PLANET WRESTLING
Imagine a world in which two all-time greats could face one another at the peak of their careers. Imagine the possibilities as two eras collide, two generations clash and two different philosophies, ideologies and emotions are brought to life. Welcome to TW Fantasy Warfare.
STEVE AUSTIN
BRUISER BRODY Brawler
Brody was never going to armdrag or hammerlock an opponent into submission but what he would do is beat them to a bloody pulp. Brody was an out and out brawler who was more than happy to step in there and let the fists fly. While some may argue that style would have played perfectly into Austin’s there was few if none who got the better of Brody in an all-out brawl.
Unpredictability
Brody put opponents on the back foot with a lot more than just his imposing size and diamond hard look. He was also a master of psychological warfare by completely unpredictable in the ring and at times just blatantly refusing to cooperate with prearranged plans. No one, who has seen it, can forget the look of dread on Luger’s face when Brody decided to stop selling and he soon exited the steel cage like a high jump athlete.
Power
As if his brawling style wasn’t enough Brody combined that with immense power and moves of high impact such as the running boot, legdrop and backbreaker rack. Brody wasn’t just a big guy who could throw a punch he was also a powerful wrestler that could perform moves designed to hurt his opponents.
Adaptable
While the most famous run of Austin’s career saw him in many arena wide brawls he was, particularly back in his WCW days, an amazingly accomplished technical wrestler. Austin could surprise many by taking Brody out of his comfort zone and taking the fight to the mat.
Confidence
Make no mistake to get to the top of the wrestling industry one has to have complete self-confidence and Austin displayed that in bucket loads during his peak years. Be it spraying the boss with beer, attacking him in hospital or making him urinate himself Austin was always happy to go the extra step due to his confidence.
Rattlesnake Attitude
One thing that was always identifiable with Austin was his rattlesnake persona where he would strike out at any time. Many opponents thought they had the better of him only to be met with a stunner in the blink of an eye. It would literally come from out of nowhere and Austin could well use that persona to lure Brody into a false sense of confidence.
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Extremely tough to call as Brody was renowned for not doing jobs and Austin was very cautious over whom he would lose to so I am going for a double disqualification. It would make sense with their brawling styles and would keep both parties very happy and save face on each side.
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DOUBLE DQ!
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PLANET WRESTLING
All Photograph © ModernMyth Photography
Many fans around the globe may remember Ivelisse Velez as being one of the contestants on the 2010 relaunch of WWE Tough Enough. But if you think her career ended after she was eliminated from the reality show, you’ve missed out. Velez was arguably the top female on the show that season. She was forced off due to a leg injury, one that derailed her dreams of winning a WWE contract. Yet, she was still given one. Signed to a developmental deal in November 2011, Velez began competing in WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling and under the ring name Sofia Cortez, she tried to work her way up the diva ranks before creating a female stable called the AntiDivas. Raqual Diaz, the daughter of Eddie Guerrero, and current WWE diva Paige made up the rest of the group. When FCW was re-branded as NXT, Velez went on to have solid matches against the likes of Natalya and Tamina Snuka. However, in the summer of 2012 she was inexplicably released. It was quite a shocking move, with Velez seeming to be one of the brightest stars in NXT and her future as a diva on the main roster looked like it would be full of success. WWE didn’t see it that way. But much like her elimination from Tough Enough, Velez didn’t see her WWE release as finality. Instead, she ventured out onto the independent scene, showing a true
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PLANET WRESTLING
ECW REBORN: ONE NIGHT STAND 2005 In 2005, WWE produced a show that nobody saw coming; ECW, the brand that died a death in 2001 was revived and given its own PPV. The style was as close to real ECW as possible: the ring, the feel of the show and the set up was all the same. As were the matches; this was the perfect way to round out the legacy of ECW. This is so profoundly true that it became the idealist image that current fans hold of ECW. All the best bits of the promotion were collected and dressed up for this one night only show. The genesis of this show was RVD suggesting it based on the sales of the “Rise and Fall of ECW” DVD set. The PPV had everything that fans of ECW could want and gave newer fans a checklist of what to expect from a typical ECW show back in the day. Wild promos, great wrestling and violence. The opener would be Lance Storm’s last match; he defeated Chris Jericho in his ‘Lionheart’ attire from back in the day. The match was fast and fun with enough great spots to please everyone. This was a match put on by two best friends and it showed. The ending was screwy but a nice call back to
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that “ECW Finish” and, how can you not like seeing an Impact Players reunion? The Dudley Boyz vs. Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman was a typical hardcore match. With hardcore wrestling becoming used very rarely by this stage. It was something that was a breath of fresh air to the WWE audience. But it was a sloppy mess in every other sense. It was a call back to the match from Heatwave 97 without the build or buzz. The fans loved it and that’s all that mattered. Plus, if you want to see one of the best entrances ever then you need to watch this show for The Sandman coming out to Enter Sandman by Metallica. However, WWE have edited this out in all home and VOD releases. Which is a huge oversight. The next match was the highlight of the show; it was a match that was the most “unWWE” I think we’ve ever seen produced by the company. Remember, this match is culled from the transition period of WWE from the post-Attitude Era into the pits of Tartarus that Cena would lead the company into. So there were hardcore bouts but nothing insane and definitely not a Japanese Strong style war that ended the show.
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PLANET WRESTLING
Born: October 3, 1979 Hometown: Los Angeles, California Trained by: Supreme Pro Wrestling/Ohio Valley Wrestling Titles held: Former ECW world champion Former 3-time intercontinental champion Former 5-time tag team champion
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TOTAL PROFILE
JOHN MORRISON When John Morrison burst onto the scene in WWE after winning the third edition of Tough Enough, many believed he was going straight to the top. He had everything you could wish for in a sports-entertainer. He had the looks, the charisma and the talent. He did go on to win nine championships during his time with the company, but personal issues meant he eventually parted ways with WWE in 2011, with many believing he had failed to live up to his potential. His career in WWE on the main roster officially began under the name Johnny Blaze in 2004. His gimmick being that he was the apprentice and assistant of Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. The next week his name was changed to Johnny Spade and three weeks after that it was changed to Johnny Nitro which stuck until he was repackaged. In 2005, he became a part of a tag team known as MNM along with Joey Mercury and Melina, who Morrison dated at the time. The trio clicked right away and the pair won the WWE Tag Team Championships on three occasions and was one of Smackdown’s hottest tag teams in history. The duo split and went their separate ways in 2006. Morrison was soon drafted to Raw where he became a singles star and went on to quickly capture the prestigious intercontinental championship. In 2007, Morrison left Raw to join the ECW brand. At the Night of Champions pay-per-view, Morrison filled in for Chris Benoit and he defeated CM Punk to capture his first World Championship.
LINK HERE
His reign was rather forgettable, and perhaps that is why WWE never gave him a run at the major world titles in the company even though he was a contender for them for the remainder of his career there. His partnership with The Miz was successful while it lasted capturing the WWE Tag Team Championships on one occasion. It was also during his time with The Miz that Morrison showed his sense of humour as he hosted WWE.com show The Dirt Sheet along with The Miz, who Morrison won several tag team championships with. The team broke up in 2009 when Morrison was drafted back to Smackdown where he captured the WWE Intercontinental title for a third time in the autumn. Due to creative differences and personal problems with many of the head men in WWE, Morrison left the company in 2011 to the shock of many. After a few years away from wrestling while making the odd appearance or two in the squared circe, Morrison eventually returned to our TV screens in a wrestling capacity when he signed for Lucha Underground last year. Now going under the name Johnny Mundo, his lightening-quick offence and high-risk expertise which often left the WWE Universe in pure amazement is now doing the same with the Lucha Underground faithful. Mundo wrestled in the main event of the debut episode of Lucha Underground defeating Prince Puma and winning one hundred thousand dollars, since that time he’s also had matches with Alberto El Patron. There’s no denying the skill Morrison possesses. Schooled in the art of Parkour which emphasizes freedom of movement allows ‘The Guru of Greatness’ as he was known in WWE to perform LINK HERE tremendous
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PLANET WRESTLING
TOTAL ACTION ZONE PHOTOS BY OLI SANDLER
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TOTAL ACTION ZONE
4FW ULTIMATE SUPREMACY 2015 RESULTS M.E.C.A SWINDON 19TH JULY Nadia Sapphire defeated Erin Angel by Pinfall. 4FW Tag Team Championship: Gauntlet The Lionhearts won the 4FW Tag Team Championship Gauntlet to become the new 4FW Tag Team champions. *NEW CHAMPION* Gauntlet Entry Order: The Magnums, Max Alexander (Justin Sysum was injured in an “unfortunate incident”), The Lionhearts, The Bruisers. ‘Italian Stallion’ Antonio De Luca defeated Saime Sahin by Submission. ‘Simply Sensational’ Saul Adams defeated Iestyn Rees by Pinfall. Doug Williams
defeated
4FW Heavyweight Championship Tiger Ali (w/Rishi Ghosh & RJ Singh) by Pinfall Championship.
to retain the
4FW Heavyweight
JD Knight defeated Mad Dog Maxx by Pinfall. Dave Mastiff defeated The Saint by Pinfall. Rey Mysterio defeated AlbertoDel Rio by Pinfall.
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FEATURES
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RODDY PIPER - FINN BÁLOR - TRIPLE H
Photograph © John Morrissey Photography & Design
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RODDY PIPER - FINN BÁLOR - TRIPLE H
Photograph & Artwork © John Morrissey Photography & Design
FEATURES
The influx of former independent talent to WWE’s developmental brand NXT has helped the product become one of the hottest commodities in all of professional wrestling. With stars such as Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and recently crowned NXT Champion Finn Balor, the roster touts some of the finest talent in the entire industry. Erik Beaston examines Balor’s rapid in NXT, his future in WWE and how
ascension up the ranks his latest championship
victory affects his legacy as an international star. 14
DOES TRIPLE H HAVE THE PEDIGREE TO LEAD WWE?
DOES TRIPLE H HAVE THE PEDIGREE TO LEAD WWE?
With Triple H gaining ever increasing control within WWE and its corporate structure including heading up WWE’s Performance Center and development programme, NXT it seems ‘The Game’ is being groomed to lead WWE in years to come. Neil Topping takes a look at Hunter’s pedigree to lead the Stamford outfit in the future. 15
ROCKSTAR SPUD - BRAM - JIMMY HAVOC
Photograph © Tony Knox
INTERVIEW
ON THE SPOT WITH:
ROCKSTAR SPUD On January 1st 2013, Rockstar Spud claimed a TNA Wrestling contract after winning the inaugural British Boot Camp. Fast forward to July 2015 and a lot has changed for Spud, he would become OVW Television Champion in his debut match, become Dixie Carter’s Chief of Staff in her villainous faction that dominated TNA throughout 2013-14 and he would become a two time X-Division Champion. Total Wrestling’s Craig Hermit managed to catchup with Rockstar Spud during his recent tour of the UK to talk Impact Wrestling’s future, Kurt Angle and advice he gives to trainees. 16
ON THE SPOT WITH : ROCKSTAR SPUD
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BRAM
Over the past few years TNA’s roster has changed quite considerably with several marquee names leaving the company. However, what the promotion has looked to do in recent times is shift their focus from names who’ve had established runs in WWE to discovering and trying to create their own stars. This can be seen with the likes of Eric Young, Rockstar Spud and Bobby Roode. One man who has had the spotlight shone on him is Norfolk’s own Bram, who has made quite the name for himself in TNA over the past few years, with his bloody wars against Abyss amongst other brutal hardcore battles. Bram had a somewhat memorable debut, on the May 1, 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling, as he appeared in a backstage segment with Magnus where he would chastise his friend, claiming he had “gone soft”. The two would eventually tear through the TNA tag team roster, eventually splitting up with Bram turning on Magnus,
starting a heated rivalry. Bram speaks fondly of his real life friend and former TNA colleague Magnus “It’s so cool to work with my long time mate in TNA. We both used to wrestle on the UK scene and we would bump into each other again and again. Over time, we became good mates and to come to TNA and beat everyone up with him was just fantastic. “I know he’ll do very well in Global Force Wrestling.” Bram, who was for many years a mainstay on the UK independent scene initially caught the eye of WWE signing a contract in 2010 eventually becoming a part of the original incarnation of The Ascension on the NXT brand. He was however released from his WWE contract in November 2012. It’s something that Bram doesn’t dwell over and it’s clear that he seems at home with TNA.
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BRAM Photograph Š Tony Knox
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INTERVIEW
ROCKSTAR SPUD - BRAM - JIMMY HAVOC
havoc
PHOTOGRAPH Š JAMES MUSSELWHITE
Jimmy
British wrestling stand-out Jimmy Havoc has had an eventful run this year, seeing his stock rise ten folds within British wrestling, Coire McCrystall caught up with the former PROGRESS wrestling champion who held the title for an impressive 609 days.
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UK WRESTLING
Photograph Š James Musselwhite
Continuing PROGRESS
PROGRESS wrestling is one of the current highlights of not only the British wrestling scene but also on the worldwide independent landscape. Mark Moore delves into the company’s history and finds out what makes the promotion tick. 22
LINK HERE
LINK HERE
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