2012 UKFF UK50 - RESULTS THREAD

[king_dezeeuw06]

Manson and Spud both surprise me with how much they get the fans to enjoy their act without actually taking many bumps or actually even doing that much actual wrestling.

 

I think the pair of them are very smart guys as they both manager to get as much and in some cases more crowd reaction than some of the guys who go out there and wrestle a hard hitting, fast paced war. I know wrestling is hard on the body so these guys are geniuses to get over as much as anyone else despite not actually putting their body's through half as much punishment. It also means that when Spud does take one of the huge bumps he rarely does (2 mental bumps into the cage at Project Mayhem last year and in the Death Match at FCP) it means so much more.

 

Fair play to them, if you are a good enough character to be a wrestler who hardly does any wrestling, and keep the fans entertained, then why not? You could certainly argue that makes them better 'workers' than anyone else in the top 20, as they do so much less to get such a reaction.

[cobystag]

Ben, random request but could you re-post the 08 and 09 lists?

 

Got a little bored so wanted to see where people in this 50 placed in previous years and so far I've got:

 

2005:

 

2 Jonny Storm

9 Spud

18 James Mason

32 Dave Morales (now Dave Mastiff)

42 El Ligero

47 Joey Hayes

50 Stixx

 

6

 

2006:

 

3. "Wonderkid" Jonny Storm

4. Spud

8. Darkside

22. El Ligero

24. "The Human Hate Machine" Dave Moralez

25. "Vigilante" Johnny Moss

26. Stixx

37. Bubblegum

42. Red Lightning

44. Wolfgang

 

10

 

2007:

 

50 Zack Sabre Jr

47 Juice

40 Red Lightning

39 Joey Hayes

32 Johnny Moss

30 Stixx

25 Dave Moralez

24 Darkside

22 Mad Man manson

21 Lionheart

15 Wolfgang

10 Jonny Storm

6 El Ligero

5 Bubblegum

4 Spud

 

15

 

2008:

 

2 El Ligero

3 Bubblegum

5 Joey Hayes

8 Jonny Storm

9 Spud

10 Zack Sabre Jr

11 Dave Moralez

12 Johnny Moss

14 Stixx

15 Martin Kirby

17 Lionheart

18 Darkside

19 Kris Travis

21 Liam Thompson

22 Wolfgang

24 Mikey Whiplash

26 Paul Malen

28 Mad Man Manson

29 Mark Haskins

30 Marty Scurll

39 Joel Redman

42 The Juice

45 Kid Fite

48 Sam Bailey

 

24

 

 

2009:

 

1 Bubblegum 450

2 Spud 415

3 El Ligero 399

5 Zack Sabre Jr 353

6 Dave Moralez 353

7 Johnny Moss 318

8 Mark Haskins 280

9 Joey Hayes 278

10 Martin Kirby 278

11 Kris Travis 241

12 Jonny Storm 228

13 CJ Banks 205

14 Joel Redman 181

15 Lionheart 180

18 Marty Scurll 170

19 Darkside 169

21 Mad Man Manson 160

22 Stixx 152

27 Mikey Whiplash 116

28 James Mason 101

29 Sam Bailey 94

30 BT Gunn 93

33 Liam Thomson 87

43 Kid Fite 74

46 Red Lightning 55

47 Robbie X 52

49 Wolfgang 47

50 Paul Malen 45

 

28

 

2010:

 

2 Dave Mastiff 560 points

3 Spud 531 points

4 El Ligero 511 points

5 Zack Sabre Jr 464 points

6 Kris Travis 432 points

7 Johnny Moss 431 points

8 Mark Haskins 407 points

9 Martin Kirby 380 points

10 Joey Hayes 368 points

11 Lionheart 322 points

12 Stixx 295 points

13 Jonny Storm 259 points

14 Bubblegum 256 points

15 Marty Scurll 234 points

16 Darkside 225 points

17 CJ Banks 216 points

18 Joel Redman 188 points

19 Liam Thomson 166 points

25 Mad Man Manson 132 points

26 James Mason 130 points

27 Paul Malen 128 points

28 Kid Fite 125 points

29 BT Gunn 122 points

31 T-Bone 109 points (beats Coffie on more 1st place votes, 1 vs. 0)

33 Mikey Whiplash 105 points

35 Sam Bailey 98 points

38 Nathan Cruz 93 points

43 Noam Dar 76 points

45 Lion Kid 65 points

46 Robbie X 64 points

48 Red Lightning 50 points

49 Wolfgang 41 points

50 Joseph Conners 39 points

 

33

 

2011:

 

1 El Ligero (549 points)

2 Zack Sabre Jr (497 points)

3 Dave Mastiff (493 points)

4 Mark Haskins (452 points)

5 Marty Scurll (418 points)

6 Stixx (392 points)

7 Martin Kirby (379 points)

8 Rockstar Spud (374 points)

9 James Mason (311 points)

10 Johnny Moss (294 points)

11 Kris Travis (285 points)

12 Joel Redman (279 points)

13 Mikey Whiplash (278 points)

14 Joey Hayes (274 points)

15 Jack Gallagher (268 points)

16 Mad Man Manson (256 points)

17 Lionheart (250 points)

18 CJ Banks (248 points)

19 Noam Dar (242 points)

20 Nathan Cruz (222 points)

21 T-Bone (219 points)

23 Jonny Storm (188 points)

26 Lightning Kid Mark Andrews (169 points)

27 Kid Fite (163 points)

29 BT Gunn (150 points)

30 Wild Boar Mike Hitchman (149 points)

32 Liam Thomson (147 points)

34 Paul Malen (145 points)

35 Andy Wild (142 points)

37 Joseph Conners (137 points)

40 Darkside James Scott (132 points)

41 Sam Bailey (129 points)

42 Dean Allmark (124 points)

43 Cyanide (104 points)

45 Zack Diamond (96 points)

46 Max Angelus (90 points)

47 Robbie X (89 points)

 

37

 

 

 

16 out of last years top 20 have repeated the feat this year. 11 the year before that and the year before that although different faces. 10 from 2008, 3 from 2007 and only one 05 and 06 in Spud.

[Big Benny HG]

Sure thing:

 

2008:

 

1 Doug Williams

2 El Ligero

3 Bubblegum

4 Martin Stone

5 Joey Hayes

6 Pac

7 Zebra Kid

8 Jonny Storm

9 Spud

10 Zack Sabre Jr

11 Dave Moralez

12 Johnny Moss

13 Jetta

14 Stixx

15 Martin Kirby

16 Sam Slam

17 Lionheart

18 Darkside

19 Kris Travis

20 Falcon

21 Liam Thompson

22 Wolfgang

23 Terry Frazier

24 Mikey Whiplash

25 Darren Burridge

26 Paul Malen

27 Johnny Phere

28 Mad Man Manson

29 Mark Haskins

30 Marty Scurll

31 Majik

32 Ross Jordan

33 Cameron Kraze

34 Johnny Saint

35 Robbie Dynamite

36 Robbie Brookside

37 Sha Samuels

38 Andy Simmonz

39 Joel Redman

40 James Tighe

41 Phil Bedwell

42 The Juice

43 Johnny Kidd

44 Dragon Aisu

45 Kid Fite

46 Ricky Knight

47 Sweet Saraya

48 Sam Bailey

49 Jon Ryan

50 Zak Zodiac

 

2009:

 

 

1 Bubblegum 450

2 Spud 415

3 El Ligero 399

4 Martin Stone 366

5 Zack Sabre Jr 353

6 Dave Moralez 353

7 Johnny Moss 318

8 Mark Haskins 280

9 Joey Hayes 278

10 Martin Kirby 278

11 Kris Travis 241

12 Jonny Storm 228

13 CJ Banks 205

14 Joel Redman 181

15 Lionheart 180

16 Johnny Saint 175

17 Terry Frazier 171

18 Marty Scurll 170

19 Darkside 169

20 Cameron Kraze 169

21 Mad Man Manson 160

22 Stixx 152

23 Gilligan Gordon 151

24 Jetta 142

25 Robbie Dynamite 138

26 RJ Singh 118

27 Mikey Whiplash 116

28 James Mason 101

29 Sam Bailey 94

30 BT Gunn 93

31 Derice Coffee 93

32 Johnny Kidd 91

33 Liam Thomson 87

34 Jon Ryan 87

35 Sha Samuels 85

36 Danny Hope 84

37 Leroy Kincaide 83

38 Mohmed Ameen 82

39 Chris Renfrew 81

40 Falcon 81

41 Zebra Kid 77

42 Sam Slam 75

43 Kid Fite 74

44 Dragon Aisu 63

45 Andy Simmonz 62

46 Red Lightning 55

47 Robbie X 52

48 Scott Renwick 50

49 Wolfgang 47

50 Paul Malen 45

 

[cobystag]

Thanks for that Ben, I've edited my post above to reflect the new years.

 

I am halfway considering doing something with these figures, but I'm not sure what.

 

I do feel that right now the talent in England is at it's strongest. And a guy like Spud has always flirted dangerously close to the top.

 

Maybe this is his year to win this?

[ShortOrderCook]

I know a lot of people bitch and moan about the UKFF UK50. Whether its wrestlers or fans or promoters (because I've noticed a few on twitter, and its fucking laughable). I think it needs to be said that Benny spends so much time on this. He studies these wrestlers, he goes to shows, he writes articulate bios about them, and he does this every single year. Find me someone who cares enough about British wrestling to do that every year? If you are a fan, promoter or wrestler who is upset about a list a fan has complied, who spends money going to shows and is interested enough in the scene to educate none followers of British wrestling by writing up bios and compiling information so interesting even I read about it, then you really need to get your bonce sorted.

 

If it wasn't for the UKFF UK50, all this forum would be is me having a midlife crisis 25 years early by talking about old wrestlers, Tommy Boi getting justifiably bullied and former members of the PC*Cough* sending pictures of Omar to worse forums than this one. People should be sending him boxes for Milk Tray for actually giving some of these wrestlers any sort of press.

 

Hats off to Hat Guy. Or is that hats on?

 

I wouldn't usually quote an entire long post just to say I agree but this is worth being mentioned again and reiterated. Ian is bang on with his comments and assessment there, I couldn't agree more. Always make for a great read and quite possibly makes thd Britwres scene sound more interesting than it actually is. The effort Hat Guy puts in to this deal each and every year is tremendous and admirable.

 

[TheHarveyDale]

There's probably not many people who said that is there? TheHarveyDale even noted he hadn't signed up in time.

 

Yes that's true, I had never really paid much attention to the forum before but have been keeping an eye on the Top 50 as they come out this year and very much enjoyed the write ups that have gone with the rankings so decided to sign up. At least i'll be able to get a vote in next years.

[king_dezeeuw06]

I saw it mentioned about a world wide top 50, did that ever happen?

[cobystag]

Nope it didn't.

 

Using this list: http://ukff.com/index.php?showtopic=127157...p;#entry2468292

 

While we're waiting on Ben to rank the remaining 20, if you were to rank them against how they fared in the 05-11 culmination list the ranking would go:

 

1 Spud

3 El Ligero

5 Dave Mastiff

8 Stixx

9 Bubblegum

10 Zack Sabre Jr

11 Joey Hayes

14 Lionheart

16 Martin Kirby

17 Kris Travis

18 Mark Haskins

21 Mad Man Manson

24 Marty Scurll

34 Mikey Whiplash

47 Paul Malen

64 Nathan Cruz

66 Noam Dar

71 Jack Gallagher

95 Andy Wild

N/A MK McKinnan

 

 

I could see the top two being right.

[Rossi7]

Having wrestled Nathan Cruz in my 2nd ever match was one of my biggest moments of my career to date apart from wrestling 'the brain of pain' Paul Malen. i learnt so much from both wrestlers and i think what ever nathan does outside of wrestling is his business, but i the ring he's a true professional.

[robrage]

As far as saying "it's someones opinion", Hiltler's opinion was that Jews should be killed, Does'nt make in correct though.

 

This sentence is pretty damn divvy in all fairness.

 

He is in my top 15 and is a good wrestler, and by all accounts a clever lad ? But this goes to show that most wrestlers dont give a flying fuck about the fans so his opinion of us is no more important than ours of him !!

[Big Benny HG]

No. 20: MK McKinnan

Score: 128 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2012 votes: 1

Percentage of 2012 ballots including MK McKinnan: 28.1%

(2011=NL, 2010=NL, 2009=NL, 2008=NL, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL)

 

Walking past UKFF's very own Cobystag at Fight Club:Pro (Photo credit - Tony Knox)

 

Walsall's MK McKinnan had previously been best known for being a regular part of the local AWW roster in Birmingham and the West Midlands. In 2011/12, as one of the home talents for Wolverhampton's underground Fight Club: Pro nightclub promotion, 'The Future' has leapt to the attention of many, facing a whole host of guest international stars and his performances earning rave reviews and fanfare. It seems fitting, then, that this is also the year in which he breaks out and makes his first ever UKFF UK50 appearance, cracking the Top 20 and finishing as the highest-ranked UK50 debutant this annum.

 

On FCP's July 2011 show, McKinnan overcame America's Jonathan Gresham and Japan's Shinya Ishikawa in a truly international 3-way. Next month, he was paired with Chikara head honcho 'Lightning' Mike Quackenbush, but the duo fell to fellow FCP homeboys (and UKFF UK50 debutants) the Hunter Brothers. A couple of weeks later, following the hook-up with Quack, McKinnan was in Pennsylvania, USA, competing for Chikara in their 9th annual Young Lions Cup. He went out in the first round to band leader Archibald Peck, in a 4-way contest that also featured local indy performers Milo Shizo and Mat Fitchett.

 

The following month, McKinnan was in the north-east US again, this time for Combat Zone Wrestling in Philadelphia. Appearing alongside fellow FCP boy Trent Seven, 'Team Fight Club' challenged for the promotion's Tag Team Titles, but were defeated by retaining champions Joker & BLK Jeez (recently seen as Rashad Cameron in TNA). Just a couple of weeks after that, CZW would come over to McKinnan's home turf for the 3-night 'Project Mayhem' weekender in Wolverhampton. A joint venture between Britain's Fight Club:Pro, USA's CZW, Germany's wXw and Japan's BJW, McKinnan first fell to Jonathan Gresham on the first night, then took part in the Junior Heavyweight Invitational mini-tournament which served as a break in the ultra-violent deathmatch style for nights 2 and 3. First, he beat Jim Hunter and Dutch Chris Hero protege Emil Sitoci in his 3-way semi-final, but was bested by now-ROH TV Champion Adam Cole in the final on the last day. October 2011 saw another match against an international talent in El Generico, before FCP's year came to an end with their 'Infinity 2011' one-night tournament in November. MK overcame Rockstar Spud, Dave Williams and Jim Hunter in his opening round 4-way,

. Packing his passport yet again, McKinnan returned to wXw in Oberhausen in December, where he was ousted by Scotsman Noam Dar in an 'alternate's qualifying' bout for the following year's '16 Carat Gold' tournament.

 

The early months of 2012 featured FCP bouts with Ishikawa, Gresham and

again, before it was back across the pond for another tour. This time, McKinnan appeared on Dragon Gate USA's WrestleMania 28 weekend Miami event, faced Josh Alexander on EVOLVE's iPPV in Ontario, Canada, then took part in CZW's 'Best of the Best XXI' tournament in New Jersey (losing to Sami Callihan in a 4-way, also starring Trent Seven and Drake Younger). Back in Wolverhampton, the local lad beat

, then came out on top against Seven in a main event war at 'Fight for the Future' the following month. By virtue of this victory, McKinnan set up a shot at Fight Club:Pro Champion 'Die Hard' Eddie Edwards for the American's next visit to these shores. That took place in July, just outside our eligibility period, but ended with McKinnan scoring a huge win over the former ROH World and World Tag Team Champion to lift the belt of his 'home' promotion and become officially recognised as FCP's top star.

 

Elsewhere, McKinnan made his debut for Southside Wrestling Entertainment this past June in an unsuccessful shot at SWE Speed King Champion Marty Scurll, and has since returned there to battle Lionheart and The LDRS (Scurll & Zack Sabre Jr) as more UK promotions start looking to bring him in. He has also recently returned from his first trip to Japan, where he appeared for BJW alongside Trent, and has just battled New Japan's former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to a 30-minute time limit draw in Fight Club.

 

Kicking Zack Sabre Jr Southside (stop Tweeting, Gadge!! FFS) (Photo credit - Tony Knox)

 

What did the UKFF think?

"The future could well be 2013 for this talent with exposure in CZW and BJW making him a international talent. Also good to see him taking other UK bookings aswell as Fight Club"

 

"The rise of MK McKinnon over the past 12 months has been a truly great one. About a year ago he was cast as support act tagging with Mike Quackenbush against the Hunters (and arguably stole the show) and ended the year defeating Eddie Edwards to be crowned as the FCP Champion. Much like his FCP rival / sometimes tag partner Trent Seven, MK has the knack for pulling out all the stops and putting on gripping, edge of the seat matches every month. His epic 45 minute war with Adam Cole and matches with Chuck Taylor, Marty Scurll, Trent Seven, Jonathan Gresham (twice), Shinya Ishikawa have seen him build momentum and a strong following. His year of hard work culminated in a thrilling MOTY worthy, and well deserved title win over Eddie Edwards. In just 12 months he has gone from unknown to one of the most exciting, talked about and requested names on the UK scene and it

[TheHarveyDale]

 

MK is an absolutely great talent, I haven't had chance to get along to Fight Club Pro as yet but always hear great things and having had the chance to see MK first hand at Southside I have been incredibly impressed with how talented he is at such a young age. Very bright future ahead of him.

[robbo9292]

I like that my fellow trainee comment made it into there, but yeah like i said i expect he may be working for many other promotions soon.

[Big Benny HG]

No. 19: Paul Malen

Score: 134 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2012 votes: 0

Percentage of 2012 ballots including Paul Malen: 33.3%

(2011=34th, 2010=27th, 2009=50th, 2008=26th, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL)

 

 

Nottingham's Paul Malen appears in the UKFF UK50 for the fifth consecutive year, impressively attaining his highest ever ranking in the project this time out. This season, 'The Prodigy' has appeared absolutely everywhere, on big shows and small shows, in front of every type of audience, either in singles action or as part of 'The Predators' with Joseph Conners.

 

The 2011-2012 antics of The Predators, including their runs in SWE and NGW, were covered in full as part of Conners' own write-up at #24, so there is little need to repeat it all again here.

 

In Phoenix Pro Wrestling, based out of West Bromwich, Malen has been one of the lead heels in the promotion and was locked in a feud with 'Wonderkid' Jonny Storm as we pick up the story in summer 2011. The pair fought to a double-disqualification in July,

their climatic 'Loser Leaves PPW' Lumberjack Match showdown the next month. There, the interference of a mysterious masked man (presumably Conners) allowed the scheming Malen to defeat Storm and send him packing. The big victory also granted Malen a shot at PPW Champion El Ligero later that same night, but he came up short as the horned flyer retained. The issue between Malen and Ligero continued on PPW's September event, 'Like It Used To Be', which was a tribute night to the old school British wrestling style. Malen was beaten by James Mason in a traditional British rules match that night, but returned later on to viciously attack Ligero and made his intentions for the title clear. Malen and Mason rematched in October, before the Predator received his title match at Ligero on 11/11/11. Based on Malen's earlier attempts to injure Ligero, this was a Submission Match with no disqualifications. Malen benefited from the free interference of partner Conners, but was unable to unseat the champion as Ligero overcame the odds. Since then, Malen has mainly competed in PPW's tag team ranks.

 

Elsewhere, Paul has appeared for Nottinghamshire's MCW, the north-east's EPW and along North Yorkshire's coastal resorts for the

, holding

for that organisation as the top babyface. He also appeared as a goodie for Sanjay Bagga's LDN Wrestling, where he feuded with 'The Saviour' JD Knight. That one ended up with the pair colliding in

.

 

 

What did the UKFF think?

"I never feel that Malen gets the credit he deserves. Excellent babyface, quality heel. New, meaner look suits him and makes a change from heels trying to look "cool""

 

"Face or heel he's fantastic, able to get a reaction with just a look"

 

"Great hand on shows always delivers"

 

"A great heel when teaming with his

[Baz Windham]

Good to see Paul making a significant jump this year, he deserves it as it reflects him getting better and better. A very entertaining wrestler.