Monday Night Wars: Issue 1

Marc Pearson makes his return to ATPW, and is joined by the debuting Royston Healy. Let's see what they thought of the first ever head to head between WCW Nitro and WWF Raw. Healy oversees Raw, whilst Pearson casts his watchful eye of Nitro. Would it be Michaels vs. Sid or Hogan vs. Luger that would come out on top?

11th September 1995

 

Live from the Knight Centre in Miami, Florida, it's the second episode of Monday Nitro. The fans on hand have been treated to FOUR dark matches, FOUR! Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater fought to a double count out with Harlem Heat, Shark defeated Mark Starr, Kamala pinned Barry Houston and lastly Jonny B Badd beat Ric Flair by DQ. Gutted to have missed ANY of those right?!

Bischoff, Heenan and Mongo on commentary. 

We start off by recapping last week's shocking moment where Luger challenged Hogan for the WCW Title. Bischoff tells us that Vader has gone awol and won't be part of Hogan's team at the PPV, this Sunday. WAIT, what PPV? At no point last week did you even once mention that there was a PPV coming up! 

Match 1: Alex Wright vs. Sabu (3 minutes, 58 seconds)

Mongo says Sabu is like a lot of linebackers he has played with, he'll run you down! Ok Steve, whatever you say! Sabu's debut match in WCW is fast paced. Sabu uses his body as a weapon a lot, doesn't botch anything and makes me wince when he sails into the guard rail. Wright looks equally good, hitting nice suplexes and dropkicks. In a nice sequence he goes for a moonsault, Sabu moves so Wright lands on his feet and instantly transitions into a perfect German Suplex for 2. But a piss poor looking victory gets the win for Sabu at about 4 minutes.  BUT WAIT, there's more! Sabu gets a table out and drives himself and Wright through it SO THE REF REVERSES THE DECISION! Mannn, good match let down by a crap finish then a bollocks decision! 

Gene Mean brings out Ric Flair to talk about Arn Anderson and the old times. Luger comes out, Flair puts Luger over, so Luger LEAVES! Why not eh! 

Match 2: Sting vs. VK Wallstreet (4 minutes, 13 seconds)

This is Wallstreet's debut in WCW. We get a graphic for Fall Brawl 1995 during the entrances, holy shit there's a War Games match, best watch that, eh? Commentators tell us that it's Team Hogan Vs The Dungeon Of Doom. Can't wait if I'm honest! Match is absolutely nothing. Sting gets a splash off the top to get the win 4:06. As a match this meant nothing BUT, IN THE MONDAY NIGHT WAR THIS WAS MASSIVE. During Stings entrance Bischoff told us the result of Monday Night Raw's Main Event between Sid and Shawn Michaels! There had been an unwritten rule in wrestling to this point about not giving away results for their TV shows as both the WWF and WCW used to tape shows sometimes months in advance. This match tore that rule up. If the people at Titan Towers disliked Bischoff before, they positively HATED him now! 

Match 3: Randy Savage vs. Scott Norton (5 minutes, 39 seconds)

Savage does a great sell of a bear hug in this one, the commentators stress how devastating the move is. Norton gets 2 off a great powerbomb and hits a pair of backbreakers and a powerslam. The match is good but Mongo's commentary is really grating as he constantly talks about Football, now I get that he is a former NFL star but this isn't football. Norton gets a T-Bone style draping DDT but when he comes off the top Savage is able to move, he starts a comeback but OUT COME THE DUNGEON OF DOOM. In a SHOCKINGLY BAD FINISH, Avalanche and Kamala try to get into the ring, Savage whips Norton into Avalanche WHO FALLS ON TOP OF NORTON SO SAVAGE CAN DROP THE ELBOW AND GET THE PIN! WTF WAS THAT?! Enjoyed the match, the finish would have made sense IF it hadn't looked so bad! 

Match 4: Hulk Hogan (with Jimmy Hart) vs. Lex Luger, World Heavyweight Championship. (5 minutes, 28 seconds)

Onto our main event. Luger comes out to his GENERIC BIDDLE MUSIC (TM OSW Review), it's a joy to behold it really is! Mongo says "There's a real man" when Hogan comes out. Heenan quips "What's Luger, a midget?" Superb stuff! Both men hit moves and refuse to sell for the other. Luger gets a powerslam and the rack, Hogan won't give up but Luger releases the move thinking he has won. He hasn't ,of course, and when he covers HOGAN POWERS OUT and Hulks Up, big boot, legdrop...BUT HERE'S THE DUNGEON TO BEAT UP HOGAN, BUT, they leave Luger alone. Out come Team Hogan to even the scores, they clear the ring but Hogan notices that Luger wasn't touched, before he can say anything we go to a break. I ASSUME THE MEN JUST STAND THERE WHILE WE ARE AT COMMERCIAL!

When we come back Hogan is vexed but Sting vouches for Luger AND suggests he replaces Vader, then Jimmy Hart tells Hogan he should, Savage says Luger shouldn't be in the team. Hogan says that was the match of his life and asks Luger to be part of the team, Luger agrees but wants another title shot down the line. 

So there we go. While Raw was putting on nothing matches full of run ins and crap finishes, here we get crap finishes and run ins! Notice that all the new stars (Sabu, Wallstreet, Norton and Luger) ALL lost their debut matches! Show flashed by once again and is very easy to watch. Did NOTHING to promote the PPV other than the War Games match so it fails on that count!

 

Raw opens with a recap of what happened at Summerslam between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, then hypes both man's matches tonight with HBK facing Sycho Sid and Razor Ramon facing the British Bulldog. 

Match 1: Razor Ramon vs. The British Bulldog (7 minutes, 10 seconds)

A video replay of Dean Douglas grading Razor's performance at Summerslam, Vince McMahon plugs IYH3 Matches for both men with Razor vs Dean Douglas & Bulldog vs. Bam Bam Bigelow. Main focus of attack from Bulldog on Razor was the back after a hard fought ladder match at SummerSlam, this makes perfect sense to me. Vince and King constantly talk about what grade Dean Douglas would be giving Razor for this match, ok we get it, Douglas has a teacher gimmick! 

Douglas interferes in the match while Razor is covering Bulldog with the ref down, The 1 2 3 Kid comes in for the save but gets thwarted by Douglas. Douglas leaves then the Kid tries to help Razor however, Britsih Bulldog wins the match via DQ due to interferance from 1 2 3 Kid.



After the match Vince McMahon interviews Razor Ramon & The Kid in the ring. 
Kid brings up the fact that Razor also cost him a match the week before to set up a match between the two next week.

Promo Videos for Men on a Mission vs. Yokozuna & Owen Hart

Match 2: The Smoking Gunns vs The Brooklyn Brawler & Rad Radford (2 minutes, 46 seconds)

Brawler and Radford get the jump on the faces at the start of the match taking out Bart Gunn until Billy comes in for the save, then order is restored. Bit of a pointless squash match really that was won by Smoking Gunns getting the Pinfall Victory with a Sidewalk Slam/Leg drop combo.

A Promo video for Goldust is next on the show. 

Match 3: Dr. Issac Yankem vs Scott Taylor (2 minutes, 14 seconds)

Nothing more than a squash match, this match was too long for what it was. Yankem gets the win with the D.D.S

Next on the show is a promo for IYH3.

Match 4: Shawn Michaels Vs Sycho Sid (with Ted DiBiase), Intercontinental Championship (7 minutes, 21 seconds)

This was a much better match than I was expecting. This was the match Sycho Sid had earned at SummerSlam, that was replaced with the ladder match. Match starts off with HBK out wrestling Sid, so Sid goes out of the ring to compose himself, has a quick word with Ted DiBiase gets back in. HBK puts on a side head lock gets bounced off the ropes by Sid and attempts a running shoulder block which has no effect so tries the same move again and gets pushed out of the ring by Sid, managing to skin the cat before dropkicking Sid from behind. Sid gets back into the ring and puts on a side head lock of his own Shawn reverses it and goes for a Thesz press, however gets thrown straight to the ground, Sid uses his power to beat HBK in the corner, irish whip into opposite corner and goes to the outside. Sid follows Shawn outside and drops him onto the apron, DiBiase puts the boots to HBK outside the ring, ref starts the count, Shawn gets back in ring at 9, we then go to a short break. When we return Sid has on a bear hug locked on, Shawn squirms out but gets chokeslammed straight down to the mat which gets a 2. Sid goes for a power bomb which gets countered both men then start exchanging blows, HBK gets the better of this exchange and goes up top where he hits a flying cross body for the 2 count, Sid gets up very slowly and gets hit with a kick to the gut then a super kick followed Sweet Chin Music for the Victory for Shawn Michaels to retain the Intercontinental Chamionship.

Interview with Shawn Michaels & Diesel about IYH 3, he talks about righting all the wrongs in his life by reuniting with Diesel, Winning back the IC Title and avenging the loss at WrestleMania 10. Diesel finishes the interview by naming the team Two Dudes with attitudes saying after IYH3 they will be two chaps with all the straps. 

Next time: Raw - Owen Hart & Yokozuna vs. Men on a Mission Nitro - Johnny B. Badd vs. Paul Orndorff

IntercontinentHell

Stuck in a multi-man ladder match at this years WrestleMania, what ever happened to the Intercontinental Championship, eh?

In the last five years, there has been twenty-five different Intercontinental Championship reigns, with only six of those reigns lasting longer than three months. Without looking it up, try and guess those six reigns.

If you had said Drew McIntyre (December 2009-May 2010), Dolph Ziggler (July 2010-January 2011), Cody Rhodes (August 2011-April 2012), Wade Barrett (December 2012- April 2013) Curtis Axel (June-November 2013) and Big E (November 2013-May 2014), you have won yourself a porked pie. Obviously, the length of a title reign isn't everything, but how much do you actually remember from these title reigns? Any feuds that stand out? Drew McIntyre's match with Kane at Elimination Chamber? Ziggler taking on Kofi Kingston Rhodes against Ted DiBiase, Axel battling Kingston all at separate Night of Champions. Big E challenged by Jack Swagger at Elimination Chamber? Barrett didn't even manage a PPV match during his three month run as Champion!

Five title runs for Barrett and yet he looks no closer to jumping up the card.

It's not even like I'm picking purposefully obscure matches from each Champions run, these are longest bouts each Champion had on PPV, surely they should be memorable for title reigns that took up months of screen time? 

It's even more telling to look at where each of those six men is currently positioned within WWE. In an ideal world, a lengthy spell holding the Intercontinental strap is a springboard to the World Heavyweight Championship. Drew McIntyre is currently not employed by the company, Dolph Ziggler had short reigns with the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011 and 2013, but has since slipped back into the Intercontinental picture, Cody Rhodes is now Stardust looking to get reclaim the IC title after a year in a team with Goldust, Wade Barrett is now Bad News Barrett, current Intercontinental Champion. Curtis Axel is a job guy and Big E is part of the poorly thought out New Day stable.

Remember when you were a Heyman guy, Curtis?

The title used to be all about upward movement, positioning a performer for a run higher up the card. The last time a former Intercontinental Champion won his first WWE Championship was CM Punk in July 2011. Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam, Edge, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho have all achieved the same feat since 2000. This used to be the norm, a right of passage if you will. However, I think it's telling that WWE chose to keep Roman Reigns away from the belt before his big title showdown with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. 

Think what having Reigns have a strong run as Intercontinental Champion could have done for the belts prestige when Reigns defeats Lesnar at WrestleMania. Suddenly, the Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania is raised in stature. The same principle would apply to Daniel Bryan, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus who all skipped the IC title before winning the big one. Other big name talent that is being heavily pushed at WrestleMania, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and Rusev, similarly negated winning the belt.

An IC Title run would have made Reigns look strong.

How often have we been told that a wrestler plans to bring "prestige and honour" back to the Intercontinental title? Whilst blatantly pointing out that the company knows it's been mishandling the title for sometime, it's also a case of WWE telling the fans something, but never showing it. One person isn't going to make the belt seem important again, it's going to take the time and effort of a handful of wrestlers and the booking staff to rebuild the belt on a consistent basis, whilst also making it part of the bigger picture. The title needs to stop feeling like an island away from the rest of the company, from where a wrestlers career will never return.

It won't be until WWE decides to give those who they have a clear plan of moving up the card long and satisfying runs, filled with exciting matches and gripping feuds, that we'll see the belt begin to feel important again. However, maybe because of how far they've allowed the belt to fall in the eyes of the fans in the last few years, WWE doesn't seem to want to put the title on those earmarked for success in the main event. It's a poisoned chalice that WWE doesn't seem to know what to do with or how to reverse the damage they have caused over the past few years. We may never see the Intercontinental Championship return to it's former glory.

Yes or No? - The Daniel Bryan Question

Sean Taylor-Richardson returns to ATPW to talk about Daniel Bryan's past, present and future in WWE.

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When Daniel Bryan debuted on WWE television back in February 2010, it was hard to predict quite what his future would hold. Bryan Danielson was the absolute darling of the indie scene and had all of the talent in the world but here he was undertaking the role of rookie Daniel Bryan on NXT (and under the tutelage of The Miz no less). Physically and aesthetically, he clearly lacked the usual WWE credentials and many assumed that he would have a short, uneventful run in the company before creative discovered that they had nothing for him. For those who had spent years watching him hone his craft and deliver multiple classics, such a fate seemed cruel but that was the nature of the biz. Not everyone could be a WWE superstar.

The next year delivered some cool highs (a surprise Summerslam main event appearance and a spirited feud with the Miz over the US title) but far more lows (he was legitimately fired after some unnecessary roughness during the Nexus-WWE angle in June and was unceremoniously bumped from the WrestleMania 27 card at the last minute). After approximately a year of his WWE tenure had passed, it seemed the naysayers were right. Bryan was treading water and looked likely to sink at any given moment.

Bryan was fired in 2010, for strangling Justin Roberts with his tie.

Now the events of the last few years have shown us that this initial doom and gloom was somewhat misjudged. A quick summary of events from the summer of Punk 2011 to the Spring of 2014 reveals that Bryan achieved more than anyone thought possible and more than most do in an entire career:  the Money in the Bank win, the World title cash-in, the AJ Lee relationship , the 18 second debacle, Yes, No, Yes, No, a wrestling wedding, the Charlie Sheen saga, Team Hell No and the tag titles, John Cena and the WWE title, battling the Authority and the Wyatts, inspiring the Yes Movement and headlining Wrestlemania 30. All that in a little less than 3 years. Hell of a ride, huh?

Now since then things have deteriorated somewhat. Bryan’s neck injury robbed us of what would have been a joyful title run (although can you imagine how different the mood of twitter would have been last August had it been Bryan and not Cena that was JOBBED by Brock?) His return hasn’t been as glorious as many would have hoped- high profile losses in the Rumble and at Fast Lane have sapped some of his crowd support (only the hardcore markets really YES like they mean it) and at time of writing he was heading into a multi-man Intercontinental title bout at ‘Mania 31, far less prestigious than his double shot a year ago. While there are a few protests online, the live crowds don’t seem to be revolting that fervently. Are fans truly disappointed in the fall of Bryan or are they actually disinterested? Is this the end of the world or just the end of his run?

Bryan put Roman Reigns over at Fastlane in February.

Here’s the thing- we’re told that the customer is always right but when we’re dealing with customers plural, and these customers want different things, the narrative gets more complex. In 2014, it was clear Bryan had to be added to the main event- the entire audience was fully behind him. Spectators didn’t want anyone else to lift the title in New Orleans that year. Now whilst Reigns has his doubters, and Bryan is still the more popular of the two, our boy Daniel doesn’t have the whole crowd to himself anymore. Reigns has his share of fans, a growing number by the week it seems and certainly more than Orton or Batista had last year. Even amongst the anti-Reigns brigade, opinions seem to be split as to who fans are clamouring to see move up the card. Is it Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose or Seth Rollins who should be given the opportunity? People seem to still like Bryan, and some still adore him, but the general sense is that the audience are ready for a new story.  After all Bryan has achieved something that few wrestlers ever will- he has had a Wrestlemania booked around his moment of glory. That moment will never be bettered so why try and replicate it with a lesser version of the tale? 

Does this mean Bryan is done as a main eventer and that he and his fans should satisfy themselves with a future in the mid-card? To quote the man himself: No, No, No! Whilst you can rationalise why he is not in the main event of ‘Mania 31, it would be stupid to let him drift from here on in. Whilst the IC title may seem like a relegation right now, a Bryan win at Levi stadium elevates the title to a level of prestige it hasn’t had since at least 2000. Bryan could do for the WWE’s IC title what Shinsuke Nakamura has done for the New Japan Intercontinental title: namely make it an attraction that could headline any show. Hell if WWE wants another part time champ in the near future, Bryan and the IC title could main event for a while. If the IC title was once more presented as valuable and Bryan was booked in compelling stories that enabled him to wrestle 20-30 minute classics on Raw, Smackdown and PPV, then he could still be seen as the number 2 man in the promotion. Wouldn’t have minded that back when Miz was ragging him in 2010, would we?

Could Bryan do a similar job for the IC title as Shinsuke Nakamura has done in NJPW?

Some would say that Bryan needs to be World Champ again. I’d love to see it. But, presuming his neck holds up and he is able to wrestle on for a few more years, then that next run at the title doesn’t have to be rushed - it could come in the summer or in the build to a future ‘Mania. It certainly has to be different; 2014’s story was near perfect so the writers must try something new. What if babyface Bryan kept failing to beat strong man Reigns and suddenly snapped. Undeniably likeable though he is, I believe embracing a heel turn would re-ignite the Bryan character. He could bring back the No chant to rile the masses (the No movement perhaps?) or just ignore catchphrases altogether- his act is about more than mere words. A heel run at the top of the card means the fans get their Bryan World title run but the WWE machine doesn’t have to book him as the face of the company- the blue eyed challenger could take that mantle. Bryan could headline one more Mania but this time go in as champion and do the job for his challenger. Thus we enjoy a new storyline but regain that 2014 satisfaction of watching one of the greatest workers on the grandest stage.

All in all, Bryan has had such a crazy run in the WWE so far that, just as it was in 2010, it’s hard to predict where he goes next. If it seems like he is being relegated right now, that could soon change. Whilst his unconventional look will always trouble the brass and he’ll never quite crack the true elite club of WWE stars, he has achieved so much more than any fan ever dared to dream. So many talented guys have worked for the WWE: some have won titles; some have headlined WrestleMania; some have developed captivating characters that will be remembered for ever. Daniel Bryan has done all of these things and whether he regains his spot at the top of the totem pole or not, there can be little doubt that he will one day take up rightful place in the Hall of Fame. 

Bryan has made his place in WWE history and no-one can ever take that from him.

Over The Border V: Let's All Have a Disco(very)

Discovery Wrestling is still the new kid on the block, having only had one show so far, they have already amassed a big following (over 2000 likes on Faceook) and have taken the wrestling scene in Scotland by storm.

With every roster announcement they add some of the finest young talent and established names in professional wrestling. From Marty Scurll to Aspen Faith, Kay Lee Ray to Courtney, Liam Thomson to Christopher Saynt, Discovery Wrestling have such a great and deep roster which makes their Y Division sounds like a fantastic concept.

Aspen Faith debuts 14th March in Edinburgh.

In October, four men battled it out to become the top dog in the newly formed Y Division, on that night former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin outlasted Damien Daniels, Lewis Girvan and Ian Ambrose to claim that feat. In March, these four are all in semi-final action to crown the first Y Division Champion. Aspen Faith has also thrown his name into the goblet in the hopes to become Y Division Champion. Lou King Sharp, Martyn Stallyon, Noam Dar and Liam Thomson will also be looking on and hoping to make a splash in the Y Division.

It's not just the Y Division that is looking so strong, the tag team division is primed and ready to do big things, The Traditionalists, Wild Lions plus Joe Hendry and Marty Scurll will soon be joined by a great up and coming team, The Gatecrashers, in March. With The Young Bucks coming to Edinburgh in April, there will be plenty of challengers ready for them.

Indy favourites The Young Bucks will be in Edinburgh on 10th April.

The Heavyweights in Discovery Wrestling are not to be scoffed at when you think of names like Damo O'Connor, Rampage Brown, Joe Coffey and Deviation. Big bruisers who could kill you with one look. Discovery Wrestling are putting together an all-round product that appeals to the masses. You want technical contests? Here's Noam Dar and Andy Wild. You want a highflying spectacle? Here's the Y Division. You want a knockdown drag out brawl? Here are the heavyweights. You want a bear? Here's Damo.

And to round off a fantastic roster you have the ladies. Sammii Jayne, Viper, Lady Debbie Sharpe, Courtney, Shanna and Kay Lee Ray are in the top level when it comes to professional wrestling in Europe. When you have such a diverse range of styles, every match will be a little bit different and must see.

Viper sends Sammi Jayne for a ride at No Fear, No Mercy.

The guests brought in are there to work with Chris Sabin, Mike Mondo and Crime Time, no phoning in or payday grabbers. With Chris Sabin set to return this month and The Young Bucks coming in April, Discovery Wrestling are bringing in the hottest independent wrestlers in the world.

Welcome to Generation Y.

Discovery Wrestling On Facebook 
Discovery Wrestling on Twitter

Match of the Month: February 2015

So it's time to reveal the Match of the Month results for February 2015, a total of 102 people voted this time round with six different countries being represented across Europe and North America. 

Before we get into the Top Three Matches (and those that have qualified for the Match of January to June vote later in the year) let's take a look at the rest of the matches that captured votes this time round.

4th - Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (WWE Fastlane) 9%
5th ACH, Cedric Alexander & Matt Sydal vs. AJ Styles & The Young Bucks (ROH on SBG #178) 8%
6th - AJ Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka) 6%
7th - reDRagon vs. The Young Bucks vs. Time Splitters (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka) 4%
7th=  John Cena vs. Rusev (WWE Fastlane) 4%
7th= Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai) 4%
10th - Cesaro & Tyson Kidd vs. The Usos (WWE Fastlane) 2%
10th= Kota Ibushi vs. Tomoaki Honma (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka) 2%
12th - Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Mascara Dorada & Time Splitters (NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai) 1%
12th= Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yuji Nagata (NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai) 1%

Congratulations to everyone who earned votes this time around, however special recognition to The Young Bucks who posted three matches within the rankings. Recognition must also go to AJ Styles, Time Splitters and Tomoaki Honma for earning two matches inside the ranking.

Onto the top three...

3rd - Bayley vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks (WWE NXT Takeover: Rival) 15%

This was a smooth match that built well towards it's finish, whilst playing on the interweaving relationships between the four women in the ring. Up there with the best Fatal Four Ways WWE has ever produced this match more than deserves to be represented here, even giving second place a run for it's money.

2nd - Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (WWE NXT Takeover: Rival) 19%

A terrific story, from start to finish Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's NXT Championship match was gripping, edge-of-your-street drama. A compelling battle, pitting a vicious, unstoppable villain against a plucky, never-say-die underdog of a hero. This match made a star out of Kevin Owens in only his third match in WWE and put his name on everyone's lips. Most of all it left you wanting more, which may be the reason it found itself in Second place as opposed to our Numbero Uno.

1st - Adrian Neville vs. Finn Balor (WWE NXT Takeover: Rival) 26%

Yes, another top three clean sweep for WWE NXT. With a foundation of good solid storytelling, Neville and Balor put together a hard-hitting and technical series of moves and near falls that knitted their two styles together perfectly. With a finish that was a joy to behold, it was difficult not to enjoy this match. These two clearly have bright futures in the WWE, along with all of the talent name in our Top Three this month, it's a credit to the work that Triple H and his team have done that the "Developmental" group is picking up so many of our Match of the Month awards. The three NXT matches up for nomination garnered 55% of the total vote between them, compared to just 15% for WWE's main roster PPV Fastlane.

And Introducing....

The ATPW Top 10

This list is based on those matches that make our Top Three each month (beginning in January 2014), with each 1st place match earning 3 points, 2nd place match earning 2 points and 3rd place match earning 1 point. In addition any placing in the Top Three in our Year-Half polls will earn the same value, as will a placing in our Match of the Year polls. In essence a Match of the Year Match would earn 9 points.

Just an interesting way of keeping track of things since we started the polls last year. Changes this month see Sami Zayn jump ahead of Roman Reigns into 3rd place, whilst Adrian Neville leap frogs Bray Wyatt to claim 7th.

1st - Seth Rollins (WWE) 35 points
2nd - Dean Ambrose (WWE) 29 points
3rd - Sami Zayn (WWE NXT) 22 points
4th - Roman Reigns (WWE) 20 points
5th - Erick Rowan (WWE) 18 points
5th= Luke Harper (WWE) 18 points
7th - Adrian Neville (WWE NXT) 17 points
8th - Bray Wyatt (WWE) 16 points
9th - John Cena (WWE) 10 points
=    - Triple H (WWE) 10 points
=    - Davey Richards (TNA) 10 points
=    - Eddie Edwards (TNA) 10 points
=    - Jeff Hardy (TNA) 10 points
=    - Matt Hardy (TNA) 10 points

Ones to Watch - Randy Orton, Cesaro and Dolph Ziggler are all capable of breaking the Top 10 next month.

ALL HAIL KING ROLLINS!

Best of British IV - Futureshock Wrestling

In the fourth edition of Best of British, Marc Pearson puts his case forward for Futureshock Wrestling

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Do you ever do something in your life, and wonder how on earth you had never done it before? August 28th, 2011 was one of those times for me. Sitting in the 4th row in a small but beautiful hall, I watched two guys who I had never heard of put an absolutely brilliant wrestling match, and I was utterly hooked. 

In early 2011 I was at a crossroads in my life. Having been a wrestling fan my entire life I was at the point where I was bored of WWE, TNA and any other Wrestling company in the world. A friend of mine had been pestering me to go to a local Indy promotion called Futureshock Wrestling for a good 6 months and I always had a trusty excuse at hand - the fact that I couldn't get there. I live in the awful city of Stoke On Trent, Futureshock are based in South Manchester and while there is a big train station in Stockport I doubted that there would be a train after the show to get me home. That all changed when I passed my driving test in July 2011. No excuses now, eh? Well there was one, the very next Futureshock show featured SOME GUY called Davey Richards........and I already had plans. Very annoying to say the least. BUT, the show after that - Futureshock 53 - featured another NOBODY called Colt Cobana. I loved Colt's feud with Homicide so simply had to attend. I grabbed a fellow jaded wrestling fan and went to my first "Britwres" show!

The draw for Marc's first Brit-Wres show was Colt Cabana.

The 2 unknowns I mentioned at the top were Bubblegum and Jack Gallagher, nowadays 2 of my absolute favorite performers. That night I also saw The Models (Danny Hope & Joey Hayes), The Blackpool Blondes, Cyanide, Dave Rayne and Xander Cooper. All became firm favourites of mine. 

As a standalone show I had a really good time, and Colt was just as good as I hoped. We decided to go back for the next show and it was this one that really cemented my love for the company. I like storytelling in my wrestling, spots for spots sake or matches that happen JUST BECAUSE really get on my nerves. Futureshock have long term storylines, it wouldn't surprise me if they had a whole years worth of storyline planned out in advance. Everything makes sense, everything happens for a reason and I loved that, and still do. 

Current Futureshock Champion, Xander Cooper.

Futureshock became an obsession with me. I wanted everyone I knew to come and attend these amazing shows, to the point where all my friends had either heard of the company or been bullied/cajoled, threatened into coming to a show! Even better I became friends with loads of the guys who attended the show AND, even better than that, I became friends with some of the wrestlers, so I could pick their brains about the inner workings of the business, something I've always loved, things like WHY a match is happening or the thought process behind a heel turn. Things like that. 

Futureshock's core business is its training school. Because of this, you won't see a show loaded with imports or that many well known "Big Name" talents like at some companies. A lot of shows feature an unknown from the school making their debut and its really fulfilling seeing a talent expand and grow, all the while becoming more and more confident as they adjust to being in front of an audience. It's quite special to see a wrestler today and be able to say "I was there for his/her first match!" That's not to say that it's all trainees on the shows. Futureshock tends to bring one "name" wrestler in per show, which is great for us fans as we get to see talent from all over the country, men we wouldn't normally see. A great example of this was on their latest Underground show where Big Damo O'Connor debuted for the company in a show stealing performance against Jack Gallagher. Damo is a wrestler I'd heard great things about so it was amazing to see him in my "home" promotion.

Big Damo in his Futureshock debut against Jack Gallagher.

Futureshock opened my eyes to a world of Indy wrestling. Since 2011 I've attended well over 100 shows, all over the UK, from Morecombe to London and many places in between. Companies like PCW, Progress, Dragon Gate UK, House Of Pain, Fight Club: Pro, Infinite and so many more. Incredibly 2 companies (GPW and Great Bear Promotions) allowed me to achieve a lifelong dream by allowing me to commentate on their shows (I hated it, but that's another story for another time). I've seen so many talents that I never dreamed I would see, I met Terry Funk for goodness sake! And I owe it all to a little promotion based in Stockport who well and truly stole my heart. 

4 years later they are running 21 shows this year, across three venues, most of which are either almost full or sold out. They are home for me, and I implore anyone that maybe interested to give them a try, you will not regret it! 

You can learn more about Futureshock Wrestling from their website, Facebook, Twitter or Youtube pages. You can find more about Marc Pearson on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

X-Rey of Mysterio in WWE

WHO IS THAT JUMPING OUT THE SKY! R-O-Y!

Yes, ladies and gentleman, Roy Mysterio has left the WWE after 13 years with the company. So what better way to celebrate Mr. Mysterio's tenure in WWE that saw him pick up twelve separate title reigns, by looking at the best matches from each year of his WWE stop. One rule - No one other than Mysterio is allowed to appear more than once on the list. Let's see if our list matches with yours.

2002 - with Edge vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit - No Mercy, 20th October.

It was in a tag team with Edge that Mysterio found his initial success in WWE, picking up the WWE Tag Team Championship on 5th November edition of Smackdown. However, it was this terrific tag team contest that stood out in Mysterio's first year in WWE. A true classic, up there as one of the best tag team matches WWE has ever put on, all four men work hard in a back and forth match, choc-full with dramatic near-falls and inventive double team offense. A match that every wrestling fan should see.

2003 - with Billy Kidman vs. The World's Great Tag Team - Vengeance, 27th July.

Beginning to find singles success with his first run as Cruiserweight Champion, and whilst matches with Matt Hardy Version 1.0 and Tajiri lit up the Cruiserweight division, it was within a tag team where Mysterio produced his strongest match of the year. Partnering with his old Filthy Animals stablemate Billy Kidman, this is a strong tag outing, fought at a fast pace throughout and with plenty of both solid technical wrestling and awe-inspiring high-flying moves, such as Kidman's Springboard Shooting Star Press to the outside onto Haas and Benjamin. Only a slight slip in final few minutes stop this bout being thought of in the same category as the previous match, but it's certainly still one to give a watch.

2004 - vs. Chavo Guerrero - The Great American Bash, 27th June.

Picking up his second and third Cruiserweight Championship reigns in 2004, and having strong bouts with the likes of Tajiri, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Luther Reigns, Billy Kidman, Spike Dudley and Booker T, it's this contest with Chavo Guerrero that I've decided to highlight from 2004. Not your typical Cruiserweight encounter, this match is full of psychology done well, with Mysterio showing the mask is no obstacle for his selling ability. Turning an indifferent crowd around by the end of the match is also an impressive feat.

2005 - vs. Eddie Guerrero in a Steel Cage Match - Friday Night Smackdown, 9th September.

Managing to pull of the impressive feat of winning the Tag Team titles with three different partners (Rob Van Dam, Eddie Guerrero and Batista) in the same year, Rey continued putting in strong efforts against the likes of Kurt Angle, Chavo Guerrero, John Bradshaw Layfield, Orlando Jordan and MNM, it was Mysterio's feud with Eddie Guerrero that lit up his 2005. The feud last for months and culminated with this Steel Cage masterpiece. A superb television contest, Mysterio and Guerrero remind us that even when handed a poor storyline involving Roy's son Dominic, it's wrestling ability that will shine through.

2006 - vs. Sabu - One Night Stand, 11th June.

Whilst many would consider Mysterio winning the World Heavyweight Championship to be the highlight of his career, the booking of Mysterio as Champion was questionable at best and that did have an effect on the quality of his matches. Whilst still having decent outings with Randy Orton, Finlay, John Bradshaw Layfield, Kurt Angle and Chavo Guerrero, this outing with Sabu typifies Mysterio's reign as Champion. Whilst still a fairly exciting bout, filled with some cool spots, a silly finish hurts the match and both men's momentum. 

2007 - vs. Finlay - Friday Night Smackdown, 9th November.

Beginning a long spell without a title, Mysterio's knee injuries really began to effect his performances. This bout with Finlay however manages to tell a strong story of the no-nonsense brawler against the flashy high-flying. Paced perfectly, this is somewhat of a hidden gem, if you can find it online in better quality than 380p let me know. Beside this match, only a bout with Montel Vontavious Porter is particularly notable from 2007. 

2008 - vs. CM Punk - Armageddon, 14th December.

Edge and Evan Bourne proved to be decent opponents in 2008, whilst a bicep injury kept him out for most of the year. But it's this face vs. face contest with later rival CM Punk that showed signs of a resurgence from Mysterio. Some superb sequences of reversals and lovely near falls, as the pair battle for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. A dream match that lived up to the hype. Their 2010 feud is also worth a watch for Punk's alone.

2009 - vs. Chris Jericho - The Bash, 28th June.

A resurgence of sorts came in 2009, with two reigns as Intercontinental Champion as well a series of exciting contests with a strong Smackdown roster including Jeff Hardy, Kane, Edge, Dolph Ziggler, John Morrison and The Big Show. It was his feud with Chris Jericho that really put Mysterio back on the map, peaking with this Mask vs. Title bout. Arguably the best match of Mysterio's career, all fast paced action, big spots, reversals and false finishes, this is a modern classic. Superb stuff. The two's series of matches should be required viewing, in what was a very underrated programme.

2010 - vs. Shawn Michaels - Friday Night Smackdown, 29th January.

Another run with the World Heavyweight Championship, as well as strong bouts with Batista, The Undertaker, CM Punk, Darren Young, Luke Gallows, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Edge and Kane, it was within the context of this "Dream Match", as part of Michaels "Retirement Tour" that Mysterio reminded us of what he could do in the ring. An exciting back and forth contest, it's a shame that this match is used to build other matches, as it feels like it's just about to get going when it's cut short. A taster of what the pair could have done in their prime.

2011 - with John Morrison & Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio & The Awesome Truth - SummerSlam, 14th August.

Mysterio's last year of really being able to go, even then this was usually restricted to multi-man matches like the one I looked at here. Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Sin Cara and The Miz all had quality bouts with Mysterio and he even held the WWE Championship for a matter of minutes, but it was clear that injuries had taken their toll on the Biggest Little Man. A fun trios match, Kingston and Morrison take most of the load of the match for Mysterio. A burst of offence from Mysterio during the finish is about all we get here.

2013 - with The Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. Curtis Axel & Ryback vs. The Real Americans - TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, 15th December 2015

After disappearing off the radar almost completely in 2012, Mysterio did manage to take part in this, his last good match in WWE. Mysterio's involvement is limited until near the end, where he puts together a decent sequence with Cody Rhodes. 

Mysterio had an impressive career in WWE, with multiple title reigns and a number of impressive matches. Whilst injuries hampered his last few years in the WWE, he's still popular and a big merchandise seller. A rumoured move to both AAA and Lucha Underground could be huge, but I can't be the only one concerned about Rey's age and previous injuries. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Rey all the best going forward.

Want to catch Mysterio in person? He'll be at 4FW on 19th July, tickets available here - http://www.4fw-online.com/.