Tuesday, 27 August 2013
TNA DVD news; Jokers Wild 2013
TNA: ONE NIGHT ONLY JOKER'S WILD
Friends and foes are thrown together in a battle of wills, motivated by money... TNA Wrestling presents “ONE NIGHT ONLY: JOKER'S WILD”
For One Night Only, TNA throws it's roster up in the air for Joker's Wild... Old partners will reunite and bitter enemies must collaborate in order to advance through the tournament, as tag teams are chosen at random and expected to work together to reach the penultimate main event. Once in the finals however, any friendships or forged alliances will quickly disappear as competitors will face off in a winner-takes-all gauntlet battle royale, where it's every man for himself and the winner takes home $100,000! Although in pairs, it's every man for himself.
Literally anything can happen in this mass mix up of iconic wreslting icons, who will be tagged with their greatest enemies? Who will be using strategies of their own to come out victorious? The hand has been dealt in Joker's Wild...
24 of TNA Wrestling's finest compete for glory and betray for riches, including:
James Storm, Samoa Joe, Booby Roode, Mr. Anderson, Al Snow, RVD, Christopher Daniels, Douglas Williams, Joseph Park, Matt Morgan, Hernandez, Rob Terry, Kid Kash, Devon and D.O.C.
TNA's One Night Only JOKER'S WILD is available from the 26th August 2013 online at www.amazon.co.uk andwww.TNADVD.co.uk.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Fergal 'Prince' Devitt Interview
Irish wrestler returns
home for Belfast show
Irish based company
Wrestling.ie have bounced back on to the wrestling scene in style and
have announced a number of live events across the land. The company
have also announced that Irish wrestler and current New Japan Pro
wrestling star Fergal 'Price' Devitt will be on hand for the Belfast
show on October 4th at the City's Waterfront Hall.
With titles galore to
his name the 32 year old has found his greatest glory in Japan and
has held the prestigious IWGP Junior Heavyweight title multiple times
to date. As Fame's wrestling writer and a big fan of previous
Wrestling.ie shows I tracked down the shows promoters and was
fortunate enough to get an exclusive interview with Fergal ahead of
this (sure to be) amazing show.
Here are the highlights
from my chat with Fergal (who was just home from his latest NJPW tour
and was even willing to phone me at his own cost).
Phil: Hi Fergal I
really do appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I know you
are just back from Japan. May we kick off by asking you about your
return to Ireland as a wrestler?
Fergal: It has been a
long time since I wrestled in Ireland. I did a charity event a few
years back. But in reality we are talking six or seven years since I
stepped in to the ring here properly.
Phil: What made you
want to come back here to Ireland?
Fergal: To me it one of
the hottest things here to be involved in and I really wanted to do
it. I'd love it to be more than just one show too. You never know.
Phil: I know it may
sound odd, but do you think fans here will know who you are, or will
it be something they research and then realise your pedigree?
Fergal: That is a hard
one to talk about Phil. I know the die hard fans will know me and
what I do. The rest we have no idea of (unless they do their research
of course). I do hope we can make this the best night Belfast has
seen in a long time.
Phil: Fergal how do you
approach a show like this in front of a crowd you have not known for
a long time?
Fergal: I see this a
fresh challenge Phil and I like that. I always bring my 'A' game to
the show and this will be no different. I will be out there doing
everything that I can. Mind you all the guys on this show will be
able to do just that.
Phil: In recent years
we have seen a great number of UK/Irish wrestlers make the jump to
the big leagues of TNA and WWE. How do you feel about that and what
do you feel makes them stand out?
Fergal: I must say we
here (UK/Ireland) have a very impressive track record on the training
front etc. we also have some eager and hungry talent, just itching to
get out there. At present we have the likes of Sheamus, Drew McIntyre
and others all flying the flag for us. I can also tell you there are
a lot of guys from here (UK/Ireland) working Japan too and they are
amazing as well.
Phil: I suppose I have
to ask you this Fergal what would you do if the WWE or TNA offered
you a contract?
Fergal: Ah, yeah I know
what you are saying Phil. I guess my answer is that if they came
calling I would make a decision. But I am happy doing what I do. Yes
I hate the rotten airport food, the travelling an length I am away
form my family and friends, but it is my profession and I cannot
explain how I feel about that.
Phil: If you did for
example sign with the WWE to alter your repertoire, would that worry
you?
Fergal: I Think I would
adapt and like I always do work around my surroundings. My ring style
will adapt to my surroundings.
Phil: But would you
take that jump to the US Fergal?
Fergal: To be honest
Phil it would be a tough decision. It would be a big lifestyle change
and make me move my base etc. I don't know if I want that right now.
Phil: It could make you
a better known big name wrestler but.
Fergal: Thing is I have
never been in it for that. I am not out there to get the fame or
stardom. That is not why many of us do this, we have the passion and
determination here. I know from experience that the UK/Irish
wrestlers are some of the best trained and skilled in the world. I
get told that a lot.
Phil: Fergal I must
thank you for taking the time to phone me today and chat. Have you
any word of encouragement to entice our readers to attend this show?
Fergal: I will just say
this Phil. What you will see is a great and accomplished group of
wrestlers who have worked hard and long in what they are doing. This
is not backyard wrestling stuff or people messing about. We offer so
much more. This will be a polished and exciting wrestling event that
you have to see.
By Phil Allely
TNA's Nick 'Magnus' Aldis interview
TNA wrestler films TV
show in Belfast
Nick Aldis may be best
know as Magnus to viewers of TNA Wrestling programming, however there
is an awful lot more to him that simply being a professional
wrestler. I caught up with Nick in
Belfast as he filmed for Challenge TV (also home to TNA here in the
UK) show UK''s Strongest Man. Series. Aldis and co-host Matt Bell
were on hand to film links for the series, interview some of the
competitors and much more over this August Bank Holiday Weekend
event. Here are highlights from that chat.
Phil: Hi Nick first up
let's chat about you presenting this show. How are you enjoying that
experience?
Nick: Well Phil this is
my second year now. So being asked back must mean I am doing OK
(laughs). Honestly this is a great job, we have a small team really,
our Producer, Matt and myself. I think it helps that Matt and I get
on so well too. That gives us a rapport and something that comes
across on screen.
Phil: Is presenting
something you feel you would like to do more of?
Nick: Yes it is. I love
getting to help produce our pieces (with the guys) and I am learning
so much about the behind the scenes work that you need to know. After
all I came from working holiday camps and Gladiators to wrestling in
the US for TNA and now this. I'm always learning I guess and picking
stuff up. If there are opportunities to do more jobs like this I am
happy to do them.
Phil: Would you say
that presenting something like UK's Strongest Man has helped you with
your in-ring promos?
Nick: Yes and no. I
have always had good responses to my promos and got praise from the
guys in the back. It maybe has made me look at things in more detail
perhaps and of course I have a lot more knowledge of what they are
doing back there now as well.
Phil: May we ask you
about life in TNA. For example how do you feel about the recent spate
of roster cuts?
Nick: I love being a
part of TNA and think a lot of times when there is bad publicity it
is taken out of context or only partially explained (to suit others
means). For example recently Jesse Sorenson (former TNA wrestler)
made some comment about how the company treated him, but the truth is
he was treated very well, they took care of insurance and even paid
for bills. It was blown out of proportion.
Phil: Many say the cuts
have been due to added costs created by taking the company on the
road each week?
Nick: Well yes there
are indeed costs in taking us on the road and that will have an
affect on us as a roster. Honestly the way I see it is that we have
only one two hour TV show and we all cannot be given time on it. I
think what has happened has been necessary for the product and us a
company. I mean how can you build up a storyline or character if you
are barely getting any TV time. That also means many of the guys were
getting basic wages. I'd call it streamlining and something that will
help us.
Phil: The UK market has
grown very steadily in recent years and Impact has become on of its
top shows. How important is the UK to TNA?
Nick: It is very
important to us and I would love to see us back here more often. I
know the company have a lot of ideas for the UK/Irish fans as well.
We always get a great response there. The UK Boot Camp series also
highlighted some of the talented wrestlers we have here and we know
there are a lot more. I think it helps UK wrestlers to see guys like
myself, Robbie T, Doug (Williams) etc. on TV and makes them want to
break the US too. Challenge TV have really embraced us and I guess
you could say I am the UK face for us right now too.
Phil: You mentioned
Boot Camp there, I feel that concept worked very well. You were
involved in that were you not?
Nick: I worked as
colour commentator on that and boy do I now have (even) more respect
for guys like JB (Jeremy Borash) too. You really have to think on
your feet and not panic. I liked doing that and hope to maybe do some
more. The competitors really worked hard throughout as well. There
are a lot of UK/Irish wrestlers who have real potential to be big
stars.
Phil: You have already
done so much in TNA. But how does it feel to be in the new Main Event
Mafia line-up?
Nick: It is a real
honour to be involved and what I must say it that guys like Sting and
Kurt Angle have always been two of the main guys who have been
pushing for me backstage too. They have done that genuinely and
really helped me move along. To share the ring with them is amazing.
Phil: In relation to
Kurt I for one thought it was a nice touch that (TNA President) Dixie
Carter mentioned his entering rehab and his absence from storylines.
Do you feel the same?
Nick: To be honest I
can see the reasoning, but maybe would not have done it in the ring
like that. I think it was really for Kurt's benefit to let him see
how much support he has from the fans and us all on the roster.
Phil: Thanks so much
for your time Nick I'll hopefully see you on the January 2014
UK/Irish tour.
Nick: Thanks Phil. I'll
see you there.
Nick and his co-host
Matt were recording their UK's Strongest Man show live from Belfast.
This will be shown on Challenge TV very soon. In the meantime you can
watch Nick (as Magnus) each week on the channel's Impact Wrestling
show.
Ultimate (UK's)
Strongest Man has been running for ten years now and was created by
Northern Irish strongman Glenn Ross. Ross has won the event many
times and represented Ireland and the UK at many others across the
globe as well. Ross has also competed at the World's Strongest Man
events and founded the UK Strength Council and Irish Strength
Association. As well as organising the UK's Strongest Man events Ross
also acts as a referee when needed.
Phil caught up with
Glenn briefly, here are his responses.
'We have been doing
this for ten years now and it has grown so much since then'.
'It is great to have
Challenge recording this and supporting us too'.
'We started out on
Channel 5 way back then and didn't know where we would end up. This
is amazing to see'.
'This weekend we hope
to see between 500-1000 people here outside the Odyssey Arena in
Belfast'.
By Phil Allely
Monday, 19 August 2013
WWe Review - SummerSlam 2013
WWE crown 2 champions
at SummerSlam
By Phil Allely
WWE's mid-year
highlight PPV SummerSlam delivered not one, but two WWE title holders
in one night. First up Daniel Bryan worked the socks off then champ
John Cena in a superbly paced and well worked main event. Here Cena
and Bryan embarked on a wonderful story of highs, lows, near falls,
high spots and much more. Special guest referee Triple H played his
role perfectly too. Bryan's win was an inspired one as well, however
the swerve turn that followed was even more so. As Bryan relished in
his title win and celebrations Money in the Bank case holder Randy
Orton interupted proceedings. The big story here though was Triple H
turning on new champ Bryan and his subsequent 'pedigree' that allowed
Orton to snag himself yet another world title.
The card itself in a
slightly slow manner with Rob Van Dam challenging Dean Ambrose for
his United States Championship. The match was OK, but never really
reached the peaks an on from RVD could do. The inclusion of Ambrose's
fellow Shield members, Mark Henry and Big Show all did help here, but
not as much as the WWE expected. Van Dam lost out on the title via
DQ, when Rollins nailed a spear on him under the ref's watchful eye.
The Wyatt family then
took Kane to school in a 'ring of fire' encounter. The concept here
was that flames around the ring would contain the action and enhance
events between Bray and the mighty Kane. The biggest thing here was
that the Wyatt crew were able to get involved in some way and bypass
the fire. The once unstoppable Kane was put down for the count with
ease it seems and was also carried off to a fate we may yet hear
about.
Cody Rhodes and Damien
Sandow were the future of the WWE's tag team division in many peoples
opinion. But now not too far down the line, here we had them going
toe-to-toe in a nice scrap. Rhodes did redeem himself well but and
pulled of a nice win over the 'money in the bank winner'.
Many fans hope that in
this latest run with the company Christian gets his best shot at a
title and here yet again he came so close. This time around the world
Heavyweight Title Holder used his skills to work Christian's arm and
evoke a submission victory, to retain his cherished belt.
Natalya versus Brie
Bella quickly evolved in to a cat fight and that worked well here. A
shrpshooter from the Hart family affiliate rounded this match off
nicely.
Brock Lesnar and CM
Punk then went on to have one amazing battle in the ring. The guys
here weaved such an in-ring tale here that you simply had to watch
it. Hard moves came thick and fast and the set-pieces were top notch
as well. Paul Heyman and a steel chair were instrumental in the
finish, but what will Brock's win lead too we wonder.
The Dolph
Ziggler/Kaitlyn & Big E Langston/AJ Lee bout was OK, but did not
really impress we have to say. This was merely a filler scrap and it
felt like it, Ziggler and Kaitlyn won by the way.
SumerSlam was an
ambitious event in many ways. It did falter a few times, but the
pacing did pick up. We must also feel for Daniel Bryan, after all he
has now seen his title dreams stolen away by an opportunistic young
man called Randy Orton. This means the main event scene sill be
shaken up again and we need that don't we?
By Phil Allely
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