TheGrappling Times

TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING: new fans to their regular southern NWA (UK) Hammerlock is on the circuit shows, they also brought over brink of their annual October tour to Bryan Clarke (Adam Bomb/Wrath) celebrate their ten year anniversary. shortly after he left WWF other stars to After opening up originally as a come over include and Jim training school they have risen to the Neidhart. This was in the time period top of the ladder, boosting not only when Brian Dixon and Org Williams great attendances but can easily say were running extensive tribute shows that no one else has created so many around the country. accomplished wrestlers over the past When Hammerlock joined the decade than Hammerlock. National Wrestling Alliance it opened As we quickly approach the a door of opportunity, one time of year when Hammerlock travels Hammerlock immediately took when to all of it’s regular venues in the showcasing Gary Steele in a short tour course of a few weeks and then flies its of America which lead to a serious of top wrestlers over to America for the matches with then NWA World NWA Anniversary show to put on Heavyweight Champion Naoya Ogawa what is usually either the best or one of which saw him hold the title for a the top matches of the event. period of 7 days, the first British man When you cast your mind back to hold the title in its prestigious to ten years ago it was a depressing history. time. World of Sport had been gone for In the following months five years and there were only a Hammerlock went full steam into handful of names left on the circuit expanding it’s venues putting on more with Brian Dixon and Max Crabtree shows further north of its southern running shows that were far below any boundaries. standard seen in the UK before. It was Then in February 2000 the pits, with the exception of Robbie Hammerlock filmed a short series Brookside of course. called Trans-Atlantic Wrestling Andre Baker had worked all Challenge which was shown on all but over the country for many promoters two of ITV’s regional stations and was and he decided that one way to try to filmed at the Meridian Television not just revive his own living in his Studies in Southampton. chosen profession but also try and During the show there were a build up the sport and athletes that took series of tournaments pitting part in it, was by opening the Hammerlock stars against those from Hammerlock training school. NWA regions in America. The singles Baker had a strong background final came down to Gary Steele and in and he used this as well Chris ‘Sinn’ Champion. as his experiences in deciding how to Although not to everyone’s train his students. Over the next few taste it was a great achievement to put years Hammerlock would not just train on a show of that standard and quality professional wrestlers but give them a for a company such as Hammerlock competitive education in shoot and reinforced their status in country as fighting, which later became a a wrestling promotion, not just a recognised martial art ‘Ring wrestling school. Wrestling’. By this time many of their Hammerlock were the first former workers had found themselves company to bring over Jake ‘The working for the then Portsmouth based Snake’ Roberts and brought in many Frontier Wrestling Alliance. The likes

Issue 10 1/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times of , , Jodie the best in the country, Doug Williams. Fliesch and Johnny Storm were His talents have taken him all around attracting critical acclaim, this meant the world once, and there is no doubt that Hammerlock had to produce even that he will be making more trips in the more workers and saw many of their near future. crop blossom into more accomplished One of the problems of workers. wrestling (I will be guilty of this After several years running as a during this very column) is that at promotion the decision was made to times, a champion looses the focus of bring in the NWA UK Heavyweight the fans as they turn to trying to figure Championship. It was commonly out who would make the next expected that either Gary Steele or champion. Johnny Moss would win the FWA puts on good shows, but championship and Gary did in Telford. they were finding themselves in a Following that was the NWA position where they were always UK Junior Heavyweight Title which putting the same people on top. That Majik won and stills holds, although was until this year. FWA has made a relinquishing it to Paul Vault for a real attempt to build stars for the number of days before winning the title future, people that can compete with back. the likes of Doug Williams and maybe Hammerlock pressed on and in carry the ball when he is away, or the closing months of last year when the day comes he is not available announced a television deal, while to compete anymore. little has been heard about it since, One of the hottest prospects in Hammerlock have kept interest from the FWA is James Tighe, a great fans of the UK scene bring new athlete and someone that has been all wrestlers onto their shows with the over the past years FWA shows like a likes of Danny Williams, Alex Gold rash, and not the sort of rash you are and Sean Davies. embarrassed to show your doctor. With an in ring future looking On October 18 at British as bright as always the publics Uprising II Doug Williams will put his attention will be focusing on the title on the line against the young man announcement made last year, can from Chichester in what could well be Hammerlock live up to their the beginning of a new era for Frontier expectations? Or will the talk of Wrestling. television slowly fade away as it has In many ways it makes sense to for other people before. That is a try and get a new face in the main waiting game for sure. event and especially working with ******************************* Doug Williams. There is no doubt that FWA TITLE – THE NEXT Doug has the experience to be able to GENERATION: It doesn’t matter pull out the sort of matches the FWA what company it is, people will always fans expect from their main events look at the champion and for every with a worker like Tighe, and will good one there has been a couple of possible US and Japan tours looming bad ones, the champions that people FWA are going to want their number want to forget, but somehow they just one guy on their shows. I am sure they don’t have the chance before the next don’t want a repeat of the Christopher one comes along. Daniels problems where he won the Since March the man who is title but was then very hard to book king of the hill for the FWA is one of due to Japan commitments and then

Issue 10 2/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times having to have Doug Williams get the are going to be able to afford to bring a strap back in a different country. big name back and that they are going Either by having Tighe take the to be able to get them over with the title at Uprising and then bushing him FWA fans. Daniels and Styles have as the unstoppable rookie or just by worked well in the UK in the past for starting a feud with Williams that will FWA and Jerry Lynn can always go get him more over with the well, it would be nice to think that the opinionated and well educated FWA use of Americans would not be used in fans they have choose the right person this way. to put on top. His performance with They need to have a strong Flash Barker (admittedly someone else British champion who is given the that can carry people into top class chance to not only wrestle Americans matches) Tighe showed (and why not Japanese) but to beat professionalism, stamina and a mature them as well, Doug Williams will wrestling mind when working with the always be the measuring stick for an fiery veteran. FWA champion, so much depends on I am sure some fans would like his own personal career before much to see Simmons get more involved at can be decided with that championship. the top of the cards and there is no ******************************* denying he has such a good character JODIE SAYS GOODBYE by you are not going to be able to hold Douglas Stokes: Out of the blue? Of him down for long but at the moment I course it was, no one had ever doubt he would be able to work the expected one of the countries top same kind of match with Williams that performers to slowly fade away and James Tighe could and that is not then announce his retirement. disgracing the ability of Simmons. Over the summer period Jodie It does, however look like we Fleisch scaled down his amount of are seeing the end of The bookings to an amount not seen before Family/Shane & Ulf feud and whoever by him, this would of course be a comes out of that one on top would of period of the year in which he would course making good booking sense to be most busy in his own country. use that in another position on the card, Over the past few years the I do however feel that Alex Shane has former Hammerlock worker turned to much of an internet pattern of FWA sensation has been one of the thought to put the title on himself finest ambassadors throughout the (even if he comes out of the feud world for British wrestling, taking on looking the best). Michinoku Pro Wrestling in Japan, Looking further down the line, Combat Zone Wrestling and Ring of and depending on the state of the Honour in America and nearly every business as a whole we are likely to company in Britain. see Burchill hold gold in FWA, while Jodie had the sort of reputation he has still much to learn there is a that make people buy tickets, it was dollar sign tattooed onto his forehead fair to say that his athletic ability and so obvious even Max Crabtree could the fact he had one of the biggest have seen it. smiles in the world made not just the We could though be jumping kids in Bognor Regis but the 20 the gun, in the past we have seen FWA something in Bethnal Green stand up, put the title on Americans which take note and come again. shows great confidence in their Only in his early twenties, there product, believing in advance that they were some who thought that his body

Issue 10 3/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times should not really be punished into a Bulk found a different area of long wrestling career, if he had wrestling the more complex side to continued to wrestle in the same style him. that he has over the past few years in ‘Anything technical!’ he the same gruelling worldwide schedule claims. then there is always the chance that a Not only are they one of the wheelchair was going to be part of his few regular tag teams in the country, future. they are one of the few that able to FWA though, are keen to generate a reaction wherever they are. express that his injury is not wrestling ‘We don’t really see our as related and that they will refuse to go any different to other workers, but it is into any details due to protecting his good to be spoken about by the fans privacy. and magazines. We are very busy at Whether or not we will see him the moment with work from many back in a ring again, we have many different promoters; so that speaks for hours of footage on videotape that we itself.’ can remember him by, but the truth is, Over the past few years they we will not be able to see him live in a have worked a list of whose who in not ring anytime soon, which of course, is only the UK but all over the world. a huge shame. When someone comes ‘Skull Murphy, Earthquake, along and changes the mould and Superflys and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.’ prospective thinking of British Says Bulk while Big Dave has enjoyed wrestling like he did then a mould has working with ‘Coalminers, Crusher been changed and one that continues to Mason, Jimmy Ocean, Doug Williams be broken in his name. and Flash Barker.’ ‘The Phoenix’ Jodie Fleisch ‘We have wrestled just about has hung up his MC Hammer tights for everyone in the country! We would the time being, lets hope its not for love to tag against Jody Fleisch and ever. Jonny Storm.’ ******************************* Like most workers on the go, BULK AND DAVE OF THE UK there is always a goal to work in : ‘We were trained by United States, this is something that WAW in Norwich. Our trainers were the UK Pitbulls have done in the past Sweet Saraya, Crusher Mason, Ricky and made quite an impact. Knight and Jimmy Ocean. We first ‘We were asked to go over by came to watch the shows as punters Poison of SCW in who and were approached by Ricky because had recently moved over there. While of our size.’ we were there we stayed at Myrtle While the fans may take beach South Carolina for a month with wrestlers more seriously because of Creeping Death the AIWF Champion, their size, it does not mean that they and wrestled for AIWF, TCW and find it any easier to get into the ring, others. We made some good friends learn their craft and then fine tune it on out there and been back again .We the circuit. have been asked to go over again and ‘I found the flip bumps hard are currently trying to fit a trip into our but eventually managed them after schedule, maybe December.’ landing on my head a lot!’ says Big If you speak to any worker in Dave, who has obviously stopped Britain about the Pitbulls you always landing on his head. get a similar response ‘safe’. Maybe its because of their size, or maybe its

Issue 10 4/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times because there are some people out There are those that will there that are just a bit reckless or do always talk about the old days and not like to use common sense, but the there are those that want to turn a page Pitbulls are proud of their reputation. and of course there are those that are ‘It is very important to us as ignorant to everything. Some, we use a lot of devastating moves and including two large men from Norfolk, other guys trust us to do the moves are just plain happy. safely, most of the time! As big guys ‘No I don’t think it can be as are sometimes portrayed as clumsy and successful in this country, but it is dangerous. Also we let the high flyers pretty popular now and we regularly do any moves on us knowing we will wrestle in front of crowds of 200- catch them safely. It is not good to be 1000.But to achieve great success I known as a dangerous worker.’ think a regular TV slot on a main While the pair of brothers station is needed’. spend most of their time in the same The UK Pitbulls have turned corner as each other, they do not their hand to promoting in the past always team together, sometimes they putting on three shows under the DAM enjoy the odd singles match. Promotions banner and hope to run a ‘I like to wrestle singles as I fourth show in November in the can do more technical stuff but prefer Norfolk area. action as it is more non-stop This seems like good and the double teams are more brutal, thinking when they reel off the list of we are always trying to come up with injuries they have had, although new moves too which adds to it all’ luckily no serious ones. Big Dave told us. ‘Broken arm, dislocated ‘I prefer tag but I like the odd knee,3 concussions, broken finger, singles hardcore match.’ said Bulk broken nose, plus other sprains and ‘I think all wrestlers would like bruises’ said Bulk. While Big Dave has be in a big company like WWE, but a similar list. realistically we hope to carry on ‘Broken nose, broken fingers, wrestling for different promoters bad laceration to head, torn membrane around the world and to open our own in knee, concussion, broken rib and wrestling gym and training school on other minor cuts and bruises.’ day.’ ‘I think to the average fan While Bulk claims that he eats size is important as it is the first lots every day Big Dave (the older yet impression of a wrestler they get. If a smaller) of the two seems to plan his guy in the street saw Bulk and then meals a bit more. saw Jonny Storm -on first sight they ‘4 or 5 meals a day, such as would think Jonny stands no chance. steak and baked potato, fish and However wrestling is a mix of talent , stir fry vegetables, homemade pies, showmanship and how you use you basically good nutritious food.’ physical attributes- we would not Just like most wrestling fans attempt too many shooting star presses and wrestlers there is a lot of talk about for example .We enjoy all types of The Wrestling Channel. wrestling and think a good show ‘looking forward to it a lot, should have monsters, high flyers, just hope they will show some modern technical and maybe some light relief. UK wrestling and maybe film some It is not necessary to be big but it new stuff and have a regular slot for certainly helps us with bookings!’ it.’.

Issue 10 5/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

The Pitbulls are former FWA and more shows are planned for Tag Team Champions and were Southampton. They’re at the Eastpoint enjoying a series of matches with Alex Centre on October 25th with Champion Shane and before The Andy Simmonz defending his title. Family came along, hopefully we will The big news however is that see The Pitbulls again soon. All-Stars are just weeks away from ‘We enjoyed working for the holding a show in Southampton at the FWA , we have not been asked to Guildhall. Looking at the current participate in current storylines but matches being held around the country would be happy to wrestle for them I’m on my knees praying that we get to again if asked.’ see American Dragon defend his The Pitbulls can be found World Title. It’s going to be wrestling up and down the country for interesting having All-Stars after years several different companies and more of TWA. Fans in this area are used to information can be found on their seeing people like Ricky Knight, Zebra official web site which is featured in Kid, Robbie Brookside, Phil Powers this months Editor’s Links. and Jonny Storm. Not all of those ****************************** names can be expected to be appearing TIMES ARE CHANGING by on All-Stars shows in Southampton, Stephen Ashfield: It’s been an Storm perhaps, Brookside when he’s interesting year if you follow fit but fans are going to have to get in the south of used to some new names. But , particularly Hampshire and hopefully fans turn up simply because Dorset. We began the year with the they love wrestling and the hall will be assured knowledge that both packed on October 27. Three days Southampton and Bournemouth had before that All-Stars debut at the regular shows from TWA with big Salisbury City Hall which is good name stars from the UK appearing and news for fans in Wiltshire. stars from the States such as Jake Wrestling in Portsmouth seems Roberts and Juventud Guerrera. At limited to the FWA Academy at the one stage we even had Jake putting on moment but these are excellent shows. his own show in Eastleigh with The The next is at the Buckland Leisure Honky Tonk Man, Jim Duggan and Centre on the 25th at 1pm headlined by Brutus Beefcake. Meanwhile the FWA James Tighe defending his Academy had one of their biggest shows of the title against Eammon Shahran plus a year ‘No Surprises’ at the Pyramids triple threat match between Nikita, Centre in Portsmouth, regular FWA Stixx and Ian Logan plus Birchall and Academy shows in Buckland and a Andy Simmonz. Six matches for a show at The Mountbatten Centre. So fiver and still time for a night out, what’s the state of wrestling in this sounds good to me! area now as we reach the end of 2003? For Bournemouth the news TWA is of course history as far isn’t quite as good. The All-Star as these shores are concerned. After a invasion hasn’t reached there yet and I final tour this summer, Scott Conway haven’t heard of any other shows left for Thailand and the regular shows planned though there has been gossip. at Southampton Guildhall and the A gap in the market most definitely! Bournemouth International Centre So life has changed in this area disappeared but help is at hand. but with new promotions on their way, Recently CWC held a free the next few months should be pretty show as part of a festival in Thornhill interesting.

Issue 10 6/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

takes this match it will position him in ******************************* a nice position to be elevated and there FWA BRITISH UPRISING II: We is no question that this match will be are told all of the time that FWA are boring because Hampton Court are about to have their biggest show of all possibly the most over faction in the time and therefore the biggest show of country, they get such good heat and the UK scene. Is this one going to be all of the guys are brilliant. true? Are we going to see a show of Doug Williams Vs. James international class, athleticism, Tighe. The FWA Title will of course production and showmanship? We will be on the line as Doug Williams takes have to wait until after the show for on the young Tighe who has had many that, but before we can go through the impressive outings this year. Don’t be matches announced at press time and shocked if Tighe takes the belt, analyse what we think the show will be although I am sure many will. This like. allows Doug more availability for Alex Shane & Ulf Herman overseas tours in the future and allows Vs The Family. They have been FWA to build upon a star in the feuding for the best part of a year and making. have offered the FWA faithful Nikita has an open challenge something different from the usual and CM Punk and are faced passed high risk action. This also signed to appear. There is also talk looks like it could well be the final that another surprise American will be match in the series. Depending on what on the show, while everyone on the the FWA has planned for The Family I internet says it will be , I doubt see that a good violent match and even that FWA would ever consider a turn with Alex Shane moving up the bringing over such a name without card. This match was rumoured to advertising him as he is one of the few involve Justin Credible, although the people that could draw a very nice match is in the air due to the state of crowd, although cannot see him Alex Shane’s back, work or no work. wrestling Nikita though. Zebra Kid Vs. Flash Barker. Looks like we will have to Zebra has held this title for a long time wait to October 18. and while he earns a mild mannered respect with the fans for his ******************************* performances over the last year, he has HERE AND THERE: All Star never really been given much chance Promotions have announced that Brian to progress a little higher up the card ‘American Dragon’ Danielson, Flash while Flash has been going nowhere Barker, Dean Allmark, Kid Cool, Julio quickly. This match will be good, good Torres, Andy Anderson, Johnny Storm, in a different way that the others will Frankie Sloan, Mike Belton and Mikey be good but will still take notice of the Whiplash are all signed for their fans and will show just how underused Autumn Aggression Tour which these two proper British style workers features the return of the World Heavy- really are. Middleweight Champion the American Burchill Vs. Hampton Court. Dragon…Ian Freeman is opening the Burchill, Burchill, Burchill, the guy is ‘Total Martial Arts’ gym within the going over in this match and so he next few months which will have should. Hampton Court are one of the classes everyday…FCW 30/9: Devils highlights of the FWA but do they Advocates beat The British really need to win? When Burchill Connection, Jack Storm beat The

Issue 10 7/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

Bouncer, Keith Myatt beat Mark Karsten Kretschmar, beat Hogan, Laken Xander and Spud beat Cannonball Grizzly and Gangrel beat Kevin O’Neil and Celt Kennedy, Drew McDonald…NWA Ireland 27/9 Morales beat Jem ‘MTX’ Brown and from County Wicklow: Gonzo de Sam Green beat Rob Hunter...TAP Mondo beat Paddy Morrow, Tank and from Loughborough 29/8: Simon Hull Sean Brennan beat Justin Bred and NC Steve Stryka, Turmido beat Rob Danny Butler, Dino Decious beat Carl Hunter, Spud beat Falcon, Simon Hull Rourke, Daragh Cleary beat Adam & Coby Jones beat Steve Stryka and Abz, Beautiful Benny B beat Ross The Judge, Spindoctor beat Red Tiger, Browne and Paul Tracy and Fergal The Fanclub beat Chris Botherway and Devitt beat Kurupt and the Kung Fu Jem ‘MTX’ Brown, Adam Thorn beat Kid…Hammerlock 10th Anniversary Jason Detroit…EPW from Sheffield Tour dates: 11/10 Black Lions Lesiure 27/9: Axel Rook beat Flawless Carter Centre in Gillingham, 27/10 Winter Jay, John Doe beat Hysteria, Mike Gardents Margate, 28/10 Civic Hall Gudness beat Rick Wildfire, Alan Bedworth, 29/10 Castle Hall, Hertford, Johnson beat Mr M Lee, Andy Hogg 31/10 Civic Hall, Grays Essex, 1/11 beat Johnny Midnight, Ice and Jimmy J Leisure Centre, Andover, 21/11 Mote King beat Dave and Lou, Mark Impact Park Leisure Centre, Maidstone, 22/11 beat Carnige, Ice won the battle Stour Centre, Ashford royal…FWA21/9 from Broxbourne ******************************* Civic Hall, Herts: Jack Xavier beat EZ UNARMED AND DAGEROUS: On Money, James Tighe beat Flash 17 September Channel 4 aired Barker, Simmons beat Mark Sloan, ‘Unarmed and Dangerous’ the story of Zebra Kid NC Flash Barker, Jace the Mat Fraser who in six weeks was Ace beat Lee Darren, Jonny Storm beat trained for a fight on a Chris Hammerick and The Family beat promoted show. Most people would be Alex Shane and Ulf Herman… impressed by that, even more when BRAWL from Corby 20/9: Jonny you take into respect he was born Pesci beat Stevie Summers, The Thalidomide affected. Murders beat Swift Justice, Mark He had done martial arts for Vicious beat Billy Morgan, Rob ten years in a self defence form and Hunter beat Spud, Bad Attitude beat works as an actor, musician and artist. Thee UK Pitbulls and Spatch beat Jem The aim was to be trained, ‘MTX’ Brown…CWC from get in the cage and maybe even win. Southampton 20/9: Phillip Bedwell After his first training beat Scott Frazier, Charlie Rage beat session it was obvious that there were Karl Fury, Vicky Wain beat Liz many problems ahead. Mainly that he Peddar, Tim Burns beat Rob Force, was unable to defend himself with his Paul Willis and Brett Summers, Joe arms, he had no way of blocking, Riot beat Baxter Burridge, Simmons although he was more than useful with beat Nathan Creed and Paul Travell his legs. and Phillip Bedwell won the The biggest problem that they rumble…EWP Glide 2003 21/9: had was getting Mat a fight, their aim Gangrel beat James Mason, was to put him on a show with an able Cannonball Grizzly beat , bodied fighter, who had been training Karsten Kretschmar beat Murat as a Mixed Martial Artist. Bosporus, Drew McDonald and Ecki Mat Fraser’s trainer Eckstein beat Joe X Legend and Doug approached Dougie Truman who runs Williams, Drew McDonald beat

Issue 10 8/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

Cage Warriors, it was obvious he was cautious punches from his young less than keen. adversary. As the fight progressed Mat ‘At the end of the day I came grew in confidence and used his kicks to realise by looking at the situation to push himself forward to the centre from the outside that you had rights, I of the cage after being pushed against appreciate at the beginning I was very the mesh from the start. much against the Idea as I felt I had a In the final round things got duty as a prominent figure in MMA to heated and of course the fans were protect & maintain the future behind Mat although the fight was reputation of MMA as we are still very soon over with the bell ringing. It was much a fragile sport here in the UK.’ down to a decision. It was agreed that he would He had done it. He had not fight a young teenager inside the cage. just entered the cage, but he had done It was billed as a charity exhibition the unthinkable, he had survived. It match and Truman tried as much as he was announced (to Mat’s utter could to isolate himself and his disappointment) that the fight was a company from Mat Fraser and the draw. Channel 4 documentary team. After the fight, while pleased Before the fight Fraser he had reached his goal of being attended an earlier Cage Warriors allowed into the cage Mat was not show, he sat at ringside and watched as happy about the result, even thinking people he had talked to backstage were that he deserved to loose. He wanted to involved in brutal fights, although one do it again. But this time win. suspects that Channel 4 used the more The show received violent footage for this part of the tremendous applause from critics and documentary. MMA (and non) MMA fans alike. Mat was left with the buzz, With an estimate rating of 1.3 million he was excited and soon came the viewers it is without a doubt the most event. watched documentary on MMA within The event was sold out and the UK. the fans were, as always at UK MMA Mat did however, feel that events loud and ruckus, his opponent he had let down the MMA community came out first, the fans knew he was down and left the following message young but gathered from the people on his official web site. that lead him to the ring and that had ‘Firstly, it wasn't the trained him that he was well prepared. programme I wanted to make; I wanted Then out came Mat. to do a fair look at the cage fight scene Coming to the ring with his in Britain, seeing many more fights, upperbody covered, it wasn’t long watching training regimes, and talking before they noticed that he was a what to more professional fighters, with the most people dub a ‘Thalidomide baby’, smallest part being being me maybe and of course his arms were what was having a go, just as a sub strand...hence affected. us filming, at length, my trainer and Before the fight, the rules friend Gideon Hajioff from Dynamic were agreed; there would be no Self Defence, Andy Jardine's traing grappling, but his opponent could gym, Jess Liaudin and me, Lee Dosky punch. & his crew and all his efforts of doing Inside the cage there were 3 a special gig, coming to my cage rounds, at first Mat seemed out of his attempt, taking time out of his life to depth not being able to defend the do me a favour, the interviews with

Issue 10 9/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

Paul Terminator, Leon(! All that great will spend time with children in a footage! Wasted...) etc etc etc...... country that still makes and sells I feel kind of responsible for Thalidomide and will be seen on letting you guys down, but this is how Channel 4 (it is due to be filmed in it went : After seeing the rough footage December). of up close reality fighting, a few ******************************* chokes, cut lips, noses, fists in faces LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: etc, Channel 4 insisted, apparently because of both their violence I am sure that you are to contain an watershed and their desire to have it article about Jodie Fleisch in this issue, broadcast as early in the evening as I thought that I would write to you possible, that it should be more centred about him seeing as I have been such a around me, that the mainstream British big fan of his over the years. viewing audience would relate to the I have lost count of the amount subject more if seen through my of times I have seen him wrestle and experience.. seen that he has grown in maturity and So, loads of it got cut out, it confidence over the past few years. I was edited into a programme I had no was especially clad that he had the real power over.....I wish it had been opportunities that so many so young do less of a fly on my wall, too many not get, by going to America and intrusive shots of my house, girlfriend, Japan. private life etc...I know I know, It's my It is very sad that he is retiring, fault for letting the filming be so especially in the mysterious personal...we live and learn. circumstances that this has happened. I I hope no one is pissed off at have tickets to British Uprising II and I me, and I won't be doing anything like was hoping to have seen him wrestle that again, promise. there. I don't think it was a bad film, and I I am sure I speak on behalf of really hope it gave a fair image of the everyone when I say you will be MMA scene, I'm still a massive fan missed! and will be going to them when I can, Name not supplied. and I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to reveal the Jeremy Bailey I met, a really good bloke, and Guys, of course hats off to Dougie Truman I just got back from an event in for putting his rep on the line and Sheffield, does EPW have any letting me in his cage, I hope I didn't connection with Hammerlock let you down mate....but I don't really anymore. like this modern trend for Voyeuristic, Darren Perace so-called reality style TV’ His apology was not accepted DB: As far as I am aware they are within the UK community, he was not on bad terms, just EPW (like however credit with being a brave MPW) are running shows on there groundbreaker that became an own, with their own talent. overnight icon in the MMA community. ******************************* Mat Fraser can next be seen VACANCIES: The Grappling Times in a BBC film ‘Are You Looking At is always on the look out for talented Me’ a romantic drama as well as persons to ensure that The Grappling ‘Thalidomide ValeTudo’ in which he Times is the leading publication

Issue 10 10/11 October 2003 TheGrappling Times

regarding British professional Times before anyone else. wrestling. In particular we are looking Please note that this publication for the following: is considered copyright of the editor and individual writer and no portion of Wrestling Journalist - Someone to the Grappling Times may be copied or write a monthly article regarding republished without the expressed British professional wrestling. consent of Dean Baker. Due to this being a free newsletter any reprinting Mixed Martial Arts Editor - Due to of this publication should be in a non the new MMAUK section we are profit form and if payment is received including in the Grappling Times we should only be for raw materials. are looking for someone to be in charge of this section taking on editorial responsibilities.

Mixed Martial Arts Journalist - Someone to write a monthly article regarding British MMA in the UK

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Issue 10 11/11 October 2003