In 1999, British cable television station Live TV, amongst the weather midgets, topless darts matches, and news bunnies, presented a show from one of the few British wrestling promotions to get on television since Greg Dyke kicked it off the ITV television schedules in 1988, the Ultimate Wrestling Alliance. Now, after many months of searching the Internet, I can now bring you a review of the first UWA Wrestling Rampage show, the latest in my series of Retro Show Reviews.
The show begins with an introduction from our host, Dan Berlinka, who, while seated in an editing suite, tells us what's coming up in this week's show. Dan gives s the background info on the feud between "Flying" Phil Powers and Steve Lynsky. Yes, that Steve Lynsky, except here he has hair, and he's American, and he's wearing a suit! (Wrestling X in-joke there!)
Then it's on to the first match as Lynsky's man, Mad Dog McPhee, takes on Phil Powers. It's a battle of power against speed, as McPhee reminds me of Edge, if Edge had been on the gas. Mad Dog is far from impressive, and it's only Powers's skills that save this from being a dud. Powers gains the win with a small package.
Backstage, a babe by the name of Jamelia (not the singer) interviews Paul Sloan. Not much to see here before we return to Dan the link man in the editing suite.
Back in the arena we get a few words with the chairman of the board, British wrestling legend Mick McManus, still looking as scary as he did all those years ago. Only a few words from the great man here as he basically tells the fans that he is the law.
Dan then reappears and tells us about the upcoming UWA TV title tournament, before we return to the arena for our next match, as Steve Morocco and Paul Tyrell, Too Far Gone, take on the Death Squad, Mark Myers and the Iron Duke, who are accompanied by two gorgeous babes known as the Tiny Girls. This bout didn't do it for me, and at times, it was quite messy on the part of both teams. The Death Squad won after Myers pinned Tyrell following their Sheffield Hammer double team move.
More stuff from the editing suite as Dan tells us of the Death Squad's tag title aspirations. He then hypes the upcoming match between Tiger Mask IV and British star Jason Cross, for the Michinoku Pro British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight title (pauses to take in breath). Tiger Mask pops up for a brief comment in Japanese, before we return to the arena.
Then it's on to the match itself, as Jason Cross takes on Tiger Mask IV. A good match here which made up for the two slightly disappointing previous bouts. Both guys impressed me, with Tiger Mask winning the match and the title after a moonsault. Good stuff here.
Dan then hypes a match for the next show, Gran Naniwa against Kerry Cabrero, with some words from the Japanese star himself. He then hypes the gauntlet match for the UWA TV title, which will include the likes of Christopher Daniels, Stevie Knight and Phil Powers.
Next up is the FWA's Mark Sloan, going up against Big Papa T, who was apparently the bodyguard of the President of the Congo. I guess the prez liked his bodyguards to wear bondage gear, judging by the big man's appearance. Sloan has certainly put on some beef in the past six years or so. Not much to write home about here as the big masked man basically overpowers Sloan before getting the submission win with a Boston Crab. On a side note, did I spot a certain Mo Chatra as the ref here? If you're reading this Mo, let me know if you've finished that interview yet!
Dan then pops up briefly again, before Jamelia interviews Phil Powers about his protégé, Paul Sloan. Powers praises his student before the upcoming bout.
It's then back to the arena as Sloan takes on Jonny Storm, here in full heel mode. Apparently this is only Sloan's third professional match. Didn't take him long to get on the telly, did it? During the bout Steve Lynsky and the Mad Dog come down t the ring to help Storm out. Sloan looks like he's going to win with his superior power, but the interference of Lynsky and McPhee help Storm to the victory. The lads then triple tam Sloan before Powers comes down to the ring to help his boy out.
Dan the hypes the following week's show, before Jamelia pops up again and interviews Chairman McManus, who announces a tag match for the next show, as a result of what happened in the Sloan/Storm match.
In conclusion - I've been trying to get my hands on some of the old UWA shwos for a couple of years now, and I was pleased to get this tape from the classifieds section of the UK Fan Forum. The matches were okay, no real match of the year candidate here, but I was disappointed that the matches were relatively short.
The production values were very good, and I know this may sound like I'm flogging the proverbial dead horse, but this show certainly compares favorably with the majority of the current content on The Wrestling Channel. Announcers Steve Morgan and Ross Gordon didn't overshadow the wrestlers with their commentary style, but they did provide enough background information on the wrestlers, to bring those not in the know up to speed. Overall, as pilot shows of any genre go, new things take a little time to get used to, and I'm looking forward to seeing the other four episodes on this tape.
Match of the night goes to the Jason Cross v Tiger Mask match, although it's a shame it wasn't a little longer.
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