Here When It’S Put Online Is More up to Date Than If We Were Like Other Mags That Unavoidably Have to Go to the Printers a Couple of Weeks Before Getting in the Shops
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Page 2 Welcome to the first ever edition of Piledriver Online. Some of you will already be familiar with this publication as it has previously been available at shows and on subscription but now it has a new home on the internet in full colour and I sincerely hope you all enjoy this debut edition. So what’s different about Piledriver Online? Well, using this format one main difference is that the information here when it’s put online is more up to date than if we were like other mags that unavoidably have to go to the printers a couple of weeks before getting in the shops. We also have more pages and give plenty of coverage to UK wrestling, have more news coverage, more interviews and a look back at the history of professional wrestling home and abroad. Oh and of course it’s free to read! We will soon be launching Piledriver Plus and that will give you more news, competitions and features that will not appear in the main magazine all for just ten pounds a year (current subscribers need not apply). More about that at www.pildedriver-online.co.uk soon, oh and don’t forget to join our forums and if you’re interested in advertising with us at incredibly cheap rates and in full colour just go to our website for more details. We’re just weeks away from Wrestlemania now and the card is gradually taking shape, in fact the two main title matches were confirmed even before ‘No Way Out’ took place on February 18th which isn’t always the case as that PPV usually has a match to determine who gets a title shot at Wrestlemania and it’s not that long ago since the WWE title even changed hands at that PPV when Eddie Guerrero beat Brock Lesnar. So we already know that at Wrestlemania 23 it’s going to be John Cena defending his WWE Title against Shawn Michaels and Batista putting his World Heavyweight Title on the line against The Undertaker. Two face v face matches are pretty uncommon two and there’s no real signs of any heel turns just yet, then again Vince Russo isn’t doing the booking anymore is he? Both matches have real potential despite the limitations of both champions. To be honest after the rave reports that the clash between Undi and HBK got in the concluding moments of the Royal Rumble, it’s a shame that a match between the two veterans couldn’t be manufactured somehow. Will The Undertaker keep his unbeaten record at Wrestlemania? Is Shawn Michaels preparing for another WWE Title reign and why can’t heels such as Orton or Edge force their way into the title picture on the biggest card of them all? We’ll have a comprehensive preview of Wrestlemania 23 and the WWE Hall of Fame in our next edition due out in the week beginning March 26th The rest of the card certainly has scope for a few trips to the toilet or kitchen (I always have to keep eating to stay awake!). The prospect of Kane v The Great Khali and Melina v Ashley doesn’t exactly guarantee that huge buy- rate that Vince expects this time of the year. However, the feud with Donald Trump is getting Vince McMahon a lot of publicity and should attract fans to see just who’s going to get their head shaved (or as they call it these days, ‘having a Britney’). I imagine Mr McMahon has already purchased a few terrible wigs for his appearances on WWE TV in April. Well, that’s all for me for the moment. I really do want some feedback on Piledriver Online, so either email me, call me or just join our forum. We’ll be back in a few weeks time, details of content in Edition two will appear on the website throughout the month. Piledriver Online Editor: Steve Ashfield Writers: Steve Ashfield, Julian Radbourne, The Cynic, Peter Staniforth, James Moreland, Ian Dowland, Chris Isenberg, April Hunter, Dave Icke, Rob Cope, Asher Thompson and Dan Evans Thanks to all the wrestling companies who have allowed us to use images from their sites Photographs: Sarah Barraclough (www.britishwrestlingpictures.co.uk), Ian Dowland, , Dave Icke, Rob Cope, ‘Anglo Italian’, Dean Ayass and Greg Lambert Contact the Editor via www.piledriver-online.co.uk or call him on 07804 348 642 Page 3 Contents 4 DVD reviews 5-7 RQW Past Present and Future including an interview with Len Davies 8-9 Interview with RQW Heavyweight Champion Martin Stone 10-11 Interview with ROH star Davey Richards Pages 12-30 The Piledriver News Centre 12-21 British and Irish News 22-24 WWE News 25-27 Indy News 28 TNA News 29 European News 30-31 The King of Europe Cup 32-34 Book Reviews 35-37 Wrestlers in the Movies including interviews with Kane and John Cena 38-40 Chris Jericho: Life outside the WWE 41 Tributes to Mike Awesome and Bad News Brown Pages 42-61 Timeslip—the History of Professional Wrestling 42-43 Did Showmanship destroy British wrestling in the 80s 43 Ian Dowland 44-45 Timewarp 46-49 The Legendary Kendo Nagasaki 50-53 Book/DVD reviews 54-55 WCCW 56-61 The History of the Royal Rumble 62-67 Columns from Julian Radbourne, The Cynic and James Moreland 67-69 In Memory: Bam Bam Bigelow 70-71 Interview with Peter Staniforth 72-74 Inside the Crazy world of Mad Man Manson 74-75 DVD review 76-77 The Great Muta 78-83 Fighting Females 78-79 News Centre 80-81 Interview with Jacquelyn 82-83 April Hunter/WEW 84-88 A Manager’s Life for Me - including interviews with Dean Ayass and Greg Lambert and the views of Peter Staniforth 89-90 The Backyard PILEDRIVER ONLINE Page 4 DVD Reviews and News RQW—Rebirth One of the best venues in London isn’t actually anywhere near being the largest. Venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena may hold many memories but it’s the York Hall in Bethnal Green that fans adore especially if they’re into wrestling and boxing. Sadly for a few years wrestling was absent from the York Hall but in November 2006 it returned as RQW began their monthly shows televised for TWC Fight! To win a tournament you have to be in it and for one of Martin Stone and Doug Williams, that wasn’t going to be the case as they headlined ‘Rebirth’ in a qualifying match for the tournament held the following month to determine a new RQW Heavyweight Champion. With these two great wrestlers in the ring a high quality match was virtually guaranteed and that’s exactly what happened as Martin Stone began his trip along the road that would eventually see him crowned RQW British Heavyweight Champion. Wrestlers from promotions all over the UK and Ireland appeared on this card and there was definitely something for everyone. Fans of high flying action weren’t disappointed as Jonny Storm took on Pac and Bingo Ballance from IWW. Those looking for a few laughs were totally satisfied with the match between Darren Burridge and the insane Mad Man Manson complete with the craziest 1PW Dance Off you’ll ever see. ‘Jezebel’ Eden Black was up against Canadian star Portia Perez in a successful defence of her RQW Women’s Title and the ongoing feud with Jetta continued. More technical wizardry as Hammerlock’s Jon Ryan took on James Tighe for the first time. Drew Galloway drew tons of heat as he defended his IWW World Title against Jody Fleisch and more cruiserweight action followed as ‘The Heretic’ Red Vinny beat Bubblegum, Marty Scurll and JP Monroe in an elimination match setting up the Bubblegum v Vinny Cruiserweight title match and a guest IPW:UK match saw The Dragon Hearts defend their tag titles against Maximum Head. Tons of matches, some of the best British wrestlers around, this was a great nights entertainment and you really need to get your hands on this DVD. Go to www.realqualitywrestling.com for more details. El Ligero: Rare and Unseen plus Live and Loco If it’s hot UK Lucha action that you’re looking for then look no further than these two DVD releases from the Mexican sensation El Ligero who seems to be wrestling all over the UK these days. Rare and Unseen features seven matches that took place between 2004 and 2006 topped by a battle of the masked wrestlers as Ligero took on the current PWG World Champion El Generico on TAP’s March Madness card held in 2005. This is such a hectic match both wrestlers needed a few seconds sitting on the front row to get their breaths back. Other highlights on this DVD are a match against long time rival Rob Hunter, a 4-way dance, a great match against Bubblegum and a triple threat against Scotty Hexx and Raze in NBW. Live and Loco is action all the way and includes a Last Man Standing match against Rob Hunter as their year long feud came to a violent climax. The BHW title tournament is included as El Ligero tries to get the advantage over both Hunter and Stixx and there’s a brutal no holds barred match with JC Thunder that goes all over the arena. Count the crowd in the OPWO match, there’s a great match against Spud and a tag match sees Ligero with Hunter up against Project Ego for GPW.