FAKENHAM, October 2002
WAW presented their third show in Fakenham in 2002, with a slightly different format, a King of the Ring style tournament, with four singles matches, followed by the four winners going into a four-corners elimination match. Also present at the show was Lloyd Ryan, once again trying to get his claws into WAW.
First Round
ZEBRA KID v BIG DAVE WATERS (with Lloyd Ryan)
Before the match even began, Ryan complained about the small crowd, and also about their high vocal capacity. It got to a point when big Dave threatened to leave because of the crowd's reaction to him.
Early on, Zebra found it hard going against the Sheringham strongman, Big Dave simply being too powerful for him. The only time Zebra got the upper hand against his larger opponent was when he introduced the ring bell into the equation. He then took to the air on several occasions, and going below the belt as many times as well, before Big D came back with a powerful full-nelson, used this time as a submission hold, something we don't seem to see much of these days. The hold was so powerful that Zebra once again had to resort to below the belt tactics to escape.
The end for Big D came soon afterwards as Zebra came off the top rope with a move I haven't seen him use before - a five star frog splash. Zebra was on his way to the final.
After the match, Ryan complimented Zebra on his performance, and told him to give Ricky Knight a message - that he was going to take over WAW. Ryan then made the mistake of complaining about the result to the fittest man in WAW, referee Charlie Frary. Ryan tried to physically intimidate him, but Charlie was more than a match for him.
DETROIT v JIMMY OCEAN
A formidable opponent for the American rookie this time around, in Gentleman Jimmy Ocean, someone who we sadly don't see enough of in the ring these days.
As soon as he stepped into the ring, Detroit looked nervous, which was perfectly understandable considering he was in the ring with a legend. In the opening stages, Jimmy not only out wrestled Detroit but overpowered him as well, his cunning and craft apparent for all to see. Detroit produced some good counter-wrestling moves, but Jimmy used the ropes to escape every time. Jimmy then complained about the crowd's "de-e-troit" chant.
Jimmy's experience was just too much for Detroit, especially when he began to work on Detroit's previously injured knee, and it wasn't long before Detroit tapped out when Jimmy applied a halfcrab. The veteran then took great delight in attacking Detroit after the bell.
THE BULK (with Lloyd Ryan) v TANK
A battle of the big men here, with the multi-time tag-team champion going up against one of WAW's rookies.
Once again, before the contest began, Ryan endeared himself to the crowd by insulting them, before the power battle began. Bulk overpowered the gridiron man in a match in which the slow, methodical approach was the order of the day.
Tank never really stood a chance in this match. Bulk's power and experience, coupled with Ryan's constant interference, was too much for the rookie, who showed some good flashes, but never really got out of the starting blocks.
After the bulk gained the victory, following a sit down slam, Ryan once again badmouthed the crowd, and once again tried to intimidate referee Charlie Frary, despite the fact that his man had won this time.
THE KRAFT (with Kharisma) v RICKY KNIGHT
The final match of the first round once again pitted rookie against veteran.
Ricky Knight once again proved that he is perhaps one of the best at working the crowd. The small crowd had been relatively quiet up until this point, but when the Rowdy Man came into the ring, they suddenly sounded as if they were four times the size they actually were.
Ricky dominated large parts of this contest, but despite throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the powerful rookie, Kraft just wouldn't give up, showing a never-say-die attitude that I've never seen from him before. Ricky's inability to put away his opponent boiled over into frustration, as referee Joe Williams was pushed to one side. Ricky didn't think that Joe would push back though!
Ricky's frustration was apparent for all to see as the time limit drew near, as he grabbed the ring bell and clobbered the Kraft. With his opponent now stunned, Ricky tied the Kraft up in the ropes. With his back turned to Ricky, the referee tried to free the Kraft, and Ricky executed his cunning plan. Grabbing Kraft's leg, he brought it up into the ref's nether regions. The ref immediately called for the DQ, and while the crowd were expecting a Kraft victory, they were dismayed to see that the ref was actually awarding the win to Ricky. The Rowdy Man's plan was executed perfectly.
Tournament Final
ZEBRA KID v JIMMY OCEAN v THE BULK (with Lloyd Ryan) v RICKY KNIGHT
An interesting combination here, with three heels and one face in the final, but this would change as the contest progressed. Before the match began, each man put forward their point of view, but the Bulk didn't get his opportunity, as he was given a present from Jimmy Ocean in the form of a drop-kick.
There was a tremendous amount of action in this match from all corners, with Ricky and the Zebra Kid particularly impressing. It was also interesting, from a personal point of view, to see the Superflys go at it with each other.
In what had to be a disappointment for the crowd, the Zebra Kid was the first man eliminated. Zebra scaled the top rope while Jimmy Ocean lay on the mat, but the veteran rolled out of the way, and Zebra came crashing down. He then clutched his back, in obvious pain, unable to continue because of injury.
After Ricky was quite brutal against Jimmy, the Bulk took over, and eliminated him with his patented Bulkishi Driver.
With two men left, Ricky put forward the idea of turning the remainder of the bout into a hard-core encounter, something which Ricky has become an expert at. The Rowdy Man used everything he could get his hands on as the battle went everywhere, before Ricky levelled the big man with a chair shot to get the pin, and the King of the Ring Trophy.
Disgruntled that his man had lost, Lloyd Ryan entered the ring, and badmouthed Ricky and all things WAW. Bulk's partner Big Dave then entered, setting up a Pitbulls double-team on Ricky, first executing a double choke slam, followed by a legdrop/big splash combo. It was only when Jimmy Ocean and the injured Zebra Kid returned, with weapons in hand, did the attack stop.
Seeing an opportunity, Ryan made Jimmy an offer, but Jimmy refused, saying that he wouldn't betray the WAW family, This only served to anger Ryan.
Then Ricky challenged Ryan and his stable to a match. Ryan offered to put £1,000 of his own money on the line. Ricky upped the ante to £5,000, putting forward the idea of a six-man hard-core match. Ryan accepted the idea, but in the confines of a steel cage. With the challenges out of the way, Ricky thanked the crowd for coming, promising that WAW would continue to put on shows in the smaller towns.
In conclusion, a good tournament, and also good to see the Clacton storylines carried over to other WAW shows. Match of the night was Ricky Knight v The Kraft. Kraft's never-say-die attitude against Ricky's all-out attack made for a very good contest.
CANVEY ISLAND, October 2002
Just over a week away from their biggest show of the year, WAW presented their second King of the Ring style tournament, supplemented by a tag-team match, and the appearance of Lloyd Ryan, once again wanting to destroy all things WAW.
KING OF THE RING - 1st Round
BASH v STEVE QUINTAIN
Looking to gain some momentum for his British title match next Saturday, Bash went up against local boy Steve Quintain in a contest which often reminded one of the good old days of British wrestling.
Technical wrestling was the order of the day from the outset, both men exchanging hold after hold. Neither man could gain the upper hand until Quintain used a move we never seem to see anymore in the bow and arrow. Bash cried out in pain as Quintain tried to snap him like a twig.
Bash could only gain the upper hand by using his favoured heel tactics, something which he has grown adept to over the years. He then showed us a move which I don't think I've seen him use much before. Grabbing hold of Quintain's left arm, he scaled the top rope, a la Undertaker, but whereas the Deadman (and Bash in previous matches) would have come down with a blow across his opponent's back, Bash came down across Quintain's arm with a legdrop.
Effective as this move was, it proved to be Bash's downfall. Overly pleased with his move, he showboated a little too much, allowing Quintain to score the roll-up and pin. Bash's arrogance proved to be his downfall.
JIMMY OCEAN v THE KRAFT
Having dealt with one rookie, Detroit, in last week's tournament, veteran Jimmy Ocean turned his attention to the American's new tag-team partner The Kraft, and showed that craft (no pun intended) and cunning were too much for his larger opponent.
Ocean's strategy was sound from the beginning. Out wrestling Kraft early on, the local boy overpowered Ocean briefly before the veteran went to work on Kraft's leg, continually weakening it with a variety of holds. Kraft fought back well at times, but the attacks were too brief as Ocean kept his wits about him at all times.
Ocean gained the submission victory with a halfcrab, keeping the hold locked in after the referee had called for the bell.
ROBIN KNIGHTWING v THE ZEBRA KID
The returning Canadian star went up against the new Premier Promotions champion in a match in which patriotic feelings ran very high. Indeed, Knightwing did his best to stir up anti-Canadian feelings early on by insulting the crowd. It was surprising that no-one started to sing "God Save The Queen". This would surely have enraged Knightwing even more.
With the crowd roaring their disapproval, Knightwing attacked Zebra before the bell, and Knightwing's power attack, pitted against Zebra's aerial ability made for an enthralling contest.
The air attack of the Zebra Kid was too much for Knightwing to handle though. Having kicked out of several good moves, including a five star frog splash, Zebra obtained the victory after an impressive flying elbow.
RICKY KNIGHT v DETROIT
The final match of the first round again pitted rookie against veteran, and once again proved that the up-and-coming stars in WAW could be a force to be reckoned with.
Once again drawing the ire of the crowd, Ricky Knight dominated Detroit for large parts of the contest, but the American's courage proved frustrating for the veteran, so much so that he had to resort to clobbering Detroit with the ring bell. This still wasn't enough to put him away though.
Detroit's defeat came when, as the Rowdy Man showboated for the crowd, Detroit climbed to the top rope. Waiting for his opponent to turn around, Detroit took to the air, only for Knight to move out of the way. Crashing to the mat, Detroit's now injured shoulder was soon under attack, Knight gaining the submission victory with an arm bar.
THE ESSEX BOYS v THE U.K. PITBULLS (with Lloyd Ryan)
With the first round of the tournament complete, we were then treated to a healthy does of tag-team action as Paul Tyrell and Phil Powers, re-forming the Essex Boys, went up against the multi-time champions and their erstwhile manager.
Before the match began Ryan once again insulted all things WAW, which made you wonder why he was even there in the first place!
Slow, methodical power moves from the Pitbulls were too much for Tyrell and Powers to handle. Brief spurts of quickness and aerial moves were soon blunted out by the Pitbulls size and strength. Tyrell was the first on the receiving end. There was hope with Powers tagged in, but it wasn't long before he received the same treatment.
A miscommunication between Powers and Tyrell showed that the relationship was still strained between them. After Powers accidentally drop-kicked Tyrell, Powers walked, leaving Tyrell to the dogs as it were, as the Big Dave and The Bulk secured the win with a Pitbull Power bomb.
Afterwards Ryan called Powers back to the ring, and made him an offer which he couldn't refuse. Sending a message to WAW head honcho Ricky Knight, Powers attacked Tyrell, who had to be helped back to the dressing room.
KING OF THE RING Final
RICKY KNIGHT v JIMMY OCEAN v STEVE QUINTAIN v THE ZEBRA KID
With the crowd still a little shocked by the attack on Paul Tyrell, the four-way elimination final got under way after some good mic work from three of the four men.
As with the previous week's final, the action was fast-paced with frequent tags and good moves from all corners, particularly from the Superflys, and Steve Quintain's choke slam on the Zebra Kid.
Despite having won the tournament the previous week, Ricky Knight was the first man to fall. After some good exchanges with the Zebra Kid, Zebra got the pin after a flying body press.
Zebra himself was the next man to go. After getting Jimmy Ocean in a dazed position on the mat. Zebra climbed to the top rope, only for Ocean to roll out of the way as Zebra came crashing down. A three count later and the Zebra Kid was history.
With the two ring veterans left to go at it, it wasn't long before Quintain got the pin on a tiring Ocean after a sunset flip. Afterwards, in a show of sportsmanship, Ocean presented Quintain with the trophy, and a handshake.
This wasn't the end of the evening's entertainment, as Lloyd Ryan sent his forces in to attack Quintain. Ocean tried to make the save, but the power of the Pitbulls was too much for him. As Ryan orchestrated the attack, Ricky Knight led his men back into the arena to make the save.
With both men enraged, Ryan and Knight threw threats and challenges towards each other, before more scuffles broke out, even including WAW's fittest man, referee Charlie Frary. Then we got down to the nitty gritty as Knight made the challenge - a steel cage hardcore encounter between Ryan's men and Team WAW. The challenge was duly accepted.
In conclusion, Canvey Island fans are always large and vocal, as they were this time around. Good fan response to the matches always improves them a little, as was the case here. A good tournament was highlighted by the Robin Knightwing/Zebra Kid bout, with the patriotic fervour running wild throughout The Paddocks. A good night all round.
KING OF THE RING - 1st Round
BASH v STEVE QUINTAIN
Looking to gain some momentum for his British title match next Saturday, Bash went up against local boy Steve Quintain in a contest which often reminded one of the good old days of British wrestling.
Technical wrestling was the order of the day from the outset, both men exchanging hold after hold. Neither man could gain the upper hand until Quintain used a move we never seem to see anymore in the bow and arrow. Bash cried out in pain as Quintain tried to snap him like a twig.
Bash could only gain the upper hand by using his favoured heel tactics, something which he has grown adept to over the years. He then showed us a move which I don't think I've seen him use much before. Grabbing hold of Quintain's left arm, he scaled the top rope, a la Undertaker, but whereas the Deadman (and Bash in previous matches) would have come down with a blow across his opponent's back, Bash came down across Quintain's arm with a legdrop.
Effective as this move was, it proved to be Bash's downfall. Overly pleased with his move, he showboated a little too much, allowing Quintain to score the roll-up and pin. Bash's arrogance proved to be his downfall.
JIMMY OCEAN v THE KRAFT
Having dealt with one rookie, Detroit, in last week's tournament, veteran Jimmy Ocean turned his attention to the American's new tag-team partner The Kraft, and showed that craft (no pun intended) and cunning were too much for his larger opponent.
Ocean's strategy was sound from the beginning. Out wrestling Kraft early on, the local boy overpowered Ocean briefly before the veteran went to work on Kraft's leg, continually weakening it with a variety of holds. Kraft fought back well at times, but the attacks were too brief as Ocean kept his wits about him at all times.
Ocean gained the submission victory with a halfcrab, keeping the hold locked in after the referee had called for the bell.
ROBIN KNIGHTWING v THE ZEBRA KID
The returning Canadian star went up against the new Premier Promotions champion in a match in which patriotic feelings ran very high. Indeed, Knightwing did his best to stir up anti-Canadian feelings early on by insulting the crowd. It was surprising that no-one started to sing "God Save The Queen". This would surely have enraged Knightwing even more.
With the crowd roaring their disapproval, Knightwing attacked Zebra before the bell, and Knightwing's power attack, pitted against Zebra's aerial ability made for an enthralling contest.
The air attack of the Zebra Kid was too much for Knightwing to handle though. Having kicked out of several good moves, including a five star frog splash, Zebra obtained the victory after an impressive flying elbow.
RICKY KNIGHT v DETROIT
The final match of the first round again pitted rookie against veteran, and once again proved that the up-and-coming stars in WAW could be a force to be reckoned with.
Once again drawing the ire of the crowd, Ricky Knight dominated Detroit for large parts of the contest, but the American's courage proved frustrating for the veteran, so much so that he had to resort to clobbering Detroit with the ring bell. This still wasn't enough to put him away though.
Detroit's defeat came when, as the Rowdy Man showboated for the crowd, Detroit climbed to the top rope. Waiting for his opponent to turn around, Detroit took to the air, only for Knight to move out of the way. Crashing to the mat, Detroit's now injured shoulder was soon under attack, Knight gaining the submission victory with an arm bar.
THE ESSEX BOYS v THE U.K. PITBULLS (with Lloyd Ryan)
With the first round of the tournament complete, we were then treated to a healthy does of tag-team action as Paul Tyrell and Phil Powers, re-forming the Essex Boys, went up against the multi-time champions and their erstwhile manager.
Before the match began Ryan once again insulted all things WAW, which made you wonder why he was even there in the first place!
Slow, methodical power moves from the Pitbulls were too much for Tyrell and Powers to handle. Brief spurts of quickness and aerial moves were soon blunted out by the Pitbulls size and strength. Tyrell was the first on the receiving end. There was hope with Powers tagged in, but it wasn't long before he received the same treatment.
A miscommunication between Powers and Tyrell showed that the relationship was still strained between them. After Powers accidentally drop-kicked Tyrell, Powers walked, leaving Tyrell to the dogs as it were, as the Big Dave and The Bulk secured the win with a Pitbull Power bomb.
Afterwards Ryan called Powers back to the ring, and made him an offer which he couldn't refuse. Sending a message to WAW head honcho Ricky Knight, Powers attacked Tyrell, who had to be helped back to the dressing room.
KING OF THE RING Final
RICKY KNIGHT v JIMMY OCEAN v STEVE QUINTAIN v THE ZEBRA KID
With the crowd still a little shocked by the attack on Paul Tyrell, the four-way elimination final got under way after some good mic work from three of the four men.
As with the previous week's final, the action was fast-paced with frequent tags and good moves from all corners, particularly from the Superflys, and Steve Quintain's choke slam on the Zebra Kid.
Despite having won the tournament the previous week, Ricky Knight was the first man to fall. After some good exchanges with the Zebra Kid, Zebra got the pin after a flying body press.
Zebra himself was the next man to go. After getting Jimmy Ocean in a dazed position on the mat. Zebra climbed to the top rope, only for Ocean to roll out of the way as Zebra came crashing down. A three count later and the Zebra Kid was history.
With the two ring veterans left to go at it, it wasn't long before Quintain got the pin on a tiring Ocean after a sunset flip. Afterwards, in a show of sportsmanship, Ocean presented Quintain with the trophy, and a handshake.
This wasn't the end of the evening's entertainment, as Lloyd Ryan sent his forces in to attack Quintain. Ocean tried to make the save, but the power of the Pitbulls was too much for him. As Ryan orchestrated the attack, Ricky Knight led his men back into the arena to make the save.
With both men enraged, Ryan and Knight threw threats and challenges towards each other, before more scuffles broke out, even including WAW's fittest man, referee Charlie Frary. Then we got down to the nitty gritty as Knight made the challenge - a steel cage hardcore encounter between Ryan's men and Team WAW. The challenge was duly accepted.
In conclusion, Canvey Island fans are always large and vocal, as they were this time around. Good fan response to the matches always improves them a little, as was the case here. A good tournament was highlighted by the Robin Knightwing/Zebra Kid bout, with the patriotic fervour running wild throughout The Paddocks. A good night all round.
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