TNA British Boot Camp 2, episode 8: or the one with the winner

We’re down to the final three, then. (If you don’t know how we’ve got to this point – one two three four five six seven.)

This week our trio of contestants face off against TNA talent in an effort to make a final impression. Obviously there’s a lot of recapping and exposition, including some great footage of UK shows – get yourself along to your nearest promotion, what you’ve seen on Boot Camp is just the tip of the iceberg! (Also, buy my book!)

TNA British Boot Camp 2, episode 7: or the one with Bagpuss

Previously on British Boot Camp! This, this, this, this, this and most recently this!

Tonight there is some wrestling, beginning with a tag match between the contestants, which will then cut the field down to three. Da-da-daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

TNA British Boot Camp 2, episode 6: or the one with Grado’s flatulence

Previously, five episodes have happened! (One, two, three, four, five.)

Our six contestants have arrived after their road trip, and the first thing they need to do is build a ring in what seems a very poorly-lit arena.

TNA British Boot Camp 2: Episode 5, or the one with the White House

What’s happened so far? This, this, this and this!

Now our six finalists – Kay Lee Ray, Rampage Brown, Dave Mastiff, Mark Andrews, Noam Dar and, of course, Grado – head to the US to meet Dixie Carter, see some sights, and, of course, wrestle.

TNA British Boot Camp 2: Episode 4, or the one with the audience

What’s happened so far? This, this and this!

This time round, we get to see them in the ring, fighting each other, in front of a live audience in York Hall.

Disclaimer – I’ll note here that I was at this show, with a VIP wristband, sitting in the front row. (If you peer closely you can see me in my Zack Sabre Jr t-shirt every so often.) What I saw on the night and what happened on television seemed rather different – because, obviously, this is reality TV. In this recap, I’m recapping what was aired – not my in-person opinions.

Facts from IPW, Zack v Hero, Angel Centre Tonbridge, January 19th 2014

Well, I told you I was going to drag myself to Tonbridge, (very expensive) rail replacement services notwithstanding.

And frankly I think it was probably the best decision I’m going to make all year.

From the opening triple threat between Party Marty Scurll (resplendent in fur), Mark Haskins and Jonny Storm to the spectacular main event between Zack Sabre Jr and Chris Hero, every match was a gem for its own reasons.

Fact: Fergal Devitt is making his IPW debut this weekend

I’m always a bit loath to go out on a Sunday night, especially when it involves travel.

But when I saw the card for this weekend’s IPW:UK show in Tonbridge, featuring Chris Hero vs Zack Sabre Jr, I decided I’d go, and damn the railway engineering work and its stupid replacement buses.

And now, Prince Fergal Devitt’s been added to the line-up, facing Dave Mastiff. This is going to be good.

“Obviously I’m looking forward to debuting for IPW but I think I’m more looking forward to the fact I’ll be returning to Kent and seeing some of my oldest friends, especially Danny Garnell and Zack Sabre Jr,” says Devitt, “not to mention Jimmy Havoc who I hope does a run-in of some sort and puts someone through a flaming table covered in thumb tacks and pops the crowd!”

Interview: Mad Man Manson on business, sports entertainment, money and maths

I hate to break kayfabe, but I don’t think Mad Man Manson’s actually that mad after all.

That’ll come as no surprise to anyone who saw him in the pre-PCW Festive Fury Q&A alongside John Morrison, Chris Masters and Eugene, when he held forth on the state of the UK wrestling scene and what he perceived as unprofessional, unbusinesslike conduct.

And that’s what we’re discussing now.

“It is a business. It is a job. You charge your price,” he says. “I’ve got my price; if you can’t afford it, fair enough, good luck with your show, and if you need me again, give me a call. But other people, who love wrestling so much, they’ll go down in their price. They’ll say they charge fifty quid, and the guy will hum and hah and say, ‘Oh, well, I can’t really afford that, can you do forty?’ and they’ll say OK.

“That doesn’t work in Tesco if you go in to buy a loaf of bread and it’s priced at 50p and you say, ‘Well, I’ll give you 40p.’ It doesn’t work, because Tesco doesn’t love you. But these guys love wrestling so much that they’re screwing themselves.”

And they’re screwing the other wrestlers on the scene, of course. 

Facts from 4FW, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, March 8th 2013

I’ve done a fair bit of travelling to see wrestling shows, but the village of Chipping Sodbury on a rainy, foggy Friday night? Well, I have to be honest and say that the attraction was the main event, pure and simple – Kenny Omega v friend of TOWIS Zack Sabre Jr.

I know there’s a school of thought which criticises the use of imports on UK shows, but the fact of the matter is that if you’re a British wrestling fan attending shows regularly, you’ve seen pretty much all the best talent multiple times, and the chance to see them wrestle each other for the nth time isn’t necessarily going to get people to pay for a ticket. The use of imports – booked and used correctly, without over-expenditure – can be a draw, and there’s no denying that – I heard a couple of casual fans after the show enthusing, “I enjoyed the Canadian guy [Omega], he was something a bit different!”

And sure, some other matches on the bill looked interesting – the card also featured Sha Samuels v The Saint, and Dave Mastiff v Eddie Ryan, as well as Pete Dunne v Fujita ‘Jr’ Hayato – but it was the lure of seeing a couple of the world’s best that convinced me that being crushed into a car with six wrestlers and driving for three hours was a good idea.

I’m glad I went, too.