The 2013 UKFF UK50

[patiirc]

So, I'm without a computer again at the moment, in case you're wondering why there is STILL no progress on this. When I get it back, I'll likely just post the results with minimal write-ups. It's really a massive pain in the arse this UKFF UK50 lark.

 

That's completely understandable man, it does seem like a hell of a lot of work's involved for little to no reward while plenty of workers are reaping the benefits. Have you considered doing it as some sort of kickstarter project/self publishing it as an annual kindle book? I think you've probably done enough over the years that people wouldn't see it as just another britwres scam, and you'd probably make enough from the workers and promoters alone to make it worthwhile....

 

Id go along with that, Corey. Benny, you know your onions, chuck in the show reviews you have here (GWF etc) and would be a goer , especially with a detailed shitlist shenanigans section chucked in to boot, names redacted obviously . It's one of those times that where we know the list will get done, don't worry about not having a computer!

[Bohan]

Slightly off topic I know but thought this interested in this thread may also get a kick out of this. Currently designing a series of UK wrestling trading cards based around the old Promatch football cards. Below are the early designs, if anyone is interested in the progress of these cards just follow my Twitter jive_soul_bro First three characters - Grado, Ligero and Rockstar Spud.

 

 

 

[robbo9292]

Would have been better off in Random Pics but they're pretty good tbf

[Wittie]

Well, this thread is uneventful.

[cobystag]

Well, this thread is uneventful.

 

As is your brief history of posting inane thoughts in a deluge over the past 24 hours.

[Wittie]

I should fit right in here, then.

[Sergio Mendacious]

I should fit right in here, then.

 

Your screen name needs to go - trade descriptions act.

[Big Benny HG]

Right, I'm back. Let's get this shite finished.

 

No. 18: T-Bone

Score: 88 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 0

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=46th, 2011=21st, 2010=31st, 2009=NL, 2008=NL, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: ???

Entrance theme:

- Oasis

 

Photo credit - Gordon Harris & Preston City Wrestling

 

A highest ever ranking for the man formerly known as the 'King of the Caravans' in this, his 4th consecutive appearance in the UKFF UK50. Hailing from Worcester, T-Bone is now a familiar face in wrestling promotions the length and breadth of the land and has broken out to be legitimately recognised for more than being 'the guy who does the ring'. Somewhat reflective of his increasing standing, the year saw him face US imports as varied as Tommy Dreamer, the Steiners, Eugene and Jimmy Jacobs.

 

Babyface 'Bone lost his PCW Heavyweight Championship to Lionheart in the 4-way main event (also including Dave Mastiff and Davey Richards) of that promotion's 1st anniversary show. Moments later, however, Kris Travis would cash-in his PCW Money In The Bank briefcase and immediately relieve Lionheart of the strap. At the next show, T-Bone teamed with the new champion to face Lionheart and BT Gunn in a main event tag match which ended when 'Bone turned on his partner and made it clear that he wanted his belt back. After forging an alliance with former enemy Bubblegum, that is precisely what Bone did when he beat Travis via referee stoppage in a Bull Rope match, using the rope to hang Travis by his neck from the top of the venue's staircase. He held onto his reclaimed gold in a rematch with Trav in February, before dropping the belt to Doug Williams, making his mark back on the UK scene immediately after being released by TNA. T-Bone was not without a championship for long, though, as the very next night, he teamed with Rampage Brown to beat The Steiner Brothers and Fight Club in a 3-way to lift the PCW Tag Team Titles. 'Team Single' have since gone on to defend against Dave Mastiff & Cyanide, Davey Richards & Michael Elgin and Martin Kirby & El Ligero, establishing themselves as one of the top tag acts in the UK.

 

Elsewhere, T-Bone has engaged in a series of matches with Max Angelus for Southside Wrestling Entertainment and won that promotion's one-night 'Opportunity Knocks' tournament. He became a regular part of Grand Pro Wrestling, FutureShock Wresting and HXC Wrestling in the north-west, as well as appearing for Midlands promotions such as Fight Club: PRO, AWW, WrestleMidlands and EVW. He was part of the British Heavyweight Title scene in IPW:UK/Revolution Pro Wrestling and featured for the touring All-Star Wrestling as 'Tyson T-Bone'.

 

What did the UKFF think?

"Really come out of his shell and his heel work at PCW has been above and beyond great"

 

"T-Bone has an aura unlike anyone else on the UK scene. Compared to a lot of his smaller; more conventional looking counterparts this man stands out a country mile and demands the attention of the crowd whenever he is in the ring. He looked every bit at home when he took on Tommy Dreamer this past April and the car-wreck of violence between this man and Kris Travis this past January in their cowbell match wasn’t your everyday performance. A unique character with unmatched aura and solid once the bell rings"

 

"A great big man who has come a lomg way over the last few years. Has the look and a lot of skill. Enjoyed some of his work in pcw and fcp"

 

"I've not seen T-Bone wrestle a great deal of classic matches this year, but he's never bad and he's always believable and engaging"

[Big Benny HG]

No. 17: CJ Banks

Score: 89 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 0

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=22nd, 2011=18th, 2010=17th, 2009=13th, 2008=42nd, 2007=47th, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: @cjbanks1988

Entrance theme: 'Get It On The Floor (Instrumental)' - DMX

 

Photo credit - Tony Knox & Grand Pro Wrestling

 

A regular names these days in the top half of the UKFF UK50, Southport's 'Juice' CJ Banks is back for his seventh appearance in our rankings.

 

Top heel and champion for Liverpool's Infinite Promotions, with defences over El Ligero, Jack Gallagher, Zack Gibson and Bubblegum (in a steel cage), and a DQ loss to NJPW superstar Prince Devitt... Won a one-night tournament for Britannia Wrestling Promotions in North Wales in July 2012, then went on to beat US star Davey Richards in the same promotion the following month. As a lead heel, subsequent collisions with Babyface Pitbull have included a Steel Chain match and a Steel Cage 3-way (also including Zack Gibson)...

 

Stands as PCW's premier anti-female force, with matches against Kay Lee Ray and April Davids. Competed in PCW's impressive 2012 Money In The Bank 6-way. Took advantage of T-Bone's interference to beat Kris Travis in the 2013 'Road to Glory' tournament, but went out to Noam Dar in the last 8. Teamed with Dave Rayne in a winning effort over current WWE star Goldust and Mad Man Manson at the 'Supershow' in May. Has since starred in the 2013 PCW MITB, this time held as a 'proper' Ladder match...

 

Battled rookies such as LA Austin over the course of 2012 in GPW, then competed in the thrilling Money In The Bank 6-way in January. Entered as #1 in the 30-man rumble at 'ThunderBrawl' in April and ojutlasted the field to win and earn a shot at the Heavyweight Title. That came in July, when he was beaten by Cyanide on the Wigan promotion's 10th anniversary card... Went to the semi-finals of FutureShock Wrestling's 'Lotto Thunder' tournament, where he engaged Zack Gibson in a great contest... Appeared in Scotland for PWE, PBW and ICW, mainly facing fellow Englishmen...

 

What did the UKFF think?

"CJ Banks is a top class wrestler. Always solid, always believable, always engaging, The Juice brings any match he's involved in to a higher standard. Matches with Zack Gibson, April Davids and his marathon 1-30 stay in the GPW Thunderbrawl Rumble have all delivered. Would no doubt be higher in my list if he'd been given more significant singles matches"

 

"CJ Banks is class. He and Davey Richards are responsible for my favourite match on a British show during this voting period which took place last Summer at Britannia Wrestling Promotions. The pair transformed a fairly indifferent atmosphere to one that made even the most out of place Grandmother fixate on the action. That night Banks was every bit the performer that Richards was and I’d like to see CJ used in a more prominent position, arguably occasionally against international names in his regular promotions"

 

"his matches at GPW/Futureshock and Infinite have been some of his best"

[Big Benny HG]

No. 16: MK McKinnan

Score: 92 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 0

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=20th, 2011=NL, 2010=NL, 2009=NL, 2008=NL, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: @MKMcKinnan

Entrance theme:

 

 

Wolverhampton ace of the Fight Club:PRO promotion is back for his second ever UKFF UK50, improving his ranking by 4 places. Known as 'The Future', McKinnan beat ROH star Eddie Edwards to win the FCP title then embarked on a tour of Big Japan Wrestling. Upon his return to England, he battled IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to a 30-minute time limit draw then retained his belt with victories over rival Trent Seven (2-out-of-3 falls) ROH/PWG's Adam Cole, the returning Edwards (in a Ladder match) and Rockstar Spud. Lost the belt to Clint Margera in March, then beat current WWE developmental talent Samuray Del Sol in May...

 

Has also been a regular for Southside Wresting in in East Midlands/Hertfordshire region, facing Lionheart, Noam Dar, T-Bone and having a well-received series with Mark Haskins, as well as teaming with Jonathan Gresham to face Marty Scurll & Zack Sabre Jr in a thrilling tag bout. Beat Zack in the opening round of the 2013 'Speed King' tournament, but failed to win the subsequent 6-way finale...

 

Debuted for Revolution Pro Wrestling at the 'Uprising 2012' weekend then returned for two reportedly excellent singles bouts against Zack Sabre Jr. Match with Marty at York Hall in June was less good... Appeared for THIS IS PROGRESS Wrestling in London, but lost to 'Mr Wrestling' Paul Robinson in the first round of the Natural Progression tournament... Since the end of the 2013 UKFF UK50 period, has challenged Stixx and Drew Gulak for the Southside and CZW Heavyweight Titles respectively, came out the losing end of his RevPro trilogy with Zack, fought WXW's Tommy End to a draw and become the #1 contender to the Southside Speed King title...

 

What did the UKFF think?

"INDY SPOTTY DUDE. Also horribly out of shape. Kick fest with Samuray Del Sol did with ten stiff kicks to the head what most good workers could do with one. High spots in the match were considerably bigger than the finish"

 

"I believe MK was my 2nd place last year and like Marty he retains his position. MK took the mantle of main man in FCP from Trent Seven and justly deserved that spot carrying the FCP title through a series of incredible matches with Eddie Edwards twice (title win and THAT epic ladder match), Adam Cole, Prince Devitt, Samuray Del Sol and a dramatic send off for Rockstar Spud. He also finally started to show his real class outside of FCP transferring his Wolverhampton form into both Southside and Rev Pro in particular 2 great matches with Mark Haskins (in SWE) and a hatrick of scorching matches with Zack Sabre Jr (2 in Rev Pro, 1 in SWE). He also was part of one of the best tag matches of the year with Gresham against the LDRS is SWE and also a surprisingly great tag match teaming with Trent against the CZW odd couple of Alex Colon and Greg Excellent in FCP. Not to mention appearing in both America and Japan, in particular he had a blinder with fellow FCP team mate Trent Seven taking on Ishikawa and Shinobu for Big Japan. MK is still only 21, so imagine how good he can be if he continues to develop like he has over the past couple of years"

 

"I am a hige fan of mk making regular trips to fcp to see. I have enjoyed his matched with zsj and prince devitt as well as people like lionheart and trent seven. Any combination of my first 4 picks in a match would always have me turning up to the show"

 

"Matches with Devitt , Adam Cole and Mark Haskins have been out of this world"

[Big Benny HG]

No. 15: Mikey Whiplash

Score: 109 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 2

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=13th, 2011=13th, 2010=33rd, 2009=27th, 2008=24th, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: @mikey_whiplash

Entrance theme:

 

Photo credit - David J Wilson & Insane Championship Wrestling

 

A sixth appearance in the UKFF UK50 for Mikey Whiplash, achieving a very similar ranking to that he finished on the past 2 years. Originally based out of BritWres hotbed Stoke-on-Trent, Whiplash is now based in Scotland and is the head of the SWA's training facility.

 

Won the NWA Scottish Heavyweight Title from Andy Anderson on SWA's June 2012 card, then defended against Christopher Saynt, Johnny Kidd, Jack Gallagher, Wolfgang and in the retirement match of John 'The Bomb' Graham... Also challenged for the BCW, PBW and PWE Heavyweight Titles, but was defeated by Lionheart, BT Gunn (in a 3-way Ladder match with Jack Jester) and Noam Dar (in the opening round of the vacant title tournament) respectively... Rivalry with Jester has been highlighted in ICW. Their bloody feud seemed to be settled when Whiplash beat Jester in a Last Man Standing match at 'Insane In The Membrane', but was back in full effect by the end of 2012 and they continued to collide in various tag, mixed tag and deathmatches...

 

Won ICW's 30-man 'Square Go!' rumble in January to earn a Heavyweight title shot, then tore the house down against old opponent/partner Robbie Dynamite in April. Received his title match in May, which proved to be the long-awaited moment that Red Lightning's reign of terror finally came to an end as Mikey added the ICW starp to his SWA gold to become a double-champion. Mikey has since defended the ICW title in a rematch against Dynamite, defended against Grado, then added the ICW Zero-G Title to his collection by beating Wolfgang in a title vs. title affair... Since the end of the 2013 UKFF UK50 eligibility period, Whiplash has lost his ICW Heavyweight strap to Jester and the Zero-G belt to Mark Coffey...

 

Actually teamed with Jack Jester to win the BCW Tag Team Championship in December, then made their first defence the next night against the dream team of Grado and Eugene... Defeated Juz Uz (BT Gunn & Stevie Xavier) on two occasions, but were toppled in the third title tilt between the teams... Whiplash has also appeared for W3L and SWE in Scotland, and returned to England for RevPro, where he reprised his 'All-Stars' tag team with Robbie Dynamite in defeat to Project Ego (Martin Kirby & Kris Travis). He is now part of the HXC Wrestling roster in Manchester, and just made his debut for THIS IS PROGRESS Wrestling in London...

 

What did the UKFF think?

"One of the best technical wrestlers in the UK, one of the best characters and one of the best brawlers wrapped in a latex package. HIs ICW title win and the matches with Robbie Dynamite were great and his promos are incredible. I think this coming year could be even better for Whippy"

 

"His high ranking is, for me, testament to his booking in ICW earlier this year. However he is undoubtedly one of the better old school wrestlers around, and his match with Robbie Dynamite is one of the best I've seen this year"

 

"Have saw Mikey in literally every type of match this year from deathmatch, to comedy, to a gripping dramatic match with Red Lightning where he took the ICW title. Has become an asset to Scotland both in terms of being a wrestler and a wrestling coach at Source Wrestling School"

 

"Incredible performances in ICW and great heel champion in SWA. My number 1 pick because not only does he always look great he always manages to elevate his opponent as well"

 

"Best ALL ROUND performer can be sadistic, Technical or Light-Hearted all with great ease"

[Big Benny HG]

No. 14: Dean Allmark

Score: 110 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 0

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=29th, 2011=42nd, 2010=NL, 2009=NL, 2008=NL, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: n/a

Entrance theme:

- Run DMC vs. Jason Nevins

 

Photo credit - Tony Knox & All-Star Wrestling

 

Stoke's 'Xtreme' Dean Allmark earns his third ever UKFF UK50 appearance, with the 3-year pattern of increase continuing as he achieves his highest ranking yet... Deano is still a key goodie for the touring All-Star Wrestling organisation, where he has fought the likes of Nathan Cruz, Rampage Brown, Robbie Dynamite, Sam Adonis, Mark Haskins, Marty Scurll, Stixx, CJ Banks, Tommy Dean, THE JAPANESE MENACE TAGORI and more. Highlights included beating Rampage for the Superslam Heavyweight Title as well as competing against in tag team Steel Cage and Ladder matches...

 

Competed in the 6-way Scramble to crown PCW's first ever Cruiserweight Champion last August, but that went the way of Noam Dar... Was back in PCW 6-man action that December as part of the Money In The Bank match won by Dave Rayne... went out of the 2013 'Road To Glory' tournament in a cracking first round match to Martin Kirby. The pair reprised that in another fine singles match on the Castleford leg of the 2013 Dragon Gate UK tour... Finally picked up that big PCW win by beating El Ligero, Danny Hope & Sam Bailey in a 4-way on the 'Supershow 2' weekender. Competed in the thrilling 2013 version of the Money In The Bank on PCW's 2nd Anniversary show, then battled 1990s Japanese junior heavyweight legends Ultimo Dragon and Jushin Liger since the close of the 2013 eligibility period...

 

Competed in the 2013 'Speed King' tournament for Southside in May, where he bested Robbie X in the opening round to ensure there would be a new champion. Fell short in it being him, though, as he failed to win that evening's 6-way elimination final (that one went to Jay Lethal)... Also competed for WrestleMidlands against Welshman Wild Boar, and returned to NGW in Hull to team with Robbie X in a 4-team Tables, Ladders & Chairs match as well as rumble with his All-Star enemy Nathan Cruz...

 

What did the UKFF think?

"Hadn't really cropped up on any shows I went to before this voting period, now I look forward to seeing his name in the line-up"

 

"Some stand out performances at PCW have finally seen him rise up the ladder there"

 

"He isnt just about allstar. Some cracking matches including vs Martin Kirby at Road 2 Glory have helped cement him as one of the best in the UK"

 

"Always fun, hard-working and a highlight of Allstar shows. (It

[Big Benny HG]

No. 13: Dave Rayne

Score: 112 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 2

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=23rd, 2011=NL, 2010=NL, 2009=NL, 2008=NL, 2007=NL, 2006=NL, 2005=NL

Twitter: @DaveRayne

Entrance theme:

- Basement Jaxx

 

Photo credit - Gordon Harris & Preston City Wrestling

 

A second-ever appearance within the ranks of the UKFF UK50 for Dave Rayne. Impressively, he manages to improve upon last year's 23rd place but finish in the Top 15. What has he been up to...?

 

A pre-match weigh-in saw cult favourite Rayne fail to make the cruiserweight weight limit to be able to compete in the 6-way for PCW's inaugural Cruiserweight Championship... Instead, he beat Martin Kirby, Scott Maverick and El Ligero in singles bouts in the second half of 2012 in which he claimed to be a cruiserweight star... Failed to break the Masterlock of Chris Masters, but won PCW's Money In The Bank briefcase in a corking 6-way match at 'Festive Fury 2' in December, then made various hilariously unsuccessful attempts to cash-in his prize on different PCW titles both later that same night and at 'More Bang For Your Buck' in January... The perfect opportunity presented itself when Noam Dar came through a 'Road To Glory' tournament bout with Andy Wild and was beaten down by his quarter-final opponent CJ Banks immediately after. Rayne cashed in and beat Dar in a quick bout to win the PCW Cruiserweight Title... The next day saw Rayne's championship party throughout the duration of the show, during which he recorded an alternative DVD commentary track...

 

The April event saw Rayne verbally joust with WWE's Goldust to build their match the following month, then later that night attempt to repeat his 30-man rumble victory from 12 months prior. Leaving the rumble early when he seemingly suffered an injury, Rayne returned at the very end of the contest to reveal it had all been a ruse and he wasn't officially eliminated. Lightning didn't strike twice, however, as Lionheart despatched him and claimed victory.... The 'Supershow 2' weekend was next, where Rayne and Goldust finally met in the ring in a tag match on Night One, then the long-awaited singles match on Night Two. That weekend also saw Dave's second unsucessful attempt to break The Masterlock... After the end of the 2013 UKFF UK50 period, Rayne lost his Cruiserweight Title to female wrestler April Davids, attacked her in October and then lost to her again in a Fans Bring the Domestic Objects match on the Halloween special...

 

Long-running feud with Zack Gibson in FutureShock Wrestling came to an end when Rayne was beaten in the promotion's first-ever Steel Cage match at the 'International Supershow' last August... Beat Kris Travis in the opening round of the 2012 FutureShock Trophy Tournament, but was eliminated in the semi-finals by Josh Bodom. Continued to clash with Bodom over subsequent months, culminating in a Last man Standing bout in April... Battled the likes of Soner Durson, Raynaldo and Nordic Warrior over the course of 2013, and has just formed a surprise odd couple tag team with Warrior that beat the Blackpool Blondes for the FS Tag Team Titles...

 

Made a then-rare appearance for GPW in October 2012 as part of a 15-man battle royal for a shot at the British title. He then started to be sat in the front row of GPW events, seen talking to and leaving with various defeated wrestlers who would then be seen with him the next time. This was the formation of The Cause, the heel faction he founded comprised of fellow FutureShock Wrestling regulars who were disgruntled at their treatment in GPW. Rayne recruited Axl Rage, James Drake, Sam Bailey, Sean Daniels and then Zack Gibson, whom they had helped win the British title and then convinced to turn on GPW. The Cause and their numeric strength and selfless solidarity would dominate GPW for the rest of 2013, including costing Damon Leigh his cashed-in Money In The Bank title shot, beating GPW's 6 top babyfaces in a Torneo Cibernetico elimination match and beating GPW Heavyweight Champion Cyanide in a 6-on-1 gauntlet to all be jointly recognised as the title-holders...

 

What did the UKFF think?

"Rayne isn't a great wrestler, but he is a fun one. The Dave Rayne brawl

[robbo9292]

- Just to say this is MK McKinnan's theme

[Big Benny HG]

No. 12: Rockstar Spud

Score: 121 points

Total 1st place rankings in 2013 votes: 1

Previous UK50 Rankings: 2012=5th, 2011=8th, 2010=3rd, 2009=2nd, 2008=9th, 2007=4th, 2006=4th, 2005=9th

Twitter: @RockstarSpud

Entrance theme:

- Bon Jovi

 

Photo credit - Southside Wrestling Entertainment

 

Currently appearing on TV screens across the worked as TNA President Dixie Carter's personal assistant, it was only earlier this year that Birmingham's Rockstar Spud was part of the UK wrestling circuit. Spud is one of only four men to have been ranked in the UKFF UK50 in all 9 years it has been running and, even more remarkably, this is the first time he has ever finished outside the Top 10.

 

During his time on British shores, Spud appeared as part of Team XWA in 2 matches at the incredible 'Vendetta' event in July, but it was that side's loss to Team GPW that night that was the storyline catalyst for the Morecambe-based promotion shutting its doors. The Rockstar also continued to appear for Southside Wrestling Entertainment, where he faced Max Angelus and was unsuccessful in his shot at Speed King Champion Robbie X. He was a regular for the underground Fight Club:PRO in Wolverhampton, fighting Clint Margera in a Deathmatch, crossing 'The Bastard' Dave Mastiff and featuring in the 2012 'Infinity' tournament. He battled the monstrous Alpha Female in a special inter-gender match for the all-female Pro Wrestling Eve, and contested a hilarious bout with Grado for Coventry's Triple-X Wrestling.

 

After shooting YouTube videos and exchanging Twitter barbs against each other, the bad blood between Spud and Marty Scurll turned physical on IPW:UK/Revolution Pro Wrestling shows during 2012, ahead of their starring roles in the TNA 'British Bootcamp' pseudo-reality show, which saw them cross paths in THIS IS PROGRESS Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling and in the TNA Impact Zone in Florida, before Spud was named by Hulk Hogan and Dixie Carter as the winner of the competition. The pair faced off again over the course of TNA's January 2013 UK tour, before Spud signed-off the English scene with a wild and heated climatic 'No Holds Barred' against Scurll in February for RevPro.

 

What did the UKFF think?

"While for now he's gone and that sucks, he will be remembered for creating such a great character that kids and adults both could get behind and love/hate. He also was fantastic in ring, knowing his size and limitations, but still stealing the show on enough occasions"

 

"character work pays off, he was great on British Bootcamp (whether that qualifies for UKFF50 inclusion or not...)"

 

"He was certainly the winner of British bootcamp and he deserved it for all he had done previously to it. Having seen Spud at Fight Club Pro primarily he certainly knew how to work the crowd into hating him even at the time of announcing he was leaving he still worked the crowd into hating him"

 

"star before he locks up"

 

"TNA Bootcamp appearance showed why he was one of the best character based workers in the UK while he was still on these shores. Saw him once at PWE and really bought into his character and selling"

 

"Still one of the best gimmicks to come from the UK in years. While it's great to see him get a chance in the US (and deservedly so), it'll be a shame to not see him on UK shows as often"