THE TWO SHEDS REVIEW by Julian Radbourne
E-mail: twosheds316@aol.com
Website: www.twoshedsreview.com
Week five of the World Association of Wrestling’s summer residence at the Atlantis Arena in Great Yarmouth saw a top notch show with five matches, and a late withdrawal.
The show began with an announcement that due to food poisoning, “The Showstealer” Alex Shane would be unable to defend his British Heavyweight title against The Kraft. Let’s hope that this match is staged soon. The Kraft really deserves another shot at the title after the form he’s been in lately.
After this announcement, it was down to action, as “The Dark Angel” Ashe took on Cruiserweight Champion “The Tattooed Warrior” Steve Quintain in a non-title affair. To say that Ashe has been in something of a mood lately would be an understatement, following the loss of his Heavyweight title to Alex Shane, and his losing effort for the vacant Lightweight title to Jonny Storm the previous week.
Fought over six, three minute rounds, Ashe was able to adapt his usual style to combat Quintain, taking the veteran to the limit, and outwrestling him on quite a few occasions. The first fall came in the third, after some great action in the opening two rounds. Quintain’s guile and cunning led to a quick roll-up in the early stages. But Ashe quickly recovered, and just one round later, after working over his opponent’s leg, Ashe applied a half-Boston Crab. Quintain had no choice but to submit.
Quintain secured the win in the sixth and final round, after some more excellent wrestling action. Showing a great deal of speed, Quintain avoided several of Ashe’s attempted kicks before scoring the deciding pinfall with another quick roll-up.
Next saw the final match in the first round of the Atlantis Cup, as Academy Champion Rock Weiler took on Martin Matthews, making only his second ever appearance in a wrestling ring, and his debut as a singles wrestler. A good, solid contest, with the Dog Man showing that he really is destined for good things, and Matthews really impressing this writer with a strong showing, more than making up for his lack of experience with a great deal of enthusiasm. Sadly, this wasn’t enough to pick up the win, as Weiler scored the one pinfall needed after hitting Matthews with a top rope moonsault, joining Zak Zodiac, Fan Boy and Red Hellion in the semi-finals.
The last match of the first half saw Sweet Saraya defend her World Women’s title against Nikita. Before the match began, Saraya dedicated the bout to the memory of the late Crusher Mason, on the fifth anniversary of his death. Fought under the WAW Championship Match rules, Saraya clearly dominated the first two rounds, outwrestling Nikita, before Nikita, against the run of play, got the first pin of the contest in the third after taking Saraya down with a neck breaker. The action was back and forth, and extremely hard hitting in the following rounds, with both women giving a good account of themselves. However, it wasn’t until the sixth round that Saraya was able to equal the score, after brutally hammering away on Nikita before taking her down with a power bomb.
The seventh round proved to be the final of the contest. Saraya continued her brutal beating, focusing on Nikita’s back, and it got to the point where Nikita couldn’t even stand. Referee Joe Williams had no choice but to stop the bout, as the challenger was in no fit state to continue. To say that Saraya was unhappy with the decision was an understatement, and she wasn’t happy until Nikita herself told her that she was unable to continue. Upon hearing this, Saraya offered Nikita another title shot.
Match four saw The Kraft take on Ethan Moore, who was subbing for the ill Alex Shane. Although on paper it didn’t look like a suitable replacement, in actuality it was. The two WAW Academy graduates really tore into each other, both inside and outside the ring. Sadly, I missed Kraft power bombing Moore on the arena floor after Moore attempted a hurricanrana off the ring apron, but once again Kraft showed just why he is currently the number one contender to Alex Shane’s title with another excellent display, eventually taking Moore out with a double-handed choke bomb. A great showing from both guys here.
The final match of the night saw “The Anarchist” Doug Williams and new British Lightweight Champion “The Wonderkid” Jonny Storm continue their Yarmouth rivalry, this time with a lumberjack match. Those of you who read my recent review of Jonny Storm: Rare & Unreleased will know just how much these two are suited to each other, and this was another great example of that. Some great wrestling from both men, with tons of interference from both lumberjack factions, which saw all-out war break out at one point, saw Williams once again obtain the victory by underhanded methods. After referee Asa Knight took a hit from both Storm and Williams, and while outside referee Joe Williams was trying to restore order outside the ring while the lumberjacks brawled all around the arena, Williams grabbed the ring bell and clobbered Storm with it. As referee Knight was coming to, the first thing he saw was Williams covering Storm, and unaware of what had happened while he had been snoozing, counted three and awarded the victory to Williams. Unhappy with the manner of his defeat, Storm challenged Williams to a chain match, to be held at a later date in Yarmouth.
In conclusion – a hell of a show. Five great matches, and one of the few times where I can’t name a match of the night, because all five matches were good. The sad thing is that some of these will have to be left off the compilation DVD when it’s released later in the year.
Week six, and the final week, of WAW’s summer residence at the Atlantis Arena in Great Yarmouth takes place this coming Monday, August 29th, a bank holiday here in Britain. For ticket and venue information, log onto www.atlantisresort.co.uk.
