The following wrestlers are the first 8 roster members announced by FWA.
"The Guvnor" Martin Stone
It might seem ironic that the first star to be announced as part of the new FWA is the man responsible for the company's demise in 2007, but even a brief glance at Martin Stone's CV will show that no-one is more deserving of a prominent role in its rebirth. Since that fateful day two years ago the Guvnor has cemented his position as one of British wrestling's leading lights, defeating some of the sport's biggest names and collecting championships wherever he goes. A fearless brawler from London's East End, the reigning 1PW Heavyweight champion and perennial IPW:UK favourite will be looking to make an immediate impact when the FWA returns on 2nd August in Broxbourne.
Jody Fleisch
There are few names more synonymous with the FWA than Jody Fleisch. The former 2-time British Heavyweight Champion was at the heart of many of the promotion's most memorable moments in the early part of this decade, becoming one of the most successful stars the UK has produced. Fleisch has gone on to star in some of the greatest wrestling promotions on the planet including Ring of Honor and Combat Zone Wrestling. But now, seven years after the legendary moonsault that earned him championship gold at British Uprising, the Phoenix returns to the FWA on 2nd August hoping to rise from the ashes and recreate his previous glory when the company that made him a star is reborn.
'Rockstar' Spud
Birmingham might not be renowned for being a hotbed of musical talent, but clearly no-one has told this to Rockstar Spud. Convinced that he is the biggest star in the world, this loudmouthed youngster struts into the FWA with a fashion sense and attitude that the rest of the world left behind at the end of the 1980s. Nonetheless, it would be foolish to underestimate a competitor who has enjoyed such success - despite his small frame, Rockstar Spud has cheated his way to victory against opponents up and down the country. Most fans will be hoping to see someone wring this obnoxious competitor's neck when he arrives in the FWA this summer, but they may be disappointed - if Spud has his way, New Frontiers in Broxbourne will be the first of many successful encores on the path to rock n' roll superstardom.
"The Juice" CJ Banks
A talented no-nonsense fighter from the north west, the man known as "The Juice" has been compared to a young Dynamite Kid because of his relentless no-nonsense style and technical aptitude. Unfortunately, it seems as though no-one takes this hype any more seriously than the man himself gone is the happy-go-lucky attitude that made Banks a crowd favourite in his early days, replaced by a businesslike frown befitting of the self-proclaimed "best pound-for-pound wrestler in the world." While a more neutral observer might argue that he still has a way to go before he reaches that level, there is no doubt that this young wrestler from Southport already has some impressive victories under his belt. If he can continue this form in the FWA, the sky is the limit for "The Juice" CJ Banks.
"The Wonderkid" Jonny Storm
With pinfall victories over the likes of AJ Styles, Colt Cabana and Billy Kidman, “The Wonderkid” can legitimately claim to be one of the most decorated British stars of the decade. Having held the All-England title twice and won the annual Gold Rush rumble on two occasions, Storm is also a very important figure in the history of the FWA. The likeable veteran from Essex is one of the most colourful characters on the circuit and has been a fine ambassador for his country, wrestling extensively in North America, Asia and across Europe. But on 2nd August 2009 in Broxbourne Jonny Storm returns home, where only a fool would bet against him building on his already illustrious legacy.
Joey Hayes
Despite undoubtedly being one of the hottest prospects to emerge from the north west for several years, Joey Hayes seems to have an uncanny ability to turn the fans against him. Spend five minutes with him and it is easy to see why – the Manchester native looks down his nose at almost everyone he meets, apparently believing that a man of his looks and ability should not have to interact with anyone he deems to be inferior. Hayes was just starting his ascent through the ranks of British wrestling during his time in the old FWA – since then he has proved his ability in 1PW, GPW, XWA and a host of other top British promotions. This summer he will swagger back into the company where he spent so much of his early career, convinced that the Joey Hayes of 2009 deserves to be nothing less than the main event.
Leaders of the New School (Marty Scurll & Zack Sabre Jr.)
There has surely been no better tag team in the UK this year than the Leaders of the New School. The immensely talented combination of Zack Sabre Jnr and Marty Scurll have been the talk of the British wrestling scene in recent months, backing up their bravado with a string of brilliant victories that culminated with them capturing IPW:UK’s British tag team championships. Although their in-your-face personalities have turned fans against them in the past, the Leaders have developed a well-earned respect from many in the crowd thanks to their never-say-die attitude and an arsenal of innovative tag team manoeuvres. The combination of Sabre Jnr’s technical expertise and Scurll’s fast-paced offence has made these two young men a must-see tandem, making them an essential addition to the new FWA roster.
Darren Burridge
It seems an unlikely story at first glance: a Burberry-clad Essex boy who likes to fight becomes one of professional wrestling’s hottest commodities. But Darren Burridge has made a career out of defying the odds. Having trained as a teenager at the old FWA Academy and later at DropKixx, the “Pukka One” has gone on to compete around the world but it is here in the UK that his performances have caused the wrestling world to sit up and take notice. Phenomenal televised matches in 1PW against the likes of Nigel McGuinness and Doug Williams have helped to establish Burridge’s reputation as one of Europe’s finest grapplers – and all this despite being plagued by a knee injury that would have ended many fighters’ careers. Make no mistake about it – this man is a major force in British wrestling and a fearsome addition to the FWA roster.
Stixx
Mixing 300 lbs of pure power with one of the shortest tempers in the wrestling industry might seem like Mother Nature’s idea of a sick joke, but for any competitor who finds himself in the ring against Stixx it is no laughing matter. The “Heavyweight House of Pain” has become an unstoppable destructive force since his early days in the FWA, where he started life as a bodyguard before joining with Martin Stone to form one of the country’s most dominant tag teams. Now a major player in his own right, Stixx returns to the FWA with a chip on his shoulder and scores to settle against several of the company’s top stars.
RJ Singh
On July 30th 2005, a man called Ross Jordan made headlines across the wrestling world by becoming the first ever FWA Flyweight Champion. Unfortunately this early success appeared to go to his head - wanting to extend the reach of his “brand”, the brash youngster travelled to India for a minor role in a Bollywood movie. Convinced that he was now a major star across Asia, Jordan soon started referring to himself as “The Bombay Dream” and demanded that he be known by the name RJ Singh, having disowned the UK. Fast forward to 2009 and unfortunately he is still as deluded as ever, forcing his autograph onto unwilling fans and taking exception to anyone who questions his fame. Amongst all of the incessant self-promotion, it is easy to forget that this FWA Academy graduate is actually a hugely gifted in-ring performer – he may be waiting a long time for success on the big screen, but glory in the wrestling ring could be just around the corner for RJ Singh.
"Irresistible" Iestyn Rees
Iestyn Rees was tipped for greatness by many experts almost as soon as he started training to be a wrestler. At 6’6” and with a physique that would turn heads at any gym in the country, the former basketball player was one of the best pure athletes to have emerged on the UK scene in a long while and seemed to have all of the tools to become a top-tier superstar. But one attribute he never had was patience – frustrated at his lack of instant success in the industry, Rees soon joined a loathsome gang of thugs called the Thrillers. Under the guidance of “Gentleman” Gilligan Gordon, these detestable young men used every shortcut and cheap shot in the book to rise to the top of IPW:UK during 2008, culminating with Rees winning the company’s title belt last September. Convinced that championship gold is his God-given right, the “irresistible” one is promising to dominate British wrestling in the years ahead and believes that his winning the FWA British Heavyweight Championship is inevitable. Unfortunately for everyone else, he may well be right.
credits: FWA
[Modificato da WrestlEurope 30/05/2009 19:07]