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The 2016 UKFF50: The Results


Linus

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No. 17 - Martin Kirby


(aka Martina Kirby)


 


Twitter: @MKirbyProEgo


Entrance theme: "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone


Total 1st place votes in 2016: 0


 


UKFF UK50 History:


4th in 2014... 2nd in 2013... 7th in 2012... 7th in 2011.. 9th in 2010... 10th in 2009... 15th in 2008


 


Regular promotions during period:


PCW in Lancashire... WCPW nationwide... Southside in middle England... Target on the English/Scottish borders... HOP:E in the east Midlands... ATTACK! in the south west... Absolute in Newcastle... Grand Pro-Wrestling in Wigan... Kamikaze Pro-Wrestling in Birmingham... Pro-Wrestling Chaos in Bristol... IPW:UK in Kent... Main Event Wrestling in Newcastle


 


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Has become the number one non-import featured on WCPW, and is currently acting as storyline GM for the moneybags promotion. Won the PCW tag-team titles with Joey Hayes after cashing in his Money In The Plastic Bag opportunity, ending Team Single's 3-year reign. Lost his best friend Kris Travis last year but wears an armband in every match to remember him.


 


 


UKFF says: “Just all round brilliance. Can’t believe he’s been overlooked for both the WWE UK tournament and WOS, he’d be a great addition to both and I hope he gets a shot somewhere soon. Brilliant matches for Attack! this year whilst putting in some excellent shifts elsewhere.”


 

“When everyone else is signed with WWE UK and ITV, Martin Kirby will be the one flying the flag for British Independent Wrestling.”

 


 


Linus says: One of BritWres's guilty pleasures is singing along to Martin's theme and it really sets the scene for his matches. Works a brilliant comedy style but can also go when he needs to, his push is the one thing that we can all agree WCPW have got right. One of my absolute favourites.


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No. 16 - "The Girl With The Shiniest Wizard" Nixon Newell

 

Twitter: @NixonNewell

Entrance theme: "C'est La Vie" by B*Witched

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 0

 

UKFF UK50 History:

First year on the list

 

Regular promotions during period:

Southside in middle England... ATTACK! in the south west... Fight Club: PRO in Wolverhampton & Manchester... WCPW nationwide... Kamikaze Pro-Wrestling in Birmingham... British Empire Wrestling in London... VII Pro-Wrestling in Telford... , Dragon Pro-Wrestling in Newport... PROGRESS in London & Manchester

 

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Topped a brilliant 2016 with a call-up to NXT, where she will start in April. Held the BEW Women's title & ATTACK! Tag-Team titles (with Mark Andrews), but her march towards the Fight Club: PRO title fizzled out when MK McKinnan retired through injury. Made her debut for Shimmer, ICW & PROGRESS, and was part of the big Brixton show for the latter, and worked for WCPW against Bea Priestley & Kimber Lee. Had a heel run with ATTACK! late in the year that showed her depth but "C'est La Vie" remains one of the most popular entrance themes in BritWres.

 

 

UKFF says: “I once said 'the best female wrestler in the world today' and I stand by that.”

 

“The girl with the shiniest wizard has just gone from strength to strength this year and really proved she has more range than you’d have given her credit for this time last year. Great tag team work with Mark Andrews as Bayside High leading to the most unexpected heel turn to side with main event heel Pete Dunne at the same show she’d had a full on comedy match with Love Making Demon.”

 

 “In 2016 it made me happier than ever to see Nixon getting a chance to shine at the top of women's wrestling in the UK and beyond. A born star, she's been a huge part of the resurgence of the division this year wherever she's been. Effortlessly charismatic and destined to be a huge, huge star.”

“Coz she's pretty bloody good.”

 

 

Linus says: Nixon is utterly deserving of her WWE contract, and has been vying for top woman in the UK (if not the western world) with Kay Lee Ray for a couple of years now. She is equally comfortable working with men or women, and brings a different dynamic to each. I saw her 21 times in 2016 and never came away disappointed because she is the complete package.

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No. 15 - “The Extraordinary Gentleman” Jack Gallagher

 

Twitter: @GentlemanJackG

Entrance theme: "Toreador" by Bizet

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 0

 

UKFF UK50 History:

47th in 2014... 25th in 2013... 6th in 2012... 15th in 2011

 

Regular promotions during period:

PROGRESS in London & Manchester... Grand Pro-Wrestling in Wigan... FutureShock in Manchester

 

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WWE Raw regular (think about that!) who took a deliberately lighter schedule in 2016 prior to his signing for the Cruiserweight Classic. Still popped up on PROGRESS, FutureShock (his "home" promotion) & Grand-Pro shows regularly, and had some "dream matches" with Johnny Kidd in Bristol and London. Got the big farewell from BritWres at PROGRESS's Brixton show, where he put over eternal nemesis Zack Gibson.

 

 

UKFF says: “Would have been a top pick even without the WWE signing, but I’m sure that’s a big part of why he’s on the radar for some people. Has always been one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. Has complimented it more and more with a natural charisma and personality that has shined this year, both in Futureshock and Progress and now in the WWE.”

 

“Another performer we will not be seeing on the UK scene in 2017 due to his signing with WWE. A performer who mixes the British Wrestling style with great character work. Gallagher was always entertaining in 2016 from the moment his fantastic music hit to the time he walked back through the curtain. Truly a unique personality in the ring it will be interesting to see how he grows in WWE.”

 

“After toiling on the UK circuit for the better part of a decade, it was only in the last few years that Gallagher truly came into his own. 2016 was the year he cemented this, with some very entertaining matches in PROGRESS, and then becoming one of the success stories of the WWE's Cruiserweight Classic. After signing with Vince, he's been one of the bright spots in the sputtering cruiserweight division on Raw and 205 Live. His sometimes light hearted, some times ruthlessly efficient British style is a pleasure to watch.”

 

“The best wrestler in the world. The only thing keeping him off my top vote was his deliberately sparse schedule this year. Shone whenever the spotlight was on him, whether it was at the Stockport Guildhall or the Brixton Academy. Sensational matches with a wide variety of opponents from Johnny Kidd to Xander Cooper coupled with a truly superb turn as the Extraordinary Gentleman. He's as close as anyone will come to solving the puzzle that is wrestling and we're not even close to seeing everything he's capable of. WWE know EXACTLY how valuable he is and there's no limit to what Jack can achieve.”

 

 

Linus says: I took a while to warm to Jack, and his style can often seem like he's more trying to impress with his array of holds than actually try to win a match. But there's no doubting that he's a superb entertainer, and regular viewers of Raw & 205Live are getting to see what the north west has known for years. As an ambassador for our scene on a wider stage, I can't think of anyone more suited.

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No. 14 - Drew Galloway

 

Twitter: @GallowaySpeaks

Entrance theme: “Ghosts In Us” by Dale Oliver

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 2

 

UKFF UK50 History:

Ineligible from 2014-2008... 9th in 2007... 41st in 2006... 30th in 2005

 

Regular promotions during period:

ICW in Glasgow (and nationwide)... PCW in Lancashire... WCPW nationwide... British Championship Wrestling in Lanarkshire

 

Wrestler-Drew-Galloway.jpg

 

Despite an injury-hit year stalling his momentum, Galloway managed to work for both TNA and the WWE-affiliated Evolve throughout 2016, as well as picking up indy dates on both sides of the Atlantic. Finished the year as WCPW champion, and was due work RevPro's Global Wars shows against New Japan talent. Looks like being a focal part of 5* Wrestling's TV show on Spike in 2017.

 

 

UKFF says: “Being released by WWE might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Galloway. A bright spot in the car crash that is TNA, and consistently strong performances for ICW, PWG and EVOLVE, 2016 has been a strong year for Drew. An excellent ‘nasty bastard’ heel. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he does show back up in WWE at some point in 2017.”

 

 

Linus says: One of the textbook examples of how to have a great career after WWE (see also Juice Robinson & Sami Callihan), Drew has remained a big name to put on a poster without delivering the two-star meh's that Cody Rhodes is becoming known for. Stepping away from TNA - his contract ends next month - would benefit his kudos (if not his bank account).

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No. 13 - Rampage Brown

 

Twitter: @RampageBrown

Entrance theme: “I Will Be Heard” by Hatebreed

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 1

 

UKFF UK50 History:

7th in 2014... 8th in 2013... 27th in 2012

 

Regular promotions during period:

PCW in Lancashire... WCPW nationwide... PROGRESS in London & Manchester... NGW in Yorkshire... Tidal in Leeds... IPW:UK in Kent... Absolute in Newcastle... Reckless Intent in central Scotland... FutureShock in Manchester... Target on the English/Scottish borders... All-Star nationwide

 

Rampage%20BrownRampers.png

 

The inaugural Atlas Division Champion for PROGRESS, Brown also competed for WCPW and World Of Sport this year, as well as playing his usual big part for the northern promotions - particularly PCW (where his three-year plus reign as tag-team champion with T-Bone ended) and NGW, for whom h also uns a training school. Finished up the year as Tidal champion, beating Dave Mastiff in his final defense.

 

 

UKFF says: “Helped establish a new division in Progress Wrestling. Brown will head up this division whilst others are pushed around him for the Progress Heavyweight Championship. Brown, however, is the kind of performer who can make the Atlas title mean as much as the Progress Heavyweight title. Brown is a great performer to watch as he brings hard hitting wrestling with abundance of charisma. A huge fan favourite who looks as though will spend 2017 in big man matches (in Progress anyway.) Brown is a constant reminder that not all British wrestlers are “small” and not all big wrestlers are muscle bound lugs.”

 

“A worthy choice for PROGRESS to build their ‘big lads’ division around, his open challenges for the ATLAS title have generally been entertaining. There's a legitimacy around everything he does, sure he may not be the flashiest wrestler around, but whenever he's in the ring you can be assured of a good performance. Plus who doesn't like shouting along to his Hatebreed entrance theme?!”

 

“Simply put, he’s the first person that any promoter should be calling when putting together a show. He looks legitimate, has a rough-tough style that I love and is equally adept at being the hardcase bully bad guy (NGW, WCPW) or the popular babyface fighter encouraging then feeding off the enthusiastic support (PROGRESS, TIDAL, PCW). Somewhat amazing that he’s only been about on the wider UK scene (i.e. away from the All-Star bubble) for about 7 years. PROGRESS bout with Trent Seven was as good a 5 minute fight as you’ll ever see. TIDAL bouts against Dara Diablo, Chris Dickinson, Wolfgang and Dave Mastiff were super-engaging heavyweight scraps, while title match main event with El Ligero on TIDAL’s biggest show to date in July was the perfect signature style that has come to define main events in that promotion. Performances in winning PCW’s February ‘Road to Glory’ tournament against Dickinson, Matt Hardy, T-Bone and Drew Galloway immediately established him as a legitimate singles headliner after previously being known there as a tag specialist, though his PCW duos bouts against the likes of the London Riots, The Hooligans and The Firm continue to demonstrate he and T-Bone as one of the better tag acts in the nation.”

 

 

Linus says: Rampage is REAL. I don't know how he hasn't got a major contract overseas, except that maybe as he gets older and more settled he wants it less. His work is top notch and he looks the part, and I never fail to get excited when I hear "NOW IS THE TIME!" A treasure.

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Why was Rampage released from WWE developmental? I didn't know who he was at the time, but after seeing (and being highly impressed) him during the second series of TNA Boot Camp, I can't believe they didn't want to keep him there. Was it his decision at all?

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Why was Rampage released from WWE developmental? I didn't know who he was at the time, but after seeing (and being highly impressed) him during the second series of TNA Boot Camp, I can't believe they didn't want to keep him there. Was it his decision at all?

Yeah he asked for his release. 

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Why was Rampage released from WWE developmental? I didn't know who he was at the time, but after seeing (and being highly impressed) him during the second series of TNA Boot Camp, I can't believe they didn't want to keep him there. Was it his decision at all?

Yeah he asked for his release. 

 

He talks about his unhappiness in developmental on his episode of the Flash Morgan Webster podcast.

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I think I read there was a time Rampage fell out of love with wrestling for a bit which was part of it.

 

First watched Nixon early on in her career when she was starting out. She's certainly improved leaps and bounds since then and will be the first female ever to make my Pre-WWE list. Is this the highest a female has ranked on the UKFF50?

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History of women's UKFF50 placings:

 

2007
17 Eden Black
35 Jetta
41 Sweet Saraya
 
2008
13 Jetta
47 Sweet Saraya
 
2009
24 Jetta
 
2013
27 Nikki Storm
28 April Davids
31 Kay Lee Ray
 
2014
23 Kay Lee Ray
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No. 12 - "The Kiwi Buzzsaw" Travis Banks

(aka Sergeant Banks)

 

Twitter: @Travis_BanksPW

Entrance theme: 

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 0

 

UKFF UK50 History:

First year of eligibility

 

Regular promotions during period:

Southside in middle England... Fight Club: PRO in Wolverhampton & Manchester... ATTACK! in the south west... WCPW nationwide... PROGRESS in London & Manchester... Kamikaze Pro-Wrestling in Birmingham... Grand Pro-Wrestling in Wigan... ICW in Glasgow (and nationwide)... Over The Top Wrestling in Dublin (and Ireland)

 

26-05-16_10-40Travis-Banks.jpg

 

First year of eligibility for the New Zealand émigré, although a year ago hardly anyone knew who he was. Based himself in the Midlands, which has paid off with regular bookings for Fight Club: PRO, ATTACK! Pro-Wrestling, and Southside. Ended the year winning FCP’s Infinity tournament, which comes with a shot at Pete Dunne’s FCP title, after going almost a whole year losing in the promotion. Part of the Anti-Fun Police in ATTACK!, and teams with Chris Brookes as the InterCoastal Violence Factory in Southside. Broke into PROGRESS as part of the South Pacific Power Trip, where they are undefeated in pairs action, and turned heads in Kamikaze, Grand-Pro, OTT and WCPW, where he is being given a singles push after losing his tag-team partner to the WWE UK championship. Trained by Davey Richards and at the Zero-1 dojo. Tok a late booking & impressed against Kyle O'Reilly for ROH in London.

 

UKFF says: “Debuted for Attack! at the end of last year as baby and immediately impressed but has been vastly better this year after turning heel. Out of everyone I’ve met through wrestling, the guy just gets it perfectly. Great worker and able to pull off anything he’s been given, from comedy to technical. Brilliant at interacting with the crowd and one of the few guys I’ve seen still heel it up at the after party.”

 

“Took a chance moving to the UK full time and has flourished. Has worked seemingly everywhere this year, most notably Fight Club Pro and Progress where he’s formed a fantastic tag team with TK Cooper as the South Pacific Power Trip. FCP built their Infinity tournament around him, leading to maybe the best show/one night story of the year. Would be one of the first names on WWE UK if he was English. For now, we get to have him for another year. Scary how good he could be this time next year.”

 

“For me the break out star of 2016 on the UK scene. The fact that in little over a year Travis Banks has gone from a virtual unknown in this country, to one of its very best, speaks volumes for the man's talents. Winning audiences over wherever he goes, whether in Fight Club: PRO, or as part of the South Pacific Power Trip in PROGRESS, he just seems to be getting better and better. Truly excited to see what he can do in 2017.”

 

Linus says: When I wrote above that hardly anyone knew who Travis was a year ago I may have underestimated his notoriety. Totally unknown at the beginning of the year, he ended it as one of the hottest prospects on the UK scene, displaying a range of talents which will stand him in good stead wherever 2017 takes him. Equally comfortable doing comedy as the hardest-hitting of strong-style action, Travis is one of your favourite wrestlers – you just don’t know it yet. 

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No. 11 - El Ligero

 

Twitter: @Ligero1

Entrance theme: "The Ballad Of El Ligero"

Total 1st place votes in 2016: 0

 

UKFF UK50 History:

5th in 2014... 1st in 2013... 1st in 2012... 1st in 2011... 4th in 2010... 3rd in 2009... 2nd in 2008... 6th in 2007... 22nd in 2006... 42nd in 2005

 

Regular promotions during period:

Southside in middle England... PCW In Lancashire... MegaSlam nationwide... WCPW nationwide... NGW in Yorkshire... PROGRESS in London & Manchester... HOP:E in the east Midlands... Tidal in Leeds... Kamikaze Pro-Wrestling in Birmingham... Chaos, ATTACK! in the south west... Over The Top Wrestling in Dublin (and Ireland)... British Championship Wrestling in Lanarkshire

 

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If you’ve been to an independent show in the UK, no introduction needed. However, for those unfamiliar, el Ligero works everywhere, and clocked up over 300 matches in 2016. Held tag-team gold in PROGRESS with Nathan Cruz, and took the Southside title from Joseph Conners at the end of a heated feud. Part of the most traditional World Of Sports match on the revival of the TV show, with Zack Gibson. One of only 2 men to feature on every UKFF50 list, and a former #1, the 13 promotions listed above are just those he appeared more than 3 times for in 2016 – the actual number runs into several dozen.

 

UKFF says: “Just look at his Cagematch profile. He’s bloody everywhere. If you told me there were three El Ligero’s I’d believe you. Has set the standard for in-ring performers in this country for 10 plus years now. The group of him, Kris Travis and Bubblegum are an underrated part of why the standard in this country has increased to the level it has. Everyone who wrestles him gets better.”

 

“Always heralded as the hardest working man in British wrestling. Ligero has added new elements to his character since his heel turn in Progress where previously his inability to cut promos may have hurt him he now has Gibson and Cruz to do this for him whilst he is able to mime his heelish ways. He babyface skills are still on point where his flying skills fit perfectly to the delight of audiences both young and old.”

 

 “It's an old joke now that there's barely a UK show that El Ligero doesn't appear on, but I think it's testament to the guy's abilities that he is equally at home for promotion up and down the country, whether they're family shows or adult only crowds. A long time baby face favourite, he's also an exceptional heel as part of PROGRESS's Origin stable, and has excelled as Dave Mastiff's comedy sidekick in that stable's Banter Squad comedy splinter faction. Ligero rarely has a bad match.”

 

“Been everywhere, done everything. Still doing it and doing it longer, harder and more than anyone else in professional wrestling. Enjoyed him at his most as masked weasel of The Origin in Progress. Ligero's ability to tell a story without speaking a word or seeing his face puts him in a class by himself in this country. Does for wrestling what The Boy With Tape On His Face does for comedy and that's a huge compliment.”

 

Linus says: I sometimes feel that Ligero’s ubiquity works against him, but it’s hard to find any fault in a man that works so hard to make professional wrestling his full-time career. I’m more a fan of his lighter-hearted work – of which he is a master – but he can still go when called upon to deliver an intense battle. Although he’s been out-lucha’d by many of the next generation of UK talent, he’s still worthy of such a high placing in this list. 

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