The Furious Flashbacks – FWA Goldrush

The FWA is the WWE of the UK scene. It has it’s own TV deal, albeit with The Wrestling Channel, and has also appeared on Bravo who show a lot of wrestling related stuff. It was the home to ECW TV and is currently showing UFC PPV. The show that appeared on Bravo was Revival. There’s a review of that in my archive. That introduced UK armchair fans to names like Doug Williams, Alex Shane, Jonny Storm and Jody Fleisch. Eddie Guerrero and Grandmasta Sexay provided the star quality but it was the British talent that really showed off what they were capable of. Shame the ring was so fucking awful (small, red and really soft looking). After that they went on to several success stories including the British Uprising concept whereby the British stars took on big American names. The first show was really good and I even went to Uprising III. Although the event was a huge disappointment AJ Styles v young upcoming star James Tighe was fantastic. The FWA has also worked in conjunction with Ring of Honor and put on the Frontiers of Honor show in 2003. Originally the FWA was a small company based in Portsmouth. It was called the Fratton Wrestling Alliance. Any football fan worth their salt would know that Fratton Park is the home of Portsmouth football club, hence the name. Owner Mark Sloan sold out to get the FWA made into something bigger. Fratton became Frontier and the shows moved to London. To give everyone an idea of what’s going on here’s a few bios of the FWA’s leading lights.

DOUG WILLIAMS – Everyone knows Doug. He’s been the ROH Pure Champion. The NOAH tag team champion and he’s known all over the world for his technical expertise. I’ve also met him and he’s a really nice guy. His finisher is the Chaos Theory which is a roll through out of the corner into a German suplex. He’s known Stateside as the Human Torture Device but in England he’s known as the Anarchist. He has the same style as some of the more classic British wrestlers and he’s a former judo champion so he has the amateur skills as well.

ALEX SHANE – One of the most well known wrestlers in England. Alex has been helping to raise the profile of British wrestling. He’s been on Talksport, national newspapers and various TV shows to help push British wrestling and has also been instrumental behind the scenes in getting big American talent to work in England. He was in charge of the FWA at the point of this show. Originally dubbed “The Showstealer” was a babyface until he turned on Ulf Hermann at British Uprising II. He’s been a hated heel ever since. His finisher is, in my memory anyway, a Michinoku Driver called the One Night Stand.

JONNY STORM – Storm is another well known British talent. He worked for CZW at Best of the Best #2. He works all around the world. He won the inaugural XPW European title only to never receive a belt due to the company being so utterly useless. His feud with Jody Fleisch has been seen the world over and always tears the house down. Jonny uses the Rewind Rana as a finisher where he jumps onto the buckles and then jumps backwards off into a rana.

BURCHILL – He could well be the biggest name on this list. Already famed in England for his impressive aerial skills considering his size (6′ 4″ and around 280lbs) he’s recently gone to OVW under WWE contract. He can hit Standing SSP’s, corner-to-corner moonsaults and his finisher is the C4. Which is a standing backflip urinage. He came in as a rookie in 2003 and just over a year later was off to the States. He’s one to watch.

ULF HERMANN – A name that might ring a few bells with American fans due to his Indy work over there. A hulking German giant with a foul mouth Ulf has been taken into the hearts of the FWA fans. His gimmick is that of an every man rule breaker. Not unlike Steve Austin at his peak.

JAMES TIGHE – The 2001 rookie of the year is a wrestler in the same technical build as Doug Williams. He has a chunky yet muscular body and combines power with technical skills. He’s one of the most well rounded young wrestlers in the UK. He’s yet to venture overseas but it’s only a matter of time before he does.

HADE VANSEN – Alex Shane’s protйgй. Nicknamed the “South City Thriller” he’s a midcard heel who’s notorious for attempting moves that are way beyond his abilities. A 3-year pro he still looks particularly green.

We’re in Broxbourne Civic Hall. Hosts are…rubbish. We kick things off with a dark match.

Leroy Kincade v DDL v Mark Belton v Paul Travell

Belton is known as Five Star Flash when he wrestles as a babyface, like he did in 3CW. DDL is Dangerous Damon Leigh and he’s from GPW. Travell is more of a hardcore wrestler who’s not afraid to take bumps. He is accompanied by Mr Pointy his barbwire baseball bat. I don’t really know anything about Kincade but apparently he’s one of Alex Shane’s security guys. Belton hammers DDL down to start. DDL hits a crossbody and a few back elbows. Drop out suplex into a neckbreaker. Belton bails to tag Kincade. He takes DDL over and snap suplexes him for 2. Swinging neckbreaker from Kincade but DDL fires back and NAILS Kincade with a LARIATOOOOOOOOOO for 2. Kincade landed square on his neck. Kincade is ok though and he berates Travell. He gets a tag and they screw something up. Kincade hits a clothesline at the second attempt. They nearly screw up a boot to the midsection AGAIN. Travell with a suplex but Kincade clotheslines him again. Fireman’s Carry Stunner from Travell. Belton runs in so Travell jabs him in the eye and spinebusters him. DDL in to bounce off Travell’s back for a plancha. Belton cuts Travell down with a spinning heel kick. Northern Lights gets 2. Travell comes back with a dropkick. Referee is doing nothing as everyone spills into the ring. Just nothing. DO SOMETHING. Heels miscue as DDL ducks an Ensiguri. Belton is pissed off but Kindcade kicks him out. DDL and Travell end up fighting. Hurricane DDT from Travell and he calls for Mr Pointy. Belton takes it off him and throws it out. Meanwhile Kincade hits the Spiral Tap on the already down DDL for the win. *1/2. Some decent stuff but way too much in terms of screw up’s. Travell and Kincade struggled to get it going. DDL didn’t have the best of days either.

Right, onto the actual show. Hosts are Nick London and someone else. I don’t really care to be honest.

James Tighe v Aviv Mayaan

Tighe broke in with a New Generation 3-way. At Uprising III Ross Jordan, Spud and Mayaan put on another New Generation 3-way. Tighe took exception and has already made Jordan and Spud tap out in recent weeks. They start switching standing and Mayaan does the rope flip arm reversal thing WITHOUT using the ropes. Tighe does it back but he needs to use the ropes. They switch some more on the arms with Mayaan showing off some lucha skills. Stand off. Rana from Mayaan. Tighe comes back with a press into a table top suplex for 2. Swish. They keep working hard and Mayaan hits a pair of Ensiguris. Tighe tries for a wind up move but Mayaan reverses into a headscissors. Tighe with a pair of backbreakers into a sideslam for 2. Tighe is showing really impressive power against the smaller Mayaan. Stalling vertical suplex and Tighe rolls with it into another stalling vertical and call it a trifecta. On the last one he lets go to do a bicep pose. Mexican surfboard from Tighe before throwing Mayaan off and kicking him in the spine. He’s already setting up for that Texas Cloverleaf. ROLLING BUTTERFLY into a Tiger Backbreaker. Mayaan dropkicks the knee but gets caught with a belly to belly. Tighe works the back some more and poses on the buckles because he’s got this sewn up. Mayaan catches him in an armdrag and hits a tornado DDT. Mayaan nips up and hits a hard clothesline sending Tighe to the floor. Mayaan follows out with a slingshot RANA on the floor. Back inside Mayaan gets a 2 count. To the ropes and Tighe counters Mayaan into the TIGHE FIGHTER. Tighe is too hurt to cover though after that big rana. Mayaan tries for the rolling prawn hold but that just leads to a nifty near falls and a double clothesline. Pumphandle urinage from Tighe and he straps on the Cloverleaf but Mayaan has the ropes. Tighe argues with the ref and gets a Yellow Card for that. RED DRAGON RANA! Mayaan with the senton into a rana for 2. Slingshot springboard crossbody gets 2. Mayaan is pulling out all the stops here. Tighe plants him back first though and straps on the Texas Cloverleaf again but again Mayaan drags himself into the ropes. Press slam brainbuster from Tighe and the Texas Cloverleaf is on again. Mayaan refuses to quit but he’s unconscious and Tighe wins it. ***1/2. Great match with Tighe working well against the cruiserweight style. It’s only a matter of time before Tighe catches on somewhere good. Hot opener.

BACKSTAGE – Nick London gets a word with Low-Ki. London rambles on and on so Ki chokes him. Normal promo from Ki.

PROMO TIME – Vansen has the WORST entrance music, ever. The audio on this is appalling. Seriously. FWA is supposed to be a professional company. Vansen talks about having a sore back. Bunch of cheap heat from Vansen. He calls out Flash Barker for an explanation of why he’s in a match with Ki tonight. Flash isn’t here tonight but Al Murray, Pub Landlord is! Oh no, wait. That is Flash Barker. “I was never confused!” He says the match was booked before Vansen won the match with Jack Xavier so, yanno. Barker talks about how good Ki is. Alex Shane’s security come out here to beat down Barker. Ki makes the save.

EARLIER Mark Sloan and Stevie Knight go over tactics for a battle royal. Knight suggests that a thumb in the arse is the best way to eliminate someone. Er, gay?

Stixx/Joe E. Legend v Doug Williams/Ulf Herman

Heel team sucks. Doug is a totally different class to everyone else. Legend gets on the mic to point out to Doug that Ulf screwed him over for the FWA title at Uprising III. Unfortunately everything he has to say is completely null and void thanks to his participation in Celebrity Wrestling. You…suck! Babyfaces nearly collide again but stop in time and clothesline the heels. Ulf suplexes Legend and the faces elbow drop away. Stixx comes in and he gets beaten down as well. Ulf with another suplex and a legdrop. Doug goes after Stixx’s neck with a rolling neck snap for 2. Back suplex gets 2. The faces show some good teaming where Doug gets protected and then dragged out of the corner. Ulf with the double save. Legend in and Doug sunset flips him for 2. Doug gets isolated and choked in the corner. Ulf stupidly won’t stop getting into the ring. Legend bounces Doug off the buckles for 2. Legend with a DDT for 2. Ulf gets in there and fights Stixx but that means that Doug can’t get the hot tag. Ulf Herman is a moron. He reminds me of Jim Duggan. Legend with a spinebuster and an elbow drop for 2. Ulf tries to get into the ring again. Moron! More heat on Doug. I’ve really lost interest in this. Doug breaks out the knees. BOMB SCARE but Stixx throws him off. Legend goes up so Ulf shoves him off. Ulf comes in and cleans house. Babyfaces are totally in charge but Doug misses with a diving headbutt. Legend misses a moonsault. Ulf misses a Savage elbow. Stixx misses a legdrop. Doug hits a Northern Lights for 2. Legend hits a Flatliner for 2. Ulf powerombs Legend for 2. Ho hum. Stixx hits a spinebuster on Ulf. Stixx avoids the Revolution DDT and Legend dragon suplexes Doug hard for 2. Ulf goes all hardcore by stamping on Stixx with the rail. Legend has a chair but Ulf boots him. Legend stops the Chaos Theory with a chair shot. Legend pulls Doug up and hits the Flatliner on the chair for the win. Ѕ*. Awful match. All booking without there ever being anything worthwhile in terms of wrestling.

POST MATCH Ulf wails on the heels with chair shots and Doug thinks that Ulf hit him.

BACKSTAGE Dean Ayass talks about Alex Shane ruining Burchill’s last moment in the FWA. Except it’s not because Burchill is still here.

Jonny Storm v Chad Collyer

The FWA really do hire too many Americans. Storm is STILL declaring himself to be the XPW European champion even though he doesn’t have a belt nor does that company exist anymore. Storm says he saved Jody Fleisch at Uprising III because he got him reinstated but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want him in the ring one more time. Collyer is a technician while Storm is a flier. That’s your contrast and storyline. Collyer tries to school Storm but he does some speedy counters on the mat into a stand off. Storm brings the Britishness to escape a wristlock. That was sweet. More British wrestlers need to learn stuff like that. Storm hits a headscissors as Collyer considers a Tombstone. Piledrivers are “illegal” in the FWA (because they want to be the WWE, basically). One of the commentators (London, I think) drives me nuts by calling Great Sasuke “Great Suzuki”. Just, KILL THIS MAN. HAVE HIM KILLED. I want him dead! Collyer grounds Storm and works at the neck. I’d have gone for the legs, personally. Keep him off the ropes. And set up your finish. Just saying. Storm works at the arm. I can only presume he’s looking to reduce Collyer’s grip so he can’t perform the Cloverleaf. Collyer overpowers him. Storm kicks at the chest in an innovative defensive hold. Springboard rana and an Ensiguri from Storm. Collyer falls outside. Storm does a double springboard to follow…INTO A HEADLOCK. Mark out moment – Double Springboard Headlock. Back inside Collyer hits a gutbuster and beats Storm down. Vertical suplex and he rolls him a front suplex (wrongly called a Gourdbuster by crappy commentator #2). Another gutbuster from Collyer and he’s still working the neck/ribs. Shades of Wilbur Snyder from Collyer. Storm counters an Ocean Cyclone into a bulldog. Double Springboard MOONSAULT PRESS gets 2. Storm is so impressive off those ropes. Collyer kicks him in the head sending him to the floor though. Collyer gets a run up for a TOPE SUICIDAA. Back inside Collyer hits a high crossbody for 2. German suplex gets 2. Ghost pin gets 2. Collyer blocks the Ferris Wheel. TIGER DRIVER gets 2. Collyer tries for the Texas Cloverleaf but Storm counters into a pin for 2 because Collyer has done NOTHING to the legs. REWIND RANA!! That gets 2. I love that. Leg lariat from Collyer. To the ropes and Collyer takes charge only for Storm to counter into a DDT off the top for the pin. That had to be pretty close to the time limit. ***. Really dull for at least 10 minutes with no apparent focus or direction. The psychology irritated me. But it kind of made sense as Collyer hadn’t done the right body part work so Storm still had the ability to do all his flying and Collyer lost. Hence the actual awarding of stars. Made Collyer look like a tool though.

BACKSTAGE Stixx says it’s his job to win the Goldrush and make sure Alex Shane retains his title.

All England title – Hade Vansen (c) v Low Ki

Oh good lord. This has bad idea written all over it. Ki hasn’t been in a carrying mood for at least a year and Vansen just isn’t very good. My prediction – time limit draw, which is even worse because it means I have to sit through 20 minutes of Hade Vansen. The champ bails to avoid some early kicks. Back inside Ki hits a dropkick and he lights up Vansen with a kick and a Muta elbow drop for 2. Vansen hooks on a headlock and even that looks like shit. Where did this guy learn to wrestle? Vansen goes after the arm (Ki injured his arm when he worked with Flash Barker at Frontiers of Honor). Vansen gets chopped out of the ring. Vansen goes low. Those chops were badass. Vansen misses one of those kidney drop things by around a foot. Ki doesn’t sell it because HE DOESN’T NOTICE IT. Learn how to work, you jobber. Vansen with a snap suplex for 1. KICKOUT OF DESERVED DISRESPECT! Vansen sweeps the legs and stomps on Ki’s neck for 1. Heh. KICKOUT OF DESERVED DISRESPECT! Vansen drops a knee so Ki kicks at him. “I understand that Hade Vansen wants to remain the All England champion” – Idiot Commentator. Really? I thought he’d want to lose his title. I know Michael Cole has said some dumb things over the years but the FWA’s commentators scrape the barrel. He starts talking about “working stiff” and I feel the urge to just switch the fucking DVD off. Vansen hits a sit out powerbomb for 2. This is really dragging. Ki hasn’t done anything yet. Vansen pikeys the Capo Kick but does a lousy job of it. Vansen hooks a shitty version of an STF but Ki is really close to the ropes. Instead of making Ki work to get out Vansen just lets go. Who taught this asshole how to work? Missile dropkick from Vansen. Some butt ugly chops follow. Ki chops him back. Vansen screws up some selling and Ki kicks him a lot. Springboard kick to the face gets 2. Dragon Sleeper but Ki can’t turn it over and Vansen elbows out. Ki kicks him in the head – DRAGON CLUTCH! Ki lets go to get a better hold. Vansen just sits there in it and the time limit is up. * at best. That SUCKED. Ki got almost NOTHING and Vansen’s offence was horrific. Under no circumstances should anyone watch this piece of shit.

POST MATCH the commentator bizarrely says that Ki would have won on points. What? Did you even watch that? They gave Vansen 90% of that match. Out comes Flash Barker as ref Steve Linsky denies this “5 more minutes”. Barker demands 5 more minutes. Oh, please God no.

Match continues…

I really don’t want to watch this. Ki hits the Tidal Krush and hooks the Dragon Clutch. Vansen is in the ropes and Linsky DQ’s Low-Ki for not letting go of the hold but he counted it behind Ki’s back. This match still sucks. I had to watch nearly 30 minutes of this bullshit.

BACKSTAGE Ulf Herman cuts a promo in a wacky German-American accent. He wants a shot at Alex Shane so badly. Coherent promo, no thanks!

Alex Shane v Burchill

Shane jumped Burchill backstage at Uprising III apparently so now we get this match before Burchill goes to the USA. The idea behind that was that Shane thought Burchill’s last FWA match was at Uprising III so he was ok to jump him. This is NOT a title match because Burchill is leaving the FWA. People don’t realise that Burchill really isn’t that big. He has no chance in the WWE. Shane comes up with a list of excuses as to why he doesn’t want to wrestle and suggests that Burchill doesn’t want to get hurt before going to the States. He just loves the sound of his own voice, don’t he? Burchill refuses the pay off from Shane and we have ourselves a semi-main event.

Burchill wins the test of strength as the Goldberg-esque chants break out. Stalling. Stalling. More stalling. They switch standing for a while and that’s not bad. Shane tries for La Mahistral but can’t get it because he sucks. Burchill “counters” so Shane hooks a full nelson with his legs. Stixx on the apron and Burchill elbows him off. Rolling Samoan Crash from Burchill but the Standing Moonsault gets knees. Shane with a big boot. Another one gets blocked into the Air Raid Crush. Burchill goes up top but Shane shoves him off to the rail. Burchill tries to get back in but Shane boots him back out. Shane does some nicely contrived corner spots where he makes Burchill look like a muppet. Shades of Wilbur Snyder and Shane cheats using the ropes. Burchill hip tosses out. Powerslam but both men are down. Shane with a neckbreaker for 2 after a brawl. Ayass fires up Burchill and he hits an Ensiguri on Shane in response. Burchill looks for the C4 but can’t get it twice. Shane goes for the One Night Stand only for it to be countered into the C4! Hello! Both men down though. Burchill misses the standing SSP. Chokebomb from Shane gets 2. He tries for another but Burchill counters into a rana. Snap suplex and Burchill goes up top again. Stixx tries to interfere but gets shoved off. MOONSAULT misses. ONE NIGHT STAND…gets 2. Another One Night Stand gets 2. Hey, way to kill your champions finisher against a guy who’s LEAVING THE COMPANY. That’s just booking idiocy. Stixx sneaks in with a load of low blows and a powerbomb. Yet another One Night Stand and Shane wins. *1/2. Overbooked with a load of smoke and mirrors to cover up for the fact they had no actual story to tell here.

POST MATCH Burchill roughs up the referee to a standing ovation.

BACKSTAGE The Duke of Danger points out he’s the greatest wrestler in the FWA so he’s going to become the champ after winning Goldrush. Spud cuts a promo into a banana. Urgh. Hade Vansen gets more talk time. Urgh. Doug shills the match and says he’ll win. Shane also gets promo time to say he’ll beat whoever wins the Goldrush because he’s never giving up that belt.

GOLDRUSH

Royal Rumble style. So this is a half Rumble as it’s 15 men. #1 is Aviv Mayaan. #2 is Spud. These hit a bunch of cruiserweight stuff before we hit the boring Rumble psychology that just kills the crowd. #3 is Ross Jordan. These guys were the 3 from the Next Generation 3-way at Uprising III. They don’t play on that at all. #4 is James Tighe who has issues with all of these guys. They all kick his ass. Tighe gets tripled teamed but he’s too powerful to get dumped. #5 is Mark Sloan. He helps Tighe with a German suplex/superkick. Neckbreaker/powerbomb. Samoan Drop/neckbreaker. That left all the midgets down. TOMORROW DRIVER on Spud. That’s Sloan’s brainbuster over the knee. #6 is Stevie Knight. Still no one eliminated. #7 is the Duke of Danger with Buttercup. Yargle. #8 is Hade Vansen. He goes after Spud, who’s in line for a title shot. Spud promptly dropkicks him out of the ring. HA! Awesome. #9 is Ulf Herman. Everyone backs off. Spud and Mayaan both get chokeslammmed. Jordan gets thrown out. So does the Duke. Sloan goes after Ulf but Ulf doesn’t even move and Stevie Knight backdrops him out. Knight’s not very bright really. Knight eliminates himself. CHICKEN! Spud gets jacked up into a one handed press throw to the floor, landing on Sloan’s EntouRAGE. Spud never hit the ground though so he’s back in. Except Tighe throws him out. #10 is Martin Stone. The quality of this DVD is so appalling neither my DVD player not my PS2 can read it anymore.

You know what? And this is really sincere and to the point – Fuck the FWA. They’re not good for wrestling in this country and their attitude of emptying their fans pockets makes me sick. When I buy something I expect it to work. I don’t know who why I bother with them.

For anyone interested Jonny Storm won the main event when Ulf and Doug Williams were eliminated at the same time. Information which is NOT available on the FWA’s shambles of a website.

Overall DVD thoughts –

Hey, let me see – contempt, disgust, an urge to ask for my money back. All these things are running through my head. You expect to get ripped off by the WWE because at least they have big stars on their overpriced PPV’s but the FWA really needs to deliver in terms of actual product (like a disc that WORKS) and in ring quality to justify the most overpriced DVD’s available on the UK market. This does neither in spectacular fashion. Recommendation to avoid at all costs. The FWA remains, by far, the most over rated wrestling fed in Europe. I have to think they’ll improve though. With Stevie Lynn, Ricky Knight, Chris Hero and Joey Hayes working in the following shows things can only be looking up. I’m practically begging them to prove me wrong but as it stands they’ve been horrible for well over a year. This show is no exception. Avoid.