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EVENING NEWS PRESS RELEASES |
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February 16th 2010
Brash brawling and in-your-face action.
“The future is now” Varsity Pro Wrestling’s promotional material declared as it’s brash, brawling, in-your-face brand of high octane wrestling blazed into Portsmouth’s Guildhall on Friday night.
It’s growing success has seen it attract many former WWE stars as part of its roster, and it was two of these who took centre stage to settle a feud which has been running for 3 shows now.
There was no return for the Road Dogg, but his late replacement Billy Gunn did more than enough to whisk the crowd into a frenzy – his wrestling ability more than matched by his trash talk on the mic.
Before he pinned another former WWE star – Hardcore Holly – to settle the feud, fans of VPW had been introduced to new characters – including it’s version of Lazy Towns Sportacus (gymnastic fantastic) as the company continues to stride forward and make wrestling as much about fun as it is about sport.
Impressive, slick, fast connecting wrestling moves highlighted each match, which even saw local hero Jake McClusky record his first two VPW wins.
If the future is indeed now we wait excitedly to see what happens next in the world of VPW
Reported by : Stewart Parsons
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October 30th 2009
Globetrotting Road Dogg is coming to town.
When Wikipedia lists you as being 'the saviour of UK touring wrestling shows' you have a huge billing to live up to.
On Wednesday night, Portsmouth witnessed just why Tom Jones is held in such high regard, as his Varsity Pro Wrestling brand came to the Guildhall.
Returning to continue their feud from last time out was Hardcore Bob Holly, The UK Kid and Chris Andrews.
Former WWE star Road Dogg made his VPW debut as the brand continues to draw in the big names.
The Dogg barked at the crowd with some impressive trash talk, before putting the UK Kid away with some well executed moves.
In the main billing, Chris Andrews got his hands on Hardcore Holly. Holly slammed his way through a rosta of impressive grapples before being overpowered by Andrews.
But The UK Kid came to Holly's aid, double teaming Andrews and getting disqualified in the process.
As the story unfolded, Road Dogg rushed to Andrews' aid and challenged the pair to a no-holds-barred tag match when VPW returns in May.
It is becoming clear just why Tom and VPW are earning accolades.
Reported by : Stewart Parsons
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October 23rd 2009
Globetrotting Road Dogg is coming to town.
He's travelled the globe, wrestled in some of the most famous arenas and, on Wednesday, The Road Dogg comes to Portsmouth.
Brian James, the man behind The Road Dogg character, reveals he will be locking horns with Portsmouth's own UK Kid and promises it'll be 'a war'.
The UK Kid, who started his wrestling journey 10 years ago in Gosport and proclaims himself an International Superstar, will certainly have his work cut out as Brian Gerard James knows a thing or two about war.
As a sergeant of the US Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm, he experienced it first-hand.
Upon leaving the Corps in 1993, he took up the family business and followed his father and three brothers into the world of professional wrestling.
'It was a heck of a change!' says Brian. 'I went from fighting in order to protect people to performing in fights in order to entertain people.
'Of course, I wouldn't dare compare going to war to getting into wrestling but trust is key.
'In the Corps, you've quickly got to learn to trust your fellow marines.
'You need to look out for each other or people get hurt and that's the same in wrestling,' he continues.
Joining the WWE (the world leader in Sports Entertainment) in 1994, he enjoyed an extended run with the company and featured in some of their most memorable moments.
As The Road Dogg, he held the WWE Tag Team Titles on numerous occasions, teaming with Billy Gunn as part of the 'New Age Outlaws'.
So we can expect fireworks from his debut with Portsmouth-based Varsity Pro Wrestling on Wednesday.
The show at Portsmouth Guildhall will see the Dogg alongside Bob Holly, Chris Andrews, The UK Kid and a host of other VPW superstars.
Reported by : Ross Wiliams
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August 7th 2009
Steel Cage Match
Portsmouth came alive last night, backing its heroes and booing the baddies as Hardcore Holly and his wrestling buddies rode into town.
All the talk was of the former WWE legend Hardcore, but it was Fareham's own superstar who stole the show. The local international wrestler The UK Kid lived up to his reputation as the bad boy of Varsity Pro Wrestling, taunting the crowd, playing off their emotions and even ripping in half one eight-year-old's hand-made banner.
The star of the show leapt from great heights to perform hit after hit, defeating his first-round opponent before squaring off in the main event – a steel cage grudge match vs The Devon Powerhouse Chris Andrews.
Hardcore had his moment in the spotlight too, first defeating his Welsh opponent courtesy of a number of well- choreographed moves learned from years in the ring before returning in the steel cage match.
With Chris Andrews taped to the ropes and The UK Kid causing him unlimited damage, it seemed Hardcore would come to his rescue. But, to the crowd's disbelief, he teamed up with the UK Kid and pounded anyone who attempted to come to his aid – including News sales rep Ryan Thackaberry who took a hard right hand to the face from the former WWE star.
'Want to see more?' the crowd was asked. 'Well come back in October when we return,' called the departing newly-formed bad duo.
Based on the fun we had last night, we might just do so!
Reported by : Stewart Parsons
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July 31st 2009
Wrestling showdown |
| Wrestling fans in Portsmouth are eagerly awaiting the arrival of WWE star Bob 'Hardcore' Holly next week.
The American wrestler, whose most famous signature moves are The Atomic Drop and Alabama Slam, is a 14 time WWE Hardcore Champion.
He has also won the WWE Tag Team Championship three times and the NWA World Rag Team Championship once.
In 2002, he suffered a broken neck, which sidelined him for over a year, and now the American wrestler is flying across the Atlantic to lock horns with Portsmouth's very own wrestling superstar, The UK Kid – pictured below right
The big grudge match takes place at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday, as part of the Varsity Pro Wrestling Summer Superstar Tour, which will also hit Plymouth and Exeter. |
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It looks set to be an incredible night of non-stop wrestling action for the entire family, with appearances from The Devon Power House Chris Andrews and local 16-year-old star Mr Moonsault Jake McCluskey, as well as the feuding headliners.
Hardcore Holly says: 'I have some unfinished business in Varsity Pro Wrestling, so come August 6th every person in that building will find out exactly why I've been called the toughest guy to ever step foot in a WWE locker room.'
Reported by : Jodie Jeynes
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May 29th 2009
Amy heading for Miss England semi-final
A shop worker says her life will never be the same after becoming Miss Portsmouth 2009.
Amy Butler beat 10 other finalists, at the Guildhall, Portsmouth, to take the crown in the regional competition.
Now the 20-year-old from Waterlooville has a chance of winning Miss England.
She said: 'It's amazing. It's so good and it will change my life hopefully.
'Being Miss Portsmouth is what you make of it, it depends how much you put in.
'But I want to do a lot with local charities and if any of them want me to be at their events then I will be.' |
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The competition was part of a Varsity Pro-Wrestling event and all the women had to showcase themselves in the wrestling ring before a panel of judges including former Miss England winner Georgina Horsley.
Next up for Amy is a semi-final for Miss England in London on June 8. Amy who works at her dad's music shop Focus Sounds in London Road, Waterlooville, said: 'I'm proud to be representing Portsmouth.
'I've lived here all my life and it's a great place. I'm going to try my best to get through to the final of Miss England.'
Despite her success, Amy had never intended to get involved in the Miss Portsmouth competition.
Her first taste of beauty pageants came when an organiser of Miss Motorsport spotted her picture on social networking site Facebook and asked her to take part.
She won that competition and has not looked back since.
Amy, who went to Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville, said: 'The Miss England competition sends out a positive message.
'It's not like you're cattle getting judged. A lot of it is to do with raising awareness of charities.
'It's not about being plastic and having a fake tan – it's about being natural and true to yourself.'
'If I win Miss England it will be unreal.'
Organiser Angie Beasley said: 'It was a very high standard on the night and there were three girls that could have won it.
'Amy's done very well. She's a good girl and has as much chance as the others of winning Miss England.'
TOP PRIZE
Now that Amy Butler has become Miss Portsmouth she will go to a semi-final for Miss England in London on June 8.
There will be 60 women taking part in the semi-finals and the final of the competition is on July 19 and 20.
The winner of Miss England gets a prize package worth £35,000.
That includes a luxury holiday, a new wardrobe full of clothes, £5,000 and jewellery. She will also be the face of Helen-E make-up for a year
Reported by : Clare Semke |
March 4th 2009
Emma held top wrestling match in memory of father.
A woman whose dad died from cancer raised cash in his memory – by staging a wrestling match.
Wrestling fanatic Peter Spreadbury died just four weeks after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, aged 66.
His daughter, Emma held a charity wrestling night to mark the anniversary of his death raising more than £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.
The 31-year-old, who recently took up wrestling herself, enlisted the help of Varsity Pro Wrestling to attract professionals, including the UK Kid – a wrestler from Gosport who has trained at the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in Texas.
Other wrestlers at the family show included Andy 'Boy' Simmondz, from Petersfield.
All of the wrestlers donated their services free of charge for the event at the John Pounds Centre in Aylward Street, Portsea, Portsmouth.
Miss Spreadbury, of Clive Road, Fratton, said: 'I remember as a kid I always used to watch wrestling with my dad.
'Then, when I got older, he would tape it for me two or three times every week.
'He used to say he didn't like it but he used to watch it secretly and he knew all the names. He would be really pleased that we did something like this for him.'
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Her father, Peter Spreadbury, died four weeks after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, and Emma has organised a wrestling event to raise money for Cancer Research UK. |
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Mr Spreadbury had been struggling to eat since the death of wife Irene less than four months previously and initially put it down to grief.
By the time tests revealed he had bowel cancer the disease was so advanced there was nothing medics could do to save him.
He died at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, on April 9 2008.
Miss Spreadbury added: 'He was a lovely, popular bloke. He had lots of time for his family and friends and was always doing things for other people.
'It was such a shock. Hopefully by raising money for Cancer Research UK we can help other people.'
The wrestling event was held from 7pm on March 27 2009.
initial report by : Clare Semke |
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