ALL STAR GRAPPLEVINE presented by RUSSELL PLUMMER (with pictures by TONY KNOX) BRITISH INVASION COMBINAGTION TARGET Doug Williams and Nick Aldis have joined forces to bid for tag team glory in the United States as British Invasion and flew to Detroit for Total Non-stop Action televised dates over the weekend. ‘Anarchist’ Doug and Norfolk force Nick, billed as Brutus Magnus in TNA rings and more recently remembered at home as Gladiator Oblivion, are major contenders in TNA’s 3D invitational tournament and have another big test coming up on Wednesday at Orlando, Florida. Although both Nick and Welsh wrestling recruit Gladiator Goliath are disappointed it has now been confirmed there will be no third Gladiators series on ITV, the programme has helped to give an added dimension to their ring careers with Nick quickly becoming a transatlantic commuter after first making his mark as Brutus Magnus with TNA while Welsh powerhouse Goliath is already being lined-up for a WWE glory bid at the end of the year. But we will be seeing plenty of them, and Doug Williams, in All Star rings before then.
The Aldis-Williams British Invasion combination is confirmed for two big summer bills from All Star next month. They will be seen at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro on Saturday July 25, and at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, the following Monday, July 27 Both are evening presentations with a 7.30 start time and advance bookings are now possible at either venue, or by phone to 01872-262466 for Truro and 0845-6740505 for Skegness. NEW CHAMPION - NEW BOUT CLINCHER AS Submission finisher ‘Bad News’ Brown Still champ - just!.. Robbie Dynamite ‘Bad News’ Brown used a punishing new submission speciality to come through a first defence of the Superslam British Heavyweight Championship against former title holder James Mason and warns there is much more to come. Yorkshireman Brown has developed his own reverse version of the painful arm and shoulder gaiter move that was Skull Murphy’s trademark bout finisher a few years back. ‘If people don’t tap out straight away this move is going to cause them real problems and lasting discomfort,’ Leeds-based Brown told Wrestlecall. The next man pulling out all the stops to prevent himself from becoming a reverse gaiter victim will be North East force Tony Spitfire who steps-up to oppose title holder Brown in a featured contest of All Star’s bill at Butlins Bognor Regis resort on Saturday evening when a team feature also sees Kid Cool and James Mason hitting the tag trail against battling Barbarian Karl Kramer and world heavy-middleweight title holder Mikey Whiplash. Brown came through his title test against Mason at Gravesend and the same Woodville Hall bill brought another championship showdown with Robbie Dynamite hanging on to the British Mid-Heavyweight belt by the skin of his teeth after a memorably explosive battle with leading contender ‘Xtreme’ Dean Allmark ended in a double knockout. It was a clash without as much as a quiet second and Robbie ‘The Body’ looked in real danger of losing his grip on the title until the dramatic double count-out! Muscle machine Domino,......... Brookside - still sidelined! With no sign of former heavyweight number one Robbie Brookside getting back into the ring anytime soon, rising Welsh heavyweight star Iestyn Rees has joined the injured list just as he was due to start All Star summer appearance in the super-charged atmosphere of the Butlins Resorts series. Rees, who impressed in All Star debut outings earlier in the year, has suffered a leg injury and is now battling to regain full fitness. ‘Liverpool Lad’ Brookside, sidelined by knee problems since last autumn, has twice been in hospital for operations and although he was back in the ring last month it was very definitely a non-competitive appearance to present the Superslam British Heavyweight Championship belt he had just relinquished to new champion ‘Bad News’ Brown. But there is every prospect of fans seeing rather more of popular contender Domino in the coming weeks. The wrestler/radio presenter’s current contract with a Hertfordshire station is coming to an end and the heavyweight muscle machine hopes to be available for more frequent ring appearances and the launch of a campaign for a crack at the Superslam Heavyweight title. To keep up with All Star presentations around the country click on our Calendar section. The list is constantly being updated and includes details of an additional November date at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford. For weekly news and latest line-up details keep in touch via the Wrestlecall telephone hot line on 09068-121884. Calls cost 60p a minute and there are updates on Monday and Thursday every week. ‘LIGHTNING KIDS’ BEN AND ADAM
‘Lightning Kids’ Ben and Adam........... Mersey discovery Luke Hardy Some of wrestling’s younger stars have been conspicuous by their absence in recent weeks while concentrating on college examinations but combinations including exciting teen twosome the ‘Lightning Kids’ will soon be back to further their wrestling educations. Birkenhead’s Adam Davies and Chorley-based partner Ben Levy, plus Merseyside discovery Luke Hardy are all set to shine as All Star’s summer season at the Butlins resorts clicks in to top gear. The 2009 peak season schedule will see Butlins action at Skegness every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon; Superslam hits Minehead each Wednesday and Sunday afternoon and there will be evening presentations at Bognor Regis on Thursday and Saturday. All three resorts welcome day visitors with passes including Superslam wrestling and all the other entertainment attractions. There are also a range of long and short stay packages, including special theme weekends, throughout the year and full details are available at: www.butlinsonline.co.uk ALL STAR BATTLE THROUGH RED TAPE As we reported earlier in the year, tougher interpretation of work permit regulations has made it far harder for All Star to bring in members of wrestling’s international jet-set, but following official registration there should be a way through the red tape that forced Canadian globetrotter Rene Dupree to severely curtail a visit earlier in the year. All Star are now looking ahead to the start of the 2009 winter on from October and are negotiating with leading American stars through WWE Stateside contacts Steve Regal and Dave Finlay. Before then, ever controversial ‘Brooklyn Brawler’ Julio Torres will be back in July for an extended tour with regular opportunities to bring a transatlantic flavour to Superslam action at the Butlins resorts. And we could also have another flying visit from native American Chris Chavis, alias Tatanka, to savour. The colourful campaigner has a string of Continental dates coming up and wants to extend his summer stay in Europe with a further series of All Star appearances. CROWDS OUT IN FORCE FOR ALL STAR Manchester area fans turned out in their hundreds for this month’s All Star event at the city’s famous Opera House with tag team thrills and spills high on the agenda. There was big local interest in the appearance of Stockport’s Team Blossom, identical twins Hannah and Holly, who joined forces with Kid Cool and with the support of mighty midget Little Legs overcame Lisa Fury, Roxi and ‘King of Bling’ Ringo Ryan. For the 21 year-old Blossom girls, who head for the United States for three months at the WWE’s Ohio Valley Development in September, it was a big thrill to step into the spotlight on stage after their previous visit to the Opera House was as members of the audience for a pantomime last Christmas. Men’s British tag team title holders Robbie Dynamite and Mikey Whiplash were also on view but didn’t have things their all their own way when facing Gladiator Goliath and Lancashire lad Ben Levy but their was a notable success for ‘Xtreme’ Dean Allmark who delighted the fans by pinning Pan Pacific and GSA world heavyweight champion Joe Legend in a non-title clash. And in other matches new Superslam heavyweight number one ‘Bad News’ Brown defeated Tony Spitfire and James Mason claimed the honours for England in a clash with ‘Highlander’ Drew McDonald.
Ready for action, some of the big June crowd at Manchester Opera House.
Robbie Dynamite dives to the rescue as Gladiator Goliath pins Mikey Whiplash.
‘Xtreme’ Dean Allmark whips up enthusiasm from the Manchester fans.
Airborne action: ‘Xtreme’ Dean and world title holder Joe Legend The Blossoms double team on Roxi.
Team Blossom, Kid Cool and Little Legs make certain their rivals have no escape!
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