RE-POST: WAW Class of 2002: Where Are They Now? (2004)

When I first began to work for WAW in December 2001, one of my first memories comes from attending the WAW Training Academy a couple of months later. As the trainees were put through their paces by the head trainer, the Sweet Saraya, I found myself walking around the hall and secretly predicting who had "it", and who didn't.

Now, over two years on from that date, I'd like to take a look back at some of the people who attended the academy that weekend.

DESTINY
When I first met this young woman, she was very shy, almost too embarrassed to talk to anyone, let alone compete in a wrestling ring. Two years later she is probably the most improved wrestler in this group. Many have compared Destiny to a young Klondyke Kate, and while she may take a while to get to Kate's levels of performance, she certainly has the will and the drive to get to that level. Keep in mind she's only 18, and with a long road ahead of her.

DETROIT
The American impressed everyone with his debut performances, so much so that the WAW fans voted him as their Rookie of the Year for 2002. Earning praise for his conduct in and out of the ring, Detroit made an emotional farewell when he returned to the States in October 2002. However, a brief return to Britain last year failed to impress, and he returned to America, where he now competes for several promotions in the Virginia area, including his own XIW company.

"THE GUV'NOR" MATT JONES
I had actually known Matt for some time before he enrolled at the academy, and in those first few months of training, he showed a great deal of promise. However, after just two matches, personal and health problems took Matt away from the wrestling world. Many felt this was a great shame. Inside the ring, he showed promise, outside the ring he was liked and respected by everyone he met, and some still talk about him today.

KHARISMA
I have to admit, your writer is feeling a little disappointed with regards to Kharisma's career. Two years ago she was thrown in at the deep end against Nikki Best and the Sweet Saraya, two of the toughest wrestlers to enter a wrestling ring, and she held her own. She continued to improve, and drew the attention of other promoters in Britain, but in the past few months, very little seems to have happened. Whether we see much more of this once promising prospect remains to be seen.

THE KRAFT
Kraft was one of the guys I earmarked for success that day. Well built, standing over six feet tall, he certainly looked like a wrestler. Two years on, he has come a long way. While some of his early matches weren't pretty to watch, he has progressed to the point where he can more than hold his own with the veterans of WAW. If he continues to improve, he can go far, and many predict a championship reign for the Essex Bomb in the next few years.

KARL KRAGIOUS
I'm bending my rules a little to make the numbers up, as Karl began training a few months after the others. In his first two matches, Karl showed a great deal of fighting spirit. However, some questioned his attitude away from the ring. Karl left the wrestling world for nearly eighteen months as he pursued other interests. However, Karl recently returned to action, but it's still too early to tell is he has the desire and skill to succeed in wrestling. I for one will be keeping a close eye on this young man's progress.

MALACHI
The Amish warrior has had a mixed time as far as training goes. Several injuries, including a severely dislocated elbow, blighted his progress. So far he has only competed in a few battle royals, and hopefully he'll make his full debut soon.

DAN "THE MAN" QUINTAIN
The nephew of current Cruiserweight Champion Steve Quintain, Quintain version 2.0 is another who showed great promise in training. However, three matches in two years leaves one wondering if the younger Quintain will make any further progress in the wrestling business. Miracles don't happen overnight, and it may take a few more months of training before he is ready for his next match.

JACK "THE TANK" RUSSELL
A bear of a man who has the potential to become a fearless powerhouse, the big man went through a number of incarnations before settling on the Jack Russell moniker. A back injury laid him up for a while, and with a return to the ring nowhere on the horizon, one wonders what will become of the big man.

ROCK WEILER
After a year of training, RW made his debut, and like many of his classmates, he impressed with his first few matches. Rock Weiler has the makings of a classic old school villain, and has made steady progress in the past few months, especially in his series of matches with fellow trainee The Kraft. Only time will tell where the man from the dog pound is headed. One thing is for sure, he certainly has the desire to get there.

So there you have it. Ten men and women who have entered the wrestling business in the past two years, and who have enjoyed varying degrees of success. What will happen to them in the next two years? It's really up to them if they succeed or not. As the line from Terminator goes; "Ain't no fate but what we make."