simonworden

Quick note that I updated the thread name so it's less about the UKFF's favorite wrestler and more about VPW. I've finally recovered from my hangover yesterday enough to write a quick show report. I'll stick them all in this thread for anyone interested rather than spam the place each month or so. On Saturday night Vietnam Pro Wrestling presented Saigon Slam once again from VAIB studios in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City which is still a wonderful short taxi ride from my flat. For any history buffs I think the date was coincidental and not some sort of middle finger to Backlash being hosted in the home of Vietnam's previous occupiers. Once again the show was a sell out and it seemed there were more chairs crammed in than ever. It was nice to see a rise in families attending and a clear growing interest. There's always the same old faces around but they seem to be doing well at filling up with people who come once or twice a year rather than relying on a full house of die hards. I missed the last show as all my wrestling buddies were on various holidays or busy and I can't justify going out on my own to wrestling with a 2 year old at home. Sadly I did get someone to join me after the tickets were sold out so I missed Spring Bash which was by all accounts a very much back to the core roster show after a number of imports and a Jericho appearance late last year. There was no extra dark match on this show probably as the main show had 7 bouts meaning it was going to run up to 10PM anyway. Prior to this event, VPW spent some time filming some fun promos and skits that they put on their Facebook page. They don't use the Youtube channel much anymore, not sure why. These were really good for getting me into the show after missing one and I hope they continue this. Match 1: Xumin Long Vs Shota Shota is a DDT wrestler and has been there since 2010 so spent time with some of the top talent today I imagine. Xumin Long is a masked local wrestler gaining experience in the ring. His mask is pretty cool and similar to a number of Japanese masked men, something of a mix between Ultimo Dragon and Dragon Lee. This was a classic opening match with a slow pace to open moving into some good high spots and ending with a couple of failed top rope moves by Xumin Long who came off the top with a frog splash (I think) to seal the victory in around 10 minutes or so. I always enjoy the visiting Japanese guys vs a local Vietnamese wrestler as they really give a good technical boost to the local lads who are still learning. This was no exception to that and I hope they bring Shota over again for another bout soon. Match 2: Popstar Open Challenge - Phuong Tran Vs Jimmy AG Phuong Tran is not my favorite wrestler even though he is presented as a good guy. As I've mentioned before I find his cool Gen Z K-Pop gimmick a little annoying as I get older. I also think this character has a lot more legs if he were to embrace the dark side and behave like a little pre madona. He's a skinny guy and would make a wonderful chickenshit heel. His mystery opponent was "Jimmy AG" who was previously known as Rikiyo (sp?) who was a babyface. At the last show I believe he took a bump to the head and thanks to the previously mentioned skits has morphed into Jimmy AG who is basically an annoying obnoxious heel who is rather unhinged. He came out being cocky, dancing and then threw a bag of rubber chickens into the audience. After ring announcer Xavier Patricks announced who he was to remind all of us 5 beers deep the match began. This was a fairly back and forth sports entertainment style affair with a few crowd spots and out the ring dives peppered in. By the end of the match Jimmy AG was becoming a clear fan favorite as he was so over the top you couldn't not like him. His facial expressions were wonderful and could be used as great gifs in our shitting thread. Jimmy took the surprise win leaving a despondent Phuong Tran in the ring. This led to Tran's former tag team partner Damien Wolfe coming out in a Hawaii shirt for an all in Vietnamese promo. The gist being that Phuong Tran has been a disappointment while he has been champion and they should work together again. Tran walked out on Wolfe to leave this story open. I hope they do reunite with Wolfe being Tran's heavy at some point. Match 3: The Classic Night (Billy and Bobby) Vs Vortex Rebellion (Kira and KDP) The Classic Night are still the fun loving big boy baby faces of the show while Vortex Rebellion have a kind of classic low life heel look to them. One thing to note is that KDP seemed very proud of his blossoming pecs and he should be. There's been some criticism online from Vietnamese fans about the way some of the wrestlers look which has some warrant to it but considering they are young, new wrestlers who all have work/ studies outside of wrestling I can emphasis how difficult it could be. The match was a fun contest with a number of comedy spots ending with Billy falling onto Kira (I think) after being knocked out leading to an inadvertent pin. Essentially the Angle/ Big Show spot from years ago. Vortex were so annoyed they abused some refs after the bell. I don't think this one is over. Match 4: Hy Draco with Phuong Nam Vs Ares This was the match I was looking forward to the most. Local well known comedian Phuong Nam is becoming quite the fun heel manager who has mastered the art of making the crowd want to punch him in the face. This made things confusing for the last few shows that he had babyface basketball lover Hy Draco as his charge against the meaty monster Ares. Ares is the most muscular local guy and would genuinely looks like a legit wrestler anywhere in the world. On the last show he smashed a metal tray over Phuong Nam's head leading to this match tonight. This was a big guy. little guy match through and through. The start had Hy Draco use a running dive to take control early and disorientate Ares. The story running through the match was Ares trying to gain momentum after the dive but only managing a few power moves before being cut off again. In the end Phuong Nam turned on Hy Draco by hitting him with a tray so that Ares could take control and get the win. Nam has a new charge in Ares who is more fitting of the Heenan of Vietnam character developing in Nam and made a lot of sense even though I don't like to see it! Match 5: Loser Leaves Vietnam: Chi Bao Vs Khoa Truong with The British Horror This storyline has been building since last year with Khoa becoming Horror's gimp protégé, outlasting him in the battle royal and underlying tension being intercepted with Chi Bao. I don't really remember much about this match, it was pretty basic for the most part leading to Horror turning on Khoa however Khoa still picked up the victory meaning Chi Bao has to not only leave VPW but Vietnam altogether. I won't reveal what Chi Bao is up to but I'd keep an eye out in Europe for this young lad. I hope he does continue as he could be something special out west. He's big and decent in the ring so all the best for him. After the match Khoa beat down the British Horror who challenged him to a TLC style match next month. Match 6: VPW Tag Team Championship - The Saigon Hunters vs Venom Shank (C) The Saigon Hunters are Rocky Huynh the current Openweight Champion and Sid Nguyen who are the founders of the promotion many years ago. This was their reunion match to challenge for the tag titles. This was a faster paced match which spent most time in the ring with a mix of power moves and mat work. The ending saw a ref bump and green mist into Rocky's eyes allowing one of the twins to get the pin and retain the title. After that match Sid challenged Rocky for next month which I imagine will be the main event. I had a chance to chat to Venom Shank after the show. These young twins are brilliant, they managed to keep an allure of arrogance in the conversation while being very personal. We mostly discussed their high level of English but I did mention how their name was something of interest on a little British Wrestling forum, I didn't get to ask what their chippy tea order is. There is also a photo of them choking me which I'll find a way to post at some point. Match 7: VPW Women's Championship match - Alexis Lee Vs Yuki Kamifuku This match was to determine the inaugural women's championship. Lee is from Singapore and has had a WWE tryout in the past. She claims to be able to drink us all under the table and had the aura of a street bad ass while also wearing skeleton makeup on half her face. Kamifuku is from Japan and works of TJPW as well as DDT. She is a rather tall girl who wore a rather saucy get up and looks very much like a model, she would certainly want a couple of minders if doing photos at wrestling conventions. The match was surprising slower and more technical than I had expected but everything fit together to create a compelling story with Kamifuku taking the win at the end and now the first VPW Women's champion. It might be surprising that there wasn't any Vietnamese representation in the match but that's because there are no (or no ready) Vietnamese women's wrestlers yet, I do hope that changes. By putting the belt on Kamifuku it goes back to Japan and can hopefully lead to some VPW promotion over there. I also presume that at some point the belt will go onto Viva Van (American Vietnamese wrestler) but I do like that she doesn't get it first. That's the overall show, speaking to other attendees it was again loved by all which is no surprise. The wonderful thing about VPW is everyone just enjoys themselves rather than getting smarky or trying to compare it to other promotions, I hope that does stay true. After the show plenty of wrestlers wonder around talking to fans and that's always good fun when the beers well and truly settled in. Apart from my chat with Venomshank the only funny moment was my female colleague wanting a photo with the lady wrestlers. Sadly Kamifuku had dashed off but she got a good group photo with some other ladies she knows and Alexis Lee who threw her arm round her while holding a half open beer can. Alexi Lee kept hold of her for about 10 minutes and told her she was hot which I thought was funny. That's now 2 female colleagues being complimented on their appearance at the wrestling, the first being someone else by Jericho.

If WWE go and announce London as the venue while in the heart of France basically inadvertently Olympics 2012ing then again. That will be the best moment they produce this year.

Did you upset the waiting staff? They've deliberately made a cock and balls at the top of your plate there?

WCW from 1990 please. I find a lot of the early years stuff hard to work out. Who was there, doing what etc. Reading the thread will be a lot more enjoyable than watching all the network content.

1. Easier immigration policies for spouse's, legitimate workers who benefit the country (spanning from low income jobs we desperately need up to the higher eschelons), students, Asylum seekers. Apart from criminals I'm happy to open the doors to anyone. Don't need direct access to funds but let them in and allow them to make a contribution. 2. Free universities and higher education. Reduce the restriction for people learning and developing. 3. Outlaw all tax avoidance schemes, no loopholes, everyone pays a flat percentage tax rate depending on income. Corporations and Tories especially. 4. Free local public transport for all and discounted weekend rates on coaches and trains. Help everyone get around without needing to get into debt to work and help families in cities get out and about at the weekend. 5. Create a law outlawing wank, twat like behaviour. In contrast to my other policies anyone who is being a dick in public in a way that majority on a jury would accept as being threatening, discriminating, violent, unkind, unpleasant etc with their actions would face legal action. Too many people especially vulnerable people have to worry that going to take a train or grab a pint of milk will turn into an ordeal where there bullied, harassed or made to feel uncomfortable and that shouldn't happen.

Count Binface is the only candidate who could truly pull off Wrestlemania in London.

I can't think of anyone with the selling ability to make their lower leg dangle like a conker on a string like that. When did he actually do that though? Doesn't look like he had it taped at all during the main even either

I'm not sure if Triple H is trying to re WCW/WWF up the brands which would mean the US title would fit on Raw or Re 2002 everything so it's more likely it stays on Smackdown.

Was going to post exactly the same thing. Beyond perfection really compared to what we have had and the rumored designs. I liked the World Tag Titles but they look crap compared to these new WWE ones. Luckily this year they've only got two weeks to fill to build it up. A quick promo from each of them and a face to face should do nicely. Few winks and nods to Bullet Club a mention or two of Dusty and TNA and you're good to go. Great thing about AJ at this point is he can take the loss and the match will probably be pretty good so it's not quite the same as a Kane based affair from long ago. To be fair to Cody still being at the O2 it can be a right bugger getting the tube after a big show so he was probably hanging around until things quieten down.

I thought that was a legit Roman collesium

Vegas is a bit different for tickets unless you're a top drawer like a huge celeb singer, UFC, WWE etc. A lot of it will rely on old tactics like papering the town in the hope visitors take a fancy to your show and come along or book late on as something to do. I'd also expect that figure to go up a bit for tonight and 1000 seems reasonable.

Am I right in thinking if he sells all his shares he closes the door on being able to come back unless the company has a real change of heart and let's him in? He wouldn't have the leverage to push his way back through the door.

I've been thinking about this for a while as there's so many tangents to go off on. I certainly think a company would have gone national in the 80s but not to the level of the WWF if Vince wasn't around. Some things like Rock n Wrestling would have happend but on a smaller scale and probably more focussed on a Southern Style with Rock and Country artists over people like Lauper. We might have had edgier products on TV earlier or later depending on who pushed forward too so a definitive attitude era might not have happened. I think there would have likely been a few promotions on cable for longer with less of a market leader but collectively all having a smaller fan base than WWF had. Vince had that crucial balance between Carney wrestling promoter and business man with big ideas in balance. Other promoters were way too into what he would call the wrasslin way of doing things while a TV company taking a corporate approach would have been too far the other way. We wouldn't have ever had so many wacky gimmicks for sure. Another thing is would we have got a more pure style of wrestling on TV with less 4-5 minutes matches especially as it became in the late 90s.

That's absolutely piss poor behavior all of it. Completely shocked people can be that selfish to their wife, kids and people around them without a single bit of thought on how their actions/ lack of action affects others around them.

Can't say I'm massively interested in AEW or the card at the moment. Only matches of interest are the world title to see if they go all the way with Swerve. As much as I like Joe I think they need to have Swerve go over to establish a new guy. The other is Okada PAC that peaks my interest.