RE-POST: Tip for the Top: The Kraft (2003)

Bret Meadows entered the WAW training system in February 2002, and immediately made an impact. Adopting the name "The Kraft", in his first outing won the rookies battle royal at the Watton Sports Centre that same month.

It was a few weeks later where he made an dramatic entrance in his hometown of Clacton. At the Princes Theatre, as the U.K. Pitbulls fought the team of Hot Stuff and Triple X. After Big Dave Waters and Triple X were eliminated from the contest, the Bulk used every illegal tactic he could against Hot Stuff. In the heat of battle, the referee got blind sided, as was knocked out. The Kraft saw the chance to make an impact. Storming the ring, Kraft clobbered the Bulk over the head with a keyboard, giving Hot Stuff the chance to gain the victory.

But the Pitbulls were unhappy. Furious that a rookie had interfered in their match, Kraft made his first enemy as Big Dave challenged him to a match in Clacton the following April.

Kraft continued to hone his skills in battle royals, and at WAW's training facility, preparing himself for his big match. When the match came, he did himself proud. Going against one of wrestling's strongest men, and giving them the fight of their lives is no mean feat. Kraft gave all he could to Big Dave, but sadly, it wasn't enough to get the win.

He continued to learn the trade, putting on excellent showings against more experienced wrestlers like Paul Tyrell, the Bulk, and in re-matches with Big Dave Waters. Although not always coming out of these matches as a winner, he showed that he couldn't be taken lightly.

This was evident at the Fakenham Community Centre in October, in WAW's "King of the Ring" tournament. In his first round match with grizzled veteran "Rowdy" Ricky Knight, Kraft showed a never-say-die attitude that won him a multitude of fans. Knight threw everything he had at the rookie, but Kraft wouldn't go down. The only way Knight could secure the win was to get the Kraft disqualified.

It was around this time that Kraft entered the tag-team division. Forming the "Fast and Furious" tag-team with his good friend and fellow rookie Detroit, the pair had an excellent outing at October Outrage IV in Norwich, going up against the Dark Angels, the Battlekats, and the U.K. Pitbulls for the Crusher Mason Memorial Trophy. The close friendship Kraft and Detroit had showed in the ring. They won even more fans that night, even though they failed to win the trophy.

Kraft's team with Detroit proved to be a short-lived affair. For personal reasons, Detroit had to return home to America with his family. The team, however, went out on a high-note. Going against the U.K. Pitbulls at the Watton Sports Centre in October in an elimination match, Fast and Furious won a gruelling battle when Detroit pinned the Bulk. It left many fans wondering what might have been. Had Fast & Furious been given more time as a unit, they would surely have won tag-team gold.

The Kraft moved back into the singles ranks with his next match, and the progress he had shown in the past few months was rewarded with a shot at Bash's newly won British title in his hometown of Clacton last November. He came out on the losing end that night, but showed that he was a worthy contender for the British title.

As 2003 began, the Kraft showed that he had learned his wrestling lessons well in his next contests. Going against "The Tattooed Warrior" Steve Quintain at the Valentine's Day Massacre, Kraft was able to match Quintain move for move, hold for hold, in an excellent wrestling contest. A week later, in Clacton, he wrestled another excellent contest against Paul Tyrell, the only thing stopping him from obtaining the victory was a knee injury. Rather than take the victory from the Kraft in this manner, Tyrell demanded the draw, and offered Kraft a re-match at a later date.

With his size and good looks, along with the skills he has learned over the past year or so, the Kraft has proven to be a hit with the WAW faithful, so much so that he gained third place in the recent WAW Rookie of the Year awards, behind his tag-team partner Detroit, and the Dark Angel Ashe. He has shown that no matter who he is put against, be they rookie or veteran, he can hold his own. The next year could prove to be a vital one in this young man's career. In this writer's opinion, he'll soon be challenging for more championship gold.