ALL STAR GRAPPLEVINE
(presented by Russell Plummer)
Finlay aiming for victory in Croydon's big night
THERE have been many great wrestling occasions at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, over the past 50 years but even these look set to be surpassed on Friday June 1 when All Star Promotions present a 'Night of Legends' bringing back favourites from the 'World of Sport' era alongside the best of wrestling's new generation talent. There is a growing buzz of excitement among fans after announcement of legends events including a main event clash with Danny Collins returning to the ring to face 'Belfast Bruiser' Dave Finlay, the man who has been hitting the high spots with WWE in the United States for more than a decade. Finlay, pictured above left, regularly featured in All Star's Croydon bills and remains every bit as abrasive as fans remember him from the late 1980s and through the 1990s, while Bristol-born Collins starred in Fairfield solo clashes and as a tag partner for the one and only Big Daddy.
Tag team action will see Liverpool Lads Robbie Brookside and partner Frankie Sloan (above, right) facing the original Super Flys combination of nightmare Ricky Knight and partner Jimmy Ocean. This will be a last ring appearance for Jimmy Ocean and it has been confirmed that introducing the Norfolk pairing, and reviving her very first wrestling role, will be will be the ever abrasive Sweet Saraya, recently returned from the United States after gaining Shimmer Championship honours. The Croydon programme has a 7.30pm start with tickets now on sale at the Fairfield Halls box office (Telephone: 0208-688-9291) including a special £45 family offer covering two adults and two children under 16. Look out for further updates here at superslamwrestling.co.uk while late line-up checks will be available through the Wrestlecall telephone hot line, updated every Monday and Thursday, on 09068-121884 (call cost 60p min).
After Croydon's Legends Night, Dave Finlay is set to headline a series of All Star Diamond Jubilee celebration events starting on Saturday June 2 at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, with a 7pm strart time and advance bookings available on 0208-561837. Then, after Superslam dates at Butlin's Bognor Regis on Sunday June 3 and at Minehead on Tuesday June 5, Wednesday June 6 sees Finlay at the Woodville Hall, Gravesend, from 7.30pm (01474-337774); the run continuing on Thursday June 7 at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, start time 7pm (0845-67045050); Friday June 8 at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, start time 7.30pm (01424-462288); and Saturday June 9 at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells with a 7pm start (01892-560613).
Storm-Allmark clash for Johnny Saint Trophy
LIGHTWEIGHT wrestling legend Johnny Saint (above far left) enjoyed a remarkable run as world lightweight championship holder, meeting and beating the finest home and overseas talent the promoters could put in his path through more than two decades. Now he will be at Croydon on Friday June 1 to present the Johnny Saint Challenge Trophy after the inaugural final of what is to become an annual competition contested by stars from the lighter weights. Since the beginning of the year qualifying matches have been a feature of many All Star presentations and Johnny, now based in North Wales, has studied hours of video recordings of matches before deciding that the first Trophy Final will be contested between Dean Allmark (above, centre left) and Jonny Storm (above, centre right). Cambridgeshire Wonder Kid Jonny has figured in sensational action this year against opponents including Prima Donna Nathan Cruz, star attraction Mark Haskins, Marty Scurll and El Ligero while Xtreme Dean is just as eager to get his hands on some silverwear after losing his grip on the Superslam title against Rampage Brown.
Croydon's Legends Night will also have an international flavour with Canadian globetrotter Rene Dupree flying in to to face Zebra Kid Roy Knight in a heavyweight clash.
Ten years ago, at just 19, Dupree (above far right), became the youngest wrestler in WWE history to win a major title when enjoying World Tag success as part of La Resistance alongside Carl Oulette. Recently returning to Canada after a couple of years with All-Japan Pro Wrestling, Dupree is on his travels again and aiming to remind British fans of his totally relentless style. Later in June, blond American bombshell Sam Adonis returns to All Star rings along with North Carolina's Steve Walters, a protege of WWE star Edge who comes complete with a glowing recommendation from none other than William Regal. By early summer they will be joined by high flying Japanese ace Shadow Phoenix, the ever imposing Brody Steele and another North American debutant aerial specialist Titus who is billed out fo Las Vegas.
Rocco, Bridges, McManus at Legends Night
WRESTLING has been a feature ever since Croydon's Fairfield Halls opened its doors 50 years ago and one of the stars of the very first line-up, in the days of Dale Martin Promotions, will be stepping back into the spotlight during All Star's Legends Night on Friday June 1. Mick McManus (above, far left), the man fans loved to hate through the 'World of Sport' era, returns to the setting of his November 1962 clash with Linde Caulder and will be rubbing shoulders with Rollerball Mark Rocco (centre left), Wayne Bridges (centre right) and headliners from All Star's own opening Croydon spectacular in February 1985, a mong them a teenage Robbie Brookside! The June 1 event is receiving strong support from the British Wrestlers' Reunion and other key figures introduced to the Fairfield fans will include Pete Roberts and Reunion president and founder Joe D'Orazio (above, far right) along with other celebrities including Darth Vader star Dave Prowse. The whole occasion, including all the ring action and interviews with members of the audience, is being filmed for a BBC 4 documentary and fans are invited to submit questions to inquiries@superslamwrestling.co.uk that will be put to legends guests on the big night.
All Star's seaside summer Superslam specials!
ALL STAR have announced an extra summer date at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, on Wednesday July 18 (7pm) with action returning to Blackpool the following night (July 19) at the start of a run of Thursday shows at the Pavilion Theatre in the Winter Gardens Complex through to Thursday August 30. This year's summer run at the Town Hall, Rhyl, begins on Tuesday July 24, again with weekly action until Thursday August 28.
Once again All Star present Superslam events at the Butlin's resorts in Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead evey weekend from June 2 with two shows weekly at each resort from July through into September. An extended season of All Star action at more than 30 Haven Holiday Centres around the country begins in Scotland from June 30 with centres in England and Wales joining for a six week season from July 21. The Butlin’s action schedule is: Bognor Regis (Tuesday and Saturday): June 2, 5, 9, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 24, 28, 31; August 4, 7,11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31; September 1, 15, 29; October 20, 27; November 3. Skegness (Thursday and Saturday): June 2, 7, 9, 16, 23, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 26, 28; August 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; September 1, 8, 16; October 20, 23, 27, 30. Minehead (Wednesday and Sunday): June 3, 6, 10, 24; July 8, 15, 22, 25, 29; August 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29; September 2, 9, 23; October 7, 21, 24, 28, 31.
THERE have been many great wrestling occasions at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, over the past 50 years but even these look set to be surpassed on Friday June 1 when All Star Promotions present a 'Night of Legends' bringing back favourites from the 'World of Sport' era alongside the best of wrestling's new generation talent. There is a growing buzz of excitement among fans after announcement of legends events including a main event clash with Danny Collins returning to the ring to face 'Belfast Bruiser' Dave Finlay, the man who has been hitting the high spots with WWE in the United States for more than a decade. Finlay, pictured above left, regularly featured in All Star's Croydon bills and remains every bit as abrasive as fans remember him from the late 1980s and through the 1990s, while Bristol-born Collins starred in Fairfield solo clashes and as a tag partner for the one and only Big Daddy. Tag team action will see Liverpool Lads Robbie Brookside and partner Frankie Sloan (above, right) facing the original Super Flys combination of nightmare Ricky Knight and partner Jimmy Ocean. This will be a last ring appearance for Jimmy Ocean and it has been confirmed that introducing the Norfolk pairing, and reviving her very first wrestling role, will be will be the ever abrasive Sweet Saraya, recently returned from the United States after gaining Shimmer Championship honours. The Croydon programme has a 7.30pm start with tickets now on sale at the Fairfield Halls box office (Telephone: 0208-688-9291) including a special £45 family offer covering two adults and two children under 16. Look out for further updates here at superslamwrestling.co.uk while late line-up checks will be available through the Wrestlecall telephone hot line, updated every Monday and Thursday, on 09068-121884 (call cost 60p min). After Croydon's Legends Night, Dave Finlay is set to headline a series of All Star Diamond Jubilee celebration events starting on Saturday June 2 at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, with a 7pm strart time and advance bookings available on 0208-561837. Then, after Superslam dates at Butlin's Bognor Regis on Sunday June 3 and at Minehead on Tuesday June 5, Wednesday June 6 sees Finlay at the Woodville Hall, Gravesend, from 7.30pm (01474-337774); the run continuing on Thursday June 7 at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, start time 7pm (0845-67045050); Friday June 8 at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, start time 7.30pm (01424-462288); and Saturday June 9 at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells with a 7pm start (01892-560613).
Storm-Allmark clash for Johnny Saint Trophy
LIGHTWEIGHT wrestling legend Johnny Saint (above far left) enjoyed a remarkable run as world lightweight championship holder, meeting and beating the finest home and overseas talent the promoters could put in his path through more than two decades. Now he will be at Croydon on Friday June 1 to present the Johnny Saint Challenge Trophy after the inaugural final of what is to become an annual competition contested by stars from the lighter weights. Since the beginning of the year qualifying matches have been a feature of many All Star presentations and Johnny, now based in North Wales, has studied hours of video recordings of matches before deciding that the first Trophy Final will be contested between Dean Allmark (above, centre left) and Jonny Storm (above, centre right). Cambridgeshire Wonder Kid Jonny has figured in sensational action this year against opponents including Prima Donna Nathan Cruz, star attraction Mark Haskins, Marty Scurll and El Ligero while Xtreme Dean is just as eager to get his hands on some silverwear after losing his grip on the Superslam title against Rampage Brown. Croydon's Legends Night will also have an international flavour with Canadian globetrotter Rene Dupree flying in to to face Zebra Kid Roy Knight in a heavyweight clash.
Rocco, Bridges, McManus at Legends Night
WRESTLING has been a feature ever since Croydon's Fairfield Halls opened its doors 50 years ago and one of the stars of the very first line-up, in the days of Dale Martin Promotions, will be stepping back into the spotlight during All Star's Legends Night on Friday June 1. Mick McManus (above, far left), the man fans loved to hate through the 'World of Sport' era, returns to the setting of his November 1962 clash with Linde Caulder and will be rubbing shoulders with Rollerball Mark Rocco (centre left), Wayne Bridges (centre right) and headliners from All Star's own opening Croydon spectacular in February 1985, a mong them a teenage Robbie Brookside! The June 1 event is receiving strong support from the British Wrestlers' Reunion and other key figures introduced to the Fairfield fans will include Pete Roberts and Reunion president and founder Joe D'Orazio (above, far right) along with other celebrities including Darth Vader star Dave Prowse. The whole occasion, including all the ring action and interviews with members of the audience, is being filmed for a BBC 4 documentary and fans are invited to submit questions to inquiries@superslamwrestling.co.uk that will be put to legends guests on the big night.
All Star's seaside summer Superslam specials!
ALL STAR have announced an extra summer date at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, on Wednesday July 18 (7pm) with action returning to Blackpool the following night (July 19) at the start of a run of Thursday shows at the Pavilion Theatre in the Winter Gardens Complex through to Thursday August 30. This year's summer run at the Town Hall, Rhyl, begins on Tuesday July 24, again with weekly action until Thursday August 28.
Once again All Star present Superslam events at the Butlin's resorts in Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead evey weekend from June 2 with two shows weekly at each resort from July through into September. An extended season of All Star action at more than 30 Haven Holiday Centres around the country begins in Scotland from June 30 with centres in England and Wales joining for a six week season from July 21. The Butlin’s action schedule is: Bognor Regis (Tuesday and Saturday): June 2, 5, 9, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 24, 28, 31; August 4, 7,11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31; September 1, 15, 29; October 20, 27; November 3. Skegness (Thursday and Saturday): June 2, 7, 9, 16, 23, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 26, 28; August 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; September 1, 8, 16; October 20, 23, 27, 30. Minehead (Wednesday and Sunday): June 3, 6, 10, 24; July 8, 15, 22, 25, 29; August 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29; September 2, 9, 23; October 7, 21, 24, 28, 31.