Maxx in a tables match. It's a match of speed versus size as Big Dave is more than twice the size of Maxx. At times Maxx seems to hit harder than Big Dave, and uses several aerial moves in an attempt to take the strongman down. But Big Dave takes him down for the victory after a choke bomb through two table at ringside, and a power bomb through two chairs in the middle of the ring.
Next up it's the match that made me a Zebra Kid fan, as he defends his Cruiserweight title against Jody Fleisch. I really can't speak too highly of this match, with two of the country's best cruisers going at it, neither man holding back as they fought all around the ring using various ladders and chairs as weapons, before the Zebra Kid eventually won this hard hitting bout.
Then it's onto the extras on disc one. First up is Danny Royal and the Brixton Brawler, along with their manager, the Beast from the North East, against the team of Paul Tyrell and "The Wonderkid" Jonny Storm. At the time the Brawler reminded me of my local bin man, but he certainly was one tough geezer in that ring, while Royal is another one of those wrestlers I've heard little about, both before and after this show. The clash of styles between the two teams showed at times, but Tyrell and Storm seemed the more polished duo, reminding me of the Hardy Boys in their prime. A good enough bout, with Storm pinning the Brawler after a Tyrell assisted cross body block.
Next up in the disc one extras is the interview with World title challenger P.N. News, interviewed here by Mal Mason. This is basically the set up for the main event. As the former rapper endears himself to the locals and dismisses the challenge of the giant Tiger Steele, the U.K. Pitbulls arrive in the ring, where Big Dave bemoans the fact that there is no Brit in the title match. The big men then proceed to attack News, injuring his knee and putting him out of the title match. Amid all the confusion, the Pitbulls demand that Big Dave is put in the title match as News' replacement.
Disc two begins with a second video montage, again featuring music from Overboard 3. Again, nicely put together.
The action begins again with the British title match, as Hot Stuff defends his title against Ricky Knight. Of course, there is plenty of interference from the queen of the harpies, the Sweet Saraya, but it is the distraction of Sandy Scott that causes Knight to lose, as Hot Stuff pins Knight after a moonsault. Good stuff here, and it's a shame that Hot Stuff is no longer active as a wrestler.
It's hard-core time next as the Bulk and Poisen literally knock seven sorts of you know what out of each other, including Poisen's unique use of a crash helmet. Poisen is refereed to as Britain's answer to Mick Foley, and some of his moves would make the best selling author proud. It's a shame he isn't seen around the British scene now. Good use of the toys here, including guitars, trays, and even a plastic kettle, before Bulk grabs the win after a Bulkishi Driver.
Then it's the battle of the veterans and the eternal rivals, as Drew McDonald and Robbie Brookside battle all over the Norwich Sports Village in a falls count anywhere match. I actually missed most of this match on the night, because I was dying for a slash, so it was good to finally see this match in full. I never tire of seeing these two against each other. A hard hitting affair between the two veterans, as Drew defeats Robbie after an Ace Crusher. However, the referee, while sending Drew's manager for the night, the Elegant Emma, away from the find, he failed to see Jimmy Ocean attack Robbie before Drew's final pin.
Then it was time for some more tag-team action, this time from the girls, as Sweet Saraya ad Nikki Best took on Julie Starr and Sheena Summers, and judging from her performance on the microphone, Saraya obviously wasn't on the de-caff that day. While this wasn't the most fluent of matches, it was still a good advertisement for women's wrestling in Britain, with Saraya and Sheena the pick of the four wrestlers in this bout. The ending once again featured interference from Sandy Scott. After Nikki Best and Julie Starr disappeared backstage while brawling, Ricky Knight left his commentary position and attacked Sheena. This brought Scott back into the action. Scott obviously had a grudge against the Knight family, evident as he tombstoned Saraya, allowing Sheena to get the pin.
Then it was main event time as the two big men, Big Dave and Tiger Steele, went at it for the vacant WAW World title. Steele kind of looked like a Kevin Nash clone, but this was before he decided to try his hand at being a gladiator, before settling on being a cowboy. If I'm going to be honest here, this match lacked spark, and it seemed that the longer this match went on, the spark was snuffed out. Things only picked up when the Bulk and P.N. News interfered as the referee was taking a snooze. Steele won the bout and the title in a match that probably won't make any best of compilations.
Finally, it was time for the Battle Royale, with the winner getting a shot at the Zebra Kid's Cruiserweight title. By this time, it was nearly midnight, and some of the fans were starting to leave the arena, so they didn't really care when Bash won the battle. Perhaps the only fault with this bout was that it was on the wrong place in the card.
In conclusion, compared to a lot of other shows I've seen on video from around that time, Fightmare is probably one of the best. In terms of production values, it certainly rates better than some of the shows currently broadcast on The Wrestling Channel. If I have to fault this on one thing, then it's that the commentary, provided at various times by Sweet Saraya, Robbie Brookside, Ricky Knight and others, is somewhat difficult to hear at times. However, Drew McDonald's commentary during the British title match is priceless, and more than makes up for any shortfalls.
Of course, match of the show goes to the Zebra Kid/Jody Fleisch ladder match. The best ladder match I've seen on British soil.
Next up in the disc one extras is the interview with World title challenger P.N. News, interviewed here by Mal Mason. This is basically the set up for the main event. As the former rapper endears himself to the locals and dismisses the challenge of the giant Tiger Steele, the U.K. Pitbulls arrive in the ring, where Big Dave bemoans the fact that there is no Brit in the title match. The big men then proceed to attack News, injuring his knee and putting him out of the title match. Amid all the confusion, the Pitbulls demand that Big Dave is put in the title match as News' replacement.
Disc two begins with a second video montage, again featuring music from Overboard 3. Again, nicely put together.
The action begins again with the British title match, as Hot Stuff defends his title against Ricky Knight. Of course, there is plenty of interference from the queen of the harpies, the Sweet Saraya, but it is the distraction of Sandy Scott that causes Knight to lose, as Hot Stuff pins Knight after a moonsault. Good stuff here, and it's a shame that Hot Stuff is no longer active as a wrestler.
It's hard-core time next as the Bulk and Poisen literally knock seven sorts of you know what out of each other, including Poisen's unique use of a crash helmet. Poisen is refereed to as Britain's answer to Mick Foley, and some of his moves would make the best selling author proud. It's a shame he isn't seen around the British scene now. Good use of the toys here, including guitars, trays, and even a plastic kettle, before Bulk grabs the win after a Bulkishi Driver.
Then it's the battle of the veterans and the eternal rivals, as Drew McDonald and Robbie Brookside battle all over the Norwich Sports Village in a falls count anywhere match. I actually missed most of this match on the night, because I was dying for a slash, so it was good to finally see this match in full. I never tire of seeing these two against each other. A hard hitting affair between the two veterans, as Drew defeats Robbie after an Ace Crusher. However, the referee, while sending Drew's manager for the night, the Elegant Emma, away from the find, he failed to see Jimmy Ocean attack Robbie before Drew's final pin.
Then it was time for some more tag-team action, this time from the girls, as Sweet Saraya ad Nikki Best took on Julie Starr and Sheena Summers, and judging from her performance on the microphone, Saraya obviously wasn't on the de-caff that day. While this wasn't the most fluent of matches, it was still a good advertisement for women's wrestling in Britain, with Saraya and Sheena the pick of the four wrestlers in this bout. The ending once again featured interference from Sandy Scott. After Nikki Best and Julie Starr disappeared backstage while brawling, Ricky Knight left his commentary position and attacked Sheena. This brought Scott back into the action. Scott obviously had a grudge against the Knight family, evident as he tombstoned Saraya, allowing Sheena to get the pin.
Then it was main event time as the two big men, Big Dave and Tiger Steele, went at it for the vacant WAW World title. Steele kind of looked like a Kevin Nash clone, but this was before he decided to try his hand at being a gladiator, before settling on being a cowboy. If I'm going to be honest here, this match lacked spark, and it seemed that the longer this match went on, the spark was snuffed out. Things only picked up when the Bulk and P.N. News interfered as the referee was taking a snooze. Steele won the bout and the title in a match that probably won't make any best of compilations.
Finally, it was time for the Battle Royale, with the winner getting a shot at the Zebra Kid's Cruiserweight title. By this time, it was nearly midnight, and some of the fans were starting to leave the arena, so they didn't really care when Bash won the battle. Perhaps the only fault with this bout was that it was on the wrong place in the card.
In conclusion, compared to a lot of other shows I've seen on video from around that time, Fightmare is probably one of the best. In terms of production values, it certainly rates better than some of the shows currently broadcast on The Wrestling Channel. If I have to fault this on one thing, then it's that the commentary, provided at various times by Sweet Saraya, Robbie Brookside, Ricky Knight and others, is somewhat difficult to hear at times. However, Drew McDonald's commentary during the British title match is priceless, and more than makes up for any shortfalls.
Of course, match of the show goes to the Zebra Kid/Jody Fleisch ladder match. The best ladder match I've seen on British soil.
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