Brian Elliott

Has anyone got the FSM list, for comparison?

 

FSM hasn't done a comparable list. The one in the current issue covers the FSM years of 2006-2013 rather than just the last year.

"FSM's 100 Greatest Wrestlers 2006-2013 was conceived to mark the date that FSM first hit the shelves, and our 100th issue. Consistent quality of matches in the period 2006-present was the main criteria, though this was not merely judged on workrate or technical skill, but instead incorporated performance on the biggest stage, ability to work the crowd, and quality of storylines."

1. Daniel Bryan

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi

3. John Cena

4. Sami Zayn

5. CM Punk

6. Shawn Michaels

7. Rey Mysterio

8. Chris Jericho

9. KENTA

10. Prince Devitt

11. Shingo Takagi

12. The Undertaker

13. AJ Styles

14. Austin Aries

15. Nigel McGuinness

16. Daisuke Sekimoto

17. Kota Ibushi

18. CIMA

19. The Young Buck$

20. Yuji Nagata

21. Sin Cara

22. Seth Rollins

23. Antonio Cesaro

24. The Briscoes

25. L.A Park

26. Akira Tozawa

27. Triple-H

28. Chris Hero

29. Kurt Angle

30. Edge

31. Masaaki Mochizuki

32. Jeff Hardy

33. Davey Richards

34. Adrian Neville

35. Randy Orton

36. Kevin Steen

37. Shinsuke Nakamura

38. Kazuchika Okada

39. Naomichi Marufuji

40. Masato Yoshino

41. Minoru Tanaka

42. Negro Casas

43. Minoru Suzuki

44. Hirooki Goto

45. YAMATO

46. Bobby Roode

47. Dick Togo

48. Alex Shelley

49. Eddie Edwards

50. Katsuhiko Nakajima

51. Volador Jr.

52. Ricochet

53. Zack Sabre Jr.

54. Averno

55. Takeshi Morishima

56. Naruki Doi

57. Tetsuya Naito

58. Kenny Omega

59. Dr. Wagner Jr.

60. Roderick Strong

61. Takashi Sugiura

62. La Sombra

63. Masato Tanaka

64. Christopher Daniels

65. Samoa Joe

66. El Torito

67. Dolph Ziggler

68. Go Shiozaki

69. Jun Akiyama

70. Sheamus

71. Shuji Kondo

72. Jimmy Susumu

73. Jimmy Jacobs

74. Chris Sabin

75. Evan Bourne

76. Fit Finlay

77. Christian

78. Adam Cole

79. Michael Elgin

80. Mascara Dorada

81. Johnny Gargano

82. Kyle O

I would like to see the "Greetings Grapple Fans" articles expanded and put into a book.

The more readers that tell us they'd buy such a book, the closer it comes to happening.

Let me guess:

 

"What if Junkyard Dog Was Still Alive"....which ends with CM Punk winning the WWE Title from Triple H at Wrestlemania

No fantasy booking. Just talking about the history of the magazine.

James Denton should have been interviewed for this. See how he is coping with the Benoit death in 2013.

 

probably still hating US radio stations for having the temerity to play a song losley connected a WWE video, or getting over the death of his mate/person he met once John Tenta (you know they were mates because he calls him by his real name)

James does have a column in Issue 100...

Issue 100 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- Fighting Spirit Magazine's Top 100 wrestlers since the publication first hit the shelves

- Daniel Bryan, and how his storyline screwjob compares to real-life incidents of the past

- Damien Sandow, and how WWE must make use of his multi-faceted character

- Big Van Vader, and how he made a fearsome reputation before major runs in WCW and the WWF

- UK wrestling sensation El Ligero, who takes us on a journey into the life of a full-time British wrestler

All of this, plus our usual news, PPV and TV reports, and DVD and book reviews. Also, in this month's columns, Jim Cornette writes about a fascinating piece of wrestling history that even he had not previously encountered, and Nick “Magnus” Aldis contrasts the comedic and the curious with stories about his time in TNA. Furthermore, the former Razor Ramon, Scott Hall, goes in-depth with his tips on how UK rookies can improve his or her skills.

The cheapest and easiest way to subscribe to FSM is via our website, here: http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/magazine/subscribe UK subscribers will receive their copy of FSM early (subject to a reliable postal service), and upon subscribing for 12 issues, will receive two additional issues absolutely free. This means that instead of paying a total of

You're quite right, Ant - now fixed! Thanks!

Issue 99 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- The Ultimate Warrior, who speaks exclusively to FSM about Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, and his life in pro wrestling

- Hulk Hogan, whose time in TNA may have drawn to a close, with the company in worse shape than when he arrived

- AJ Lee, who has been one of the stand-out performers in WWE this year

- Antonio Cesaro, whose popularity may see him soon make a difficult babyface turn

- WWE 2K14, which has proved to be as much a history of WWE as it is a videogame

- The National Wrestling Alliance, which strangled the business with mafioso tactics in order to retain the control its governors craved

- Johnny Kidd, who was one of the young lions of World of Sport, and is still competing at 58 years of age

All of this, plus our usual news, PPV and TV reports, and DVD and book reviews. Also, in this month's columns, Jim Cornette goes into detail about the circumstances that took him to work for the WWF in 1993. Furthermore, TNA's Nick “Magnus” Aldis spills the beans on a couple of his co-workers and their humorous escapades.

The cheapest and easiest way to subscribe to FSM is via our website, here: http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/subscribe UK subscribers will receive their copy of FSM early (subject to a reliable postal service; Issue 99 arrived with UK subscribers three working days before the shops), and upon subscribing for 12 issues, will receive two additional issues absolutely free. This means that instead of paying a total of

Enjoyed the Michinoku Pro article very much, and also the Jim Cornette column on Mid-South.

 

Didn't enjoy the articles on Randy Orton and Kurt Angle as much, they seemed to be the sort of thing you'd find in PS every month. I guess you need articles like that to draw the casual reader though.

 

I was expecting a review of UFC 165. Did that just miss out on getting in to the issue?

 

You should review Shoot Interview DVDs instead of reviewing WWE PPV DVD releases when you've only just reviewed the event itself. Now Highspots and Kayfabe Commentaries have UK stores you'd think there'd be more interest in them.

Thanks. I hope people like the Michinoku Pro article in the same way they liked the Mid-South or the 1990s All-Japan article.

Which WWE PPV DVD did we review? There certainly isn't one in this issue. We usually only do it for WrestleMania because of the wealth of extras.

Issue 98 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- Rob Van Dam, and how he has maintained his popularity throughout stints in ECW, TNA, and WWE

- The deficiencies in the WWE roster, and which stars of yesteryear could round out the ranks

- John Morrison, who talks to FSM about a potential return to the squared circle

- Kurt Angle, and how the Olympic champion became an elite pro wrestler

- Michinoku Pro Wrestling, and its influence on the sport, as the group get ready to tour the UK

- One of World Of Sport wrestling's great characters, Jim Breaks, in the latest in the

I liked the Mick McManus and G1 Climax pieces as well. Mid South one was tremendous.

 

I wish the mag was a bit longer though - compared to PS it's like a novel, but having lived in Japan for a while I miss getting 130 pages a week for my wrestling fix!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm always pleased to be able to say that we offer more content for our price point than any other pro wrestling magazine - in English, anyway.

By the way, folks, I really echo Maikeru's words about John Lister's Mid-South Wrestling article in particular, which has seen some of our best feedback from within the industry itself. I don't expect us to have much left of the print run shortly, leaving it only in iPhone/iPad/Android digital format, so if you're a paper only kind of reader, make sure to get to WHSmith on Wednesday to get your copy, before the new issue is out.

Thanks!

Issue 97 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- Randy Orton, and how WWE has made a bold storyline statement by allowing art to imitate real life

- Daniel Bryan, and how the worst night of his professional career triggered a stardom he could barely have imagined

- Jim Ross, who talks to FSM about his life in wrestling while on tour in the UK

- Mid-South Wrestling, which is so fondly remembered as one of pro wrestling's premier territories of the 1980s

- Mick McManus, in the latest of FSM's acclaimed series of World of Sport wrestling biographies

- Ultimate Fighter competitors Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, and how female combat in sports and entertainment has evolved in recent years.

All of this, plus our usual news, PPV and TV reports, and DVD and book reviews. Also, in this month's columns, Jim Cornette writes about his enjoyment of the recent Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Fanfest in Charlotte, and Nick “Magnus” Aldis tries to lighten the mood of recent serious columns by turning his wrath onto those he meets away from the ring. Comedian Billy Kirkwood also writes about the dangers of becoming infatuated with wrestling nostalgia.

The cheapest and easiest way to subscribe to FSM is via our website, here: http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/magazine/subscribe UK subscribers will receive their copy of FSM early (subject to a reliable postal service), and upon subscribing for 12 issues, will receive two additional issues absolutely free. This means that instead of paying a total of

I think it was Powerslam that did the retrospective on Tanahashi's career a little while back, which I thought was actually pretty good.

That was FSM. Tanahashi even posted about it on his blog, and sent us his personal thanks.

I think what all of the above opinions proves is that FSM needs to be 168 pages every month.

 

Correct, If you want my money. Make it worth my while You don't need sleep Brian.

Anyone who follows FSM on Facebook and Twitter, or gets emails from me, knows this is already the case!

I think what all of the above opinions proves is that FSM needs to be 168 pages every month.

I'll keep some coverage of All Star in mind. However, I do think it's a very different product from other companies; the action is great but it's hardly episodic, and is therefore not really the type of product where we can consistently write stories about, at least not when compared to ICW, PCW, or Southside.

What would you personally like to see us cover?

Crush died 6 years ago yesterday. You should do an article on the big mans passing. Power Slam patronized him in death, which I thought was a disgrace. "Shit worker, know for being shit died. He was shit". Of course I'm paraphrasing. You should do a 4 page article profiling his career and what he meant to us.

 

I'd like to see more articles aimed at the British fan. Like articles regarding milestones from the boom period of the early 90s. Battle Royal at the Albert Hall, Davey Boys popularity, the Slam Jam single and the hype surrounding it. Wrestling was massive in this country at the time. I'd like to see you do some stuff on that.

John Lister wrote a six-page retrospective on the first WWF UK boom period last year, in line with it being 20 years since SummerSlam 1992. He also wrote a history of the Albert Hall a few months back. We printed a six-page article on Davey Boy, using private family photographs, on the 10-year anniversary of his death.

I was in two minds about this anyway, but this months issue, and Magnus's article especially, has made me make the decision not to renew my subscription this year. The content Is just getting to the point where I can finish all I am interested in in about 25 minutes each month.

 

Have to say I agree with this. I used to buy the magazine consistently from my local Smiths and from about 18 months ago, it is very rare I pick up a copy. I used to be able to take it home and dip in and out of it over a course of a few days (better than reading the back of a shampoo bottle) an then pass it on to the missus to read. She is a huge TNA fan, and even with your coverage of TNA, she is no longer interested in reading as she says it is very samey. I do enjoy the Jim Cornette article as he always seems to be passionate about the topic he is discussing. But I can read through the interesting parts whilst still in the shop waiting for the missus to be done in Boots.

 

When making my choice, I tend now to always pick up a copy of FourFourTwo instead as for an extra pound, it is jam packed with insightful, diverse and entertaining content. It even has a nutrition and development section for aspiring footballers which is incredible...On the other hand, the advice for aspiring wrestlers in FSM comes from a small article by Alex Shane, where he shamelessly self promotes and offers very little actionable advice. Nothing really about what cardio to be doing, what is a good lifting program, what videos to study... I think you are missing a trick there. Maybe his advice is more in depth if you join his online school or go and live with him and scrub his bog for a year.

Thanks for your thoughts.

What would you personally like to see us cover? We've looked at cardiovascular and strength conditioning for pro wrestling before, but it may be long enough ago that it would be interesting again.

I like the magazine but it does seem to have dipped in quality a bit from last year when you had the fantastic 6 page AJPW article among others.

 

I don't see the point in reviewing WWE and UFC PPV events on DVD when they have already been reviewed as live events only months earlier. I'd rather see more reviews of things like PWG and shoot interview releases, maybe the Kayfabe Commentaries ones.

 

I agree about the "university essay" style of some of the articles. Will Cooling seemed to go months writing articles with only a tangential connection to pro-wrestling or MMA, seemingly trying to build up a portfolio of "real sports" articles. Luke Dormehl's articles come across very dry, as does Michael Campbell. Alan Counihan's articles are usually very good, as are David Ditch's.

 

The magazine is still way, way better than Powerslam though.

Thanks for the feedback. I hope you'll be pleased with an article in the September issue that takes on a territory in much the same way as the All Japan article. Alan Counihan will also be back.

We haven't reviewed a WWE PPV DVD (apart from WrestleMania, which we had lots of emails asking for) in quite some time, although we have done a couple of UFC DVDs recently. We've reviewed every PWG DVD for probably about a year now. Still, I see what I can do to change it up a bit.

Thanks again.

I was in two minds about this anyway, but this months issue, and Magnus's article especially, has made me make the decision not to renew my subscription this year. The content Is just getting to the point where I can finish all I am interested in in about 25 minutes each month.

I'm sorry to hear that our content isn't interesting you as much as I would've hoped. For you, personally, what kind of things could we cover to make FSM a better experience? Thanks!

- Chris Jericho, and how arguably WWE's MVP of 2013 will be gone for at least the summer

 

I think that's a pretty easy one to argue against!

I think it'd be a good discussion! Jericho has been tremendous on TV and PPV.

Issue 96 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- Chris Jericho, and how arguably WWE's MVP of 2013 will be gone for at least the summer

- The McMahon Family, and what their past as characters on WWE television can tell us about a proposed late-summer power struggle

- SummerSlam 1998, which on its 15-year anniversary remains one of the most important and intriguing cards in WWE history

- Lex Luger, who talks to FSM about his tremendous career and a miraculous life

- Sabu, and how the nephew of The Sheik changed pro wrestling forever

- The wrestling scene in Scotland, which is arguably the hottest territory in all of Europe

- Kendo Nagasaki, who remains an enigma of professional wrestling. FSM profiles the masked man in the latest in the Greetings, Grapple Fans series.

All of this, plus our usual news, PPV and TV reports, and DVD and book reviews. Also, in this month's columns,

I haven't read the Luger book yet, but based on the interview in the August 8 issue of FSM, he's willing to talk about anything.

Issue 95 of Fighting Spirit Magazine is now available!

In this month's edition, FSM has feature-length articles on:

- The recent character development of Daniel Bryan, and whether WWE will follow through on their plans to have him challenge John Cena

- One of pro wrestling's premier talkers, Paul Heyman, who waxes lyrical about his career

- The Wyatt Family, and why they have the confidence of Vince McMahon as they begin their Raw journey

-

Got stuck into the Austin podcasts last night after a few too many, they really are excellent, helps that his mates are the biggest and best in the business and he actually seems to be enjoying himself, is he just doing it for kicks? I can't imagine he needs the money with him seemingly the next big straight to dvd action star.

Dave Meltzer is on Colt Cabana's podcast today. Its excellent. Its strange to hear Dave so enthusiastic. He sounds like he did on Eyada. These days he sounds sick as fuck when talking to Alvarez. It must be all the content he has to do because some of them PPV and Raw and UFC reviews during the night he sounds like he cant be arsed. He doesn't even do Impact recaps. But he's cracking on this. Seems happy to be there. Meltzer is always someone super interesting to listen to get interviewed. I wish someone on here would interview him, because he never gets asked about his days editing a footy mag and hanging out with George Best. Bluetonic would be the man for the job.