In their final show of the year, WAW aided local hero Steve Quintain in putting on the latest of his charity shows. With five matches headlined by Quintain's own on-going battle with Sandy Scott, the card looked promising for the near 500 fans in attendance.
WAW Cruiserweight Championship
"THE WONDERKIND" JONNY STORM (c) v THE ZEBRA KID
Four weeks ago, Storm had defeated Zebra for the title at October Outrage IV, following the mistimed interference of Rowdy Ricky Knight. Now Zebra was the first man to get a crack at the Wonderkid's title in a match that proved to be an excellent opener.
Storm attacked Zebra before the bell, and unleashed his high-flying arsenal early. The assault only lasted a matter of minutes before Zebra gained the upper hand, eventually throwing Storm over the top rope.
Annoyed at the reaction he was getting from the Lowestoft locals, Storm fought back, only for Zebra to mount another fight back. Hitting a "TKO" on Storm, Zebra climbed to the top rope and came crashing down with a frog splash. This would probably have been enough against any other opponent, but Storm didn't want to let his championship gold slip away so easily.
Although it was not advertised as such, when the action spilled to the outside, Zebra was again revealed his hardcore tendencies as referee Charlie Frary struggled to keep control. As this reporter ran for cover, Zebra used the ringside table to good advantage, slamming and suplexing Storm onto it.
When the action returned to the ring, Zebra hanged Storm upside down in the corner, before grabbing a chair and placing it in front of Storm's face. Seconds later he delivered a drop-kick to the chair.
Wanting to regain the championship more than anything, Zebra hauled Storm onto the top rope and caught him in a hurricanrana. As Storm staggered to his feet, Zebra prepared himself for his own version of the sweet chin music.
Despite getting this much of a beating, Storm fought back for a few moments, but missed by a mile when he went for a moonsault. Seconds later, Zebra was going hardcore again, again slamming Storm onto the table.
The battle continued through the crowd, and towards the backstage area. Zebra slammed Storm against the wall, but Storm fought back, using a basketball hoop to deliver a hurricanrana of his own.
When the wrestlers returned to the ring again, Storm began to argue with the ref. This gave Ricky Knight the opportunity he had been looking for. Having cost Zebra some matches earlier in the week, Knight clobbered Zebra with the bell, before running off like a thief in the night. With Zebra lying prone on the mat. Storm secured the victory.
Nursing his bruises, Zebra grabbed the microphone, bemoaning his defeat. Storm denied any underhanded interference, and aiming to show that he was a fighting champion, Storm granted Zebra an immediate re-match.
The action started again. There were several pin attempts by both men, as move was followed by countermove. Soon, Storm tried to go to the top rope, but Zebra foiled his attack. Three seconds later, Zebra had the pin, and the Cruiserweight gold once again.
Taking the microphone again, Zebra applauded Storm's show of sportsmanship in granting him an immediate re-match. The two then shook hands, before Storm made a challenge for the next Lowestoft show - a TLC match.
KLONDYKE KATE v SWEET SARAYA
Sadly, despite the fact that both women held titles, this was a non-title match, as arguably the two top female grapplers in the country went at it. Saraya was carrying a few injuries going into this bout, but it didn't show in her performance.
Power was the order of the day as Kate bested Saraya with sheer power early on. The behemoth centred her attack on Saraya's weak left shoulder. The WAW World Champion was clearly in pain as Kate wore her down.
Saraya fought back briefly, managing to get her much larger opponent off her feet. Climbing to the top turnbuckle and showing good balance as she walked the top rope a short way, Saraya came crashing down on Kate with a big splash.
Kate fought back a few seconds later, throwing Saraya to the outside of the ring. As Saraya tried to climb back into the ring, Kate blocked her entrance. Saraya used the top rope as a weapon as she gained her entrance a few moments later.
Getting Kate into the corner, Saraya climbed to the middle rope and delivered ten blows to Kate's skull. The effect of these blows was only fleeting though, as Kate pushed Saraya off her, Saraya flying through the air into the middle of the ring.
Kate then went back on the attack, using her power with a submission hold on Saraya's neck and shoulders. Saraya was beginning to wilt, but she soon found the strength she needed, eventually catching Kate with an enziguri. Kate rolled to the outside to get he wits about her.
Saraya was having none of it though, as she dived through the ropes and landed on Kate, Kate crashing to the floor outside. As the referee Joe Williams tried to restore order, Saraya threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Kate, before delivering a head butt to Saraya's lower region.
Back in the ring, though, Kate soon regained the upper hand. Overpowering her opponent again, Kate pinned Saraya following a tombstone pile driver. Her actions afterwards proved to be her downfall. With Saraya barely conscious on the mat, Kate continued her attack. The referee then reversed his decision, and to the delight of the fans, awarded Saraya the disqualification victory. Kate was not a happy woman.
THE SUPERFLYS v PAUL TYRELL and BASH
Despite their differences in recent weeks, the original Superflys, Rowdy Ricky Knight and Gentleman Jimmy Ocean reformed for this contest against the Essex star Paul Tyrell, and the new British Champion Bash, who was substituting for the absent Phil Powers.
As is the way of the Superflys, Knight and Ocean insulted the locals before the match began, and Knight attacked Tyrell before the bell. Knight's experience showed as he dominated Tyrell for the early part of the match, before throwing him to the outside, where Ocean caught him with a DDT on the floor. As Knight joined in the attack on the outside, Bash came into the ring and flew over the top rope onto the Superflys. The attack was short lived as Ocean clobbered him with a chair.
Back in the ring it was Bash's turn to get the beating. Knight and Ocean took turns in attacking Bash, but despite the fact that they are two of the best wrestlers this country has ever seen, the Superflys still felt the need to use underhanded tactics, bringing Bash's baseball bat into the equation on
several occasions.
After Knight missed a leg drop on Bash, Tyrell was tagged back in. He almost scored a pin on Knight followed his trademark splash from the middle rope. It was only Ocean's interference that foiled his attempt. The Superflys then began to double-team Tyrell in the ring, before Tyrell fought back by
throwing Knight and Ocean into each other.
Tyrell soon scored with a leg drop from the second rope on Ocean, the pin attempt again being foiled from the outside. As Bash complained to the ref about this, Ocean floored Tyrell with a chair. Knight then whipped him into the corner, where Ocean was waiting with the baseball bat. Bash again tried
to complain, but the referee was having none of it. Bash's distraction was actually harming his partner as the Superflys continued the attack with the bat.
Tyrell fought back. Climbing to the top rope, he flew through the air and caught Knight with a drop-kick. Tagging Bash in, Bash grabbed Knight's arm and walked the top rope, coming crashing down on the arm with a leg drop. Bash tried this tactic again, but Ocean stopped him, walloping him with his own baseball bat.
Despite this attack, Bash fought back, catching Knight with a big boot as Knight came off the ropes. He followed this up with a quick DDT, but then missed the flying head butt off the top rope. Ocean then returned to the ring catching Bash with a jumping DDT off the rope. As Knight went for the cover, Tyrell placed Bash's leg over the bottom rope. Despite the fact that they had constantly been breaking the rules, the Superflys complained bitterly about this.
Tyrell soon returned to the fray, catching Knight with a Stunner after a quick exchange. Knight sought solace on the outside, but Tyrell was having none of it, diving over the top onto both Knight and Ocean. Soon regaining their senses, the Superflys began to double-team Bash before Tyrell got back in on the action.
Back in the ring, things started to go badly wrong for Tyrell, as he caught his head and neck between the top and middle rope. Tyrell tried to free himself, but Ocean and Knight began to beat down on him.
Having seen enough of the Superfly's underhanded tactics throughout the match, the Zebra Kid and Jonny Storm came running down to the ring, and attacked Knight and Ocean. The referee had had enough. He called for the bell and threw the contest out.
Storm grabbed the microphone, and he let the fans know what he thought of the Superflys, using words I sadly can't repeat here. Now free from the ropes. Tyrell grabbed the mic and challenged the Superflys to another contest. Knight was having none of it though, saying that if Tyrell wanted another match, he'd have to go through the proper channels.
With the interval now upon us, Tyrell, Bash, Storm and the Zebra Kid stayed in the ring for the obligatory photograph session. When this concluded, Rusty Gough, famous for his portrayal as one of the "Oompah Loompahs" in the 1970's film, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", drew the raffle, the money raised from this being donated to local charities. It was soon back to the action.
Lumberjack/Retirement Match
"THE TERMINATOR" SANDY SCOTT v STEVE QUINTAIN (with Elegant Emma)
Earlier in the evening, I saw Quintain's nephew, promising rookie Danny Quintain, in the dressing room area talking to Scott in some detail. I had no idea then that this would have some relevance on the outcome of this contest.
Before the match began, Scott reminded us of the reason he was so angry with Quintain, of how he felt betrayed when Quintain apparently dumped Scott in favour of another tag-team partner last year, the man in question being Jake Roberts.
With the introductions about to begin, Scott attacked Quintain early, and whenever Quintain went near the ropes, the heel lumberjacks, Ricky Knight, Jimmy Ocean and Tank, would try to drag Quintain out whenever they could. The action was never allowed to develop in the ring as this happened on a number of occasions. This resulted in a massive brawl on the outside of the ring
between both groups of lumberjacks.
When the action was allowed to progress, Quintain clearly out wrestled Scott. Quintain then decided to test the waters a little by throwing Scott outside to his comrades. The faces took great delight in attacking Scott, before the heels fought back with chairs, protecting their man in any way they could.
Back in the ring, Scott synched in a leg lock on Quintain, twisting the limb for all it was worth. Quintain broke the hold by using his free leg to kick Scott in the face. Fighting back, Quintain climbed to the top rope, coming down on Scott with a big splash. Scott's allies again came to his rescue as Ocean broke the referee's count.
Quintain continued with his comeback, catching Scott with a powerful clothesline. When Quintain went for the cover, the pin attempt was again foiled from the outside, but this time from an unsuspected source - Quintain's own nephew.
As Quintain questioned Danny's move, a pier six brawl broke out between both sides again, both in and out of the ring. As the referee got a little too close for comfort, taking a hit himself, Scott grabbed one of the chairs and levelled Quintain with it. As the fight raged on the outside, Zebra came into
the ring, and levelled Scott with a chair shot of his own. He then pulled the prone Quintain on top of the prone Scott, and with the referee still out of it, made a three count of his own.
Slowly, the referee came to, and declared the bout a no contest, having lost total control of everything. This meant that both men's careers remained intact.
Jumping into the ring and grabbing the microphone from the MC, Michael Mann, Jimmy Ocean complained to the ref about the outcome, accusing Quintain of paying the Zebra Kid. Zebra denied this, and told his version of the story, minus the incident with the chair. Ocean then complained again before the heels, along with Danny, attacked Quintain. The faces fought back, trying to get at the local turncoat. Zebra took the mic, asking Danny what he was doing. Ricky Knight revealed that the younger Quintain had seen the light, and that he had had enough of the older Quintain, of being in his shadow. Now regaining his senses, Quintain then grabbed the mic, and challenged his nephew to a match at the next Lowestoft show.
ROBIN KNIGHTWING v THE KRAFT
A special added attraction for this match. Beach FM disc jockey Tom Kaye was announced as the special referee for this contest, and he would prove to be the deciding factor in this most unique contest.
To prove an unfounded rumour he had heard beforehand, that the Lowestoft locals were a bunch of ugly people, the Sexy Monkey came to the ring with a camera in hand, and took a couple of photos. Once in the ring, he let the locals know of his true feelings towards them, and promised to give the Kraft a lesson in wrestling.
The first statement Knightwing made drew the ire of the special referee. Kaye grabbed the microphone and told Knightwing that he wasn't exactly pleased with the comments he had made. He also reminded the Canadian superstar that he was the man in charge.
After shaking hands with the Kraft, Knightwing went on the immediate attack. The rookie took great delight in throwing Knightwing over the top rope. Quickly getting back into the ring, Kraft caught him with a good looking suplex.
Knightwing bolted from the ring to get his act back together. When he tried to get back into the ring, Kraft wouldn't let him.
As Kraft showboated for the crowd, Knightwing got back into the ring and attacked him from behind. He dominated Kraft for a few moments, before trying for a monkey-flip (or should that be a sexy monkey flip?), from the corner. Kraft held onto his legs though, and taking a couple of steps forward,
dropped Knightwing onto the turnbuckles, head first.
Again bolting from the ring, Knightwing sought the solace of a young lady at ringside, who gave him a reassuring hug. Now comforted a little, Knightwing tried to get back into the ring but Kraft stomped on his hand. Knightwing again sought some reassurance from the young lady, who kissed his hand
better. Another attempt to get back into the ring was stopped by the Kraft, this time delivering a blow to Knightwing's skull.
Annoyed by this, Knightwing used the top rope to clothesline Kraft before getting back into the ring. A body slam later, and Knightwing went for the cover. However, special referee Kaye was still annoyed at Knightwing's earlier comments. He counted extremely slowly as the Kraft kicked out easily.
Knightwing then continued to dominate the contest. When the action went to the outside, Knightwing drop kicked Kraft from the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Kraft fought back, using a corner posting, followed by a slam in the middle of the ring. Knightwing was soon back on the offensive though, centring his attack on one of the Kraft's leg.
Knightwing then earned himself a rather odd warning from Kaye. He found himself in the doghouse after spitting at the crowd. Kaye threatened him with a disqualification for doing this. Kaye was being extremely protective of the local people.
Knightwing resumed his attack on Kraft's leg, before going for another pin. This resulted in another very slow count. Knightwing grabbed the microphone from Kaye, letting him know he was annoyed with the way he had been handling the match.
With Knightwing now more concerned with the referee than his opponent, Kraft went on the attack. Kraft unleashed a succession of moves on the Canadian - a monkey flip, a body slam, a press slam, followed by a leg drop to Knightwing's nether regions. Kraft tried this final move once again, but
Knightwing blocked the move. He then delivered a low blow of his own.
Now with the upper hand again, Knightwing tried for a pile driver, but Kraft was able to power out of this attempt with a backdrop. Kraft fought back for a few moments before Knightwing caught him with a Samoan drop. Knightwing then went for the cover, and once again, Kaye counted extremely slowly. Knightwing was again unhappy.
Again attacking Kraft, Knightwing went for a Boston Crab. Showing his inexperience inside the wrestling ring, Kaye went to count the move. Knightwing had had enough. As he remonstrated with the referee, telling him that he didn't use a three count on submission moves, Kraft came up from
behind, and rolled Knightwing up. A extremely quick three count later, and the Kraft had the victory in this rather unique match-up.
In conclusion - the Lowestoft shows always draw good crowds, and it's always good to see wrestling fans making an effort to see a live show, especially when it's to help raise money for good causes.
It's hard to say which match is match of the night in my opinion. Each match brought something different to the table, but on this occasion, the kudos go to Jonny Storm v the Zebra Kid. It's been a good week, and a good year all around for Zebra, and 2003 promises much for the young Norwich native.
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