Fact: some stereotypes of British wrestling linger for a reason

If you indulge in social media at all, or if you read newspapers, you’ll have probably caught some of the kerfuffle around a certain article in the Guardian this week.

Tying in with Simon Cowell’s musings about bringing British wrestling back to television, TV writer Stuart Heritage brought some of his ‘World of Sport’ memories to the fore when sketching out what this new series might look like.

If you have even the vaguest interest in British wrestling history you’ll know exactly the kind of thing it included – middle-aged men with beer bellies, angry grannies in the front row berating the heels, shows staged in local leisure centres, all a plodding, working-class contrast to the glamour and polish of WWE.

Wrestlers and fans alike have been outraged.

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 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.

Exclusive! More from Kharma – those vignettes, that Royal Rumble, and what she really thinks of the Divas

Check out Part One of our exclusive chat with Kharma/Amazing Kong – she talks reality TV, signing for WWE, and thoughts of retirement.

One of the quotes I really like from you was a very gracious and interesting one – you don’t think the Divas get enough credit. Did you mean from WWE or the fans or both?
I dare say both, actually. And I actually used to be one of those people. Before I got to WWE, I was very dismissive of their Diva division. Once I got there, especially the night I debuted, Michelle McCool and Layla had a match, and they left it all out there, and I respected that. The attitudes and the work ethic that I witnessed there from all the girls was extremely admirable and one that rivalled the work ethic I experienced with the Knockouts.

It’s just a shame that the Divas have to overcome such a pigeonholed reputation from the past – they’re fighting against that right now, and it’s a shame.

Interview: Johnny Moss talks about his new wrestling school!

“I have wanted to set up a school for years but never really gave it a lot of serious consideration until recently,” says Johnny Moss, who’s just announced that he’ll be opening a wrestling school in Egremont, Cumbria.

Followers of Moss’s career will know that as a novice he used to travel down from his home overnight on a National Express coach to London, where he’d then take the train to the Hammerlock School of Wrestling in Sittingbourne.

It’s perhaps not a surprise, then, that such a dedicated Hammerlock graduate would give a nod to his roots in the name of his own wrestling school – Mossy’s School of Hard Knocks and Hammerlocks.

“I want to continue the legacy of Hammerlock wrestling and its school, which produced so many great talents,” he explains.

Hammerlock always had a reputation for tough and intense training – but it had results, with the likes of Wade Barrett and Zack Sabre Jr passing through the school.

“I am a very thorough and precise coach,” says Moss. “I really do believe in practice makes perfect, and will drill holds over and over until they are second nature.

“So anybody coming to learn at the school can take comfort in the fact that I will spend the time with them they need to become polished professionals.”

Facts from Future Pro Wrestling Summertime Brawl, Wallington Hall, July 19th 2014

I usually do a little write-up of shows, taking care to personalise it and make sure that I’m documenting my experience and perception of facts.

I’m not going to do that for last night’s FPW show – but what I will do is state an undeniable fact…although it’s disappointing that Joel Redman and Martin Stone weren’t kept on in WWE for longer, it’s absolutely brilliant to have them back here in Britain.

Interview: FPW on Stone, Redman and Summertime Brawl

I constantly recommend FPW for anyone looking for a family-friendly promotion with high-quality wrestling – and I’m clearly not the only one, as they’re into their fourth year of life in an industry that chews up and spits out companies very swiftly.

“Our fans are the fuel that drives our company,” says co-founder Matt Burden. “They’ve followed us for three years and now into the forth and we feel truly blessed to have the support and energy they provide.”

The audience will have a little treat direct from WWE at next weekend’s Summertime Brawl, with Martin Stone and Joel Redman (NXT’s Danny Burch and Oliver Grey) making their debuts and facing each other.

Interview: MVP on TNA Slammiversary, PCW, Japan…and Nando’s

MVP’s not been in England 24 hours, and he’s already craving some of our finest cuisine.

“I haven’t had my Nando’s yet! I have a serious Nando’s fetish, an obsession with Nando’s, I LOVE NANDO’S,” he declares. “Later on, I’ll slide over to the Curry Mile.”

He talks enthusiastically about the delights of Manchester, including his as-frequent-as-he-can-make-them jaunts to Old Trafford to watch his team Manchester United. (And you can tell he’s a genuine football fan, because he doesn’t call it “soccer” like most of his compatriots do, and he knows very well that “soccer” as a word was a bastardisation invented by the English: “You guys invented that word! And now when we say it we get in trouble.”)

MVP surged back on to TV screens at the turn of the year as TNA’s new “mystery investor”, and is delighting in his role.

Fact: “British wrestling” doesn’t owe you anything

Have you seen the latest plans for the FA Women’s Super League? After a couple of successful seasons with one closed elite league, the FA have now introduced a second division, and allocated places according to specific criteria and each club’s long-term strategies.

Great for the best in women’s football, apparently; but not so great for the grassroots feeder clubs, who fear they’re getting ignored and left behind by the governing body who are meant to be looking out for their interests.

I mention this because there’s been a lot of talk lately about what’s “best” for British wrestling.  There’s been fans complaining about the number of imports on cards, the publicity gained by promotions, the repeated bookings of top talent resulting in duplicate matches.

Interview: the Blossom Twins talk about Sport Relief

You may have seen the Blossom Twins’ Twitter feed and noticed that they’re heading back to the UK to take part in Sport Relief. We caught up with them and asked them to tell us what’s going on with them…

Hello, ladies! For the benefit of non-UK readers, can you tell us about Sport Relief?

Sport Relief was created by Comic Relief and BBC Sport to bring the nation together through sporting events to help raise money for children all around the world. Celebrities, Sainsbury’s (UK grocery store) schools and all kinds of associations come together and take part in different sporting tasks to raise money to help shelter children and adults across the UK, to help provide fresh water and an education to communities across the world and so much more