Wrestlers on the card :-
• "The Stallion" Chris Bronson
• "Worth Every Pound" Charlie Sterling
• "Rising Heat" Prince Phoenix
• "The Silverback" Saime Sahin
• Alexios
• Tiger Ali
• Archie Cole
• Nadia Sapphire
• Ruby Manitoba
• JD Knight
• Guido
Before starting with the review, a quick note - I've recently started a YouTube channel for independent wrestling content in the U.K. It has near-daily 15-second videos I've dubbed "Smackdown Showcase", it has match highlights (some of which are embedded in this review), and more. The purpose of the channel is to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent we have in the UK. Memorable moments, memorable matches, hard-hitting action...if you'd be so kind, please could you check out the YouTube channel. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!
With that being said, let's dive in...
Another weekend, another Brit King show! However, this time it's in a new venue for us in a new town: Portishead. Which I'm reliably told isn't Bristol and they get irritated when you say it is...but for anyone that doesn't know where it is...it's basically Bristol.
Myself and Susie found ourselves free to attend this event. Sort of. We had a Comic Con in Oxford during the day, then headed to Portishead for the evening. We're clocking up lots of miles at the moment between wrestling shows, Comic Cons, visiting family, and holidays, but we're absolutely living our best lives and the privilege to do so isn't lost on us.
But back to Brit King...
There wasn't an announced card for this event. Dave Sharp, owner extraordinaire, has recently moved house and has been without internet for a large portion of the last month or so. He should have it back by the time this review is released, so we'll be back to regularly scheduled programming! However, I have such faith in Dave, in Nadia, in the team, that I knew it would be a good show irrespective of the card - and, boy, was I right.
Ultimately, the card boiled down to 5 matches :-
- JD Knight vs. Guido - our first time watching Guido and what must be my 150th time watching JD over the last 18 years. No exaggeration.
- Prince Phoenix W/Chris Bronson vs. Saime Sahin vs. Alexios - the returning Alexios! Alexios has been out for the last 9 months with a neck injury and an Achilles injury.
- Tiger Ali vs. Archie Cole - an absolute sleeper show-stealer. The experience and ring generalship of Ali (who is criminally underrated) against the athleticism and wise-beyond-his-years psychology of Archie Cole.
- Nadia Sapphire vs. Ruby Manitoba.
- Chris Bronson (W/Prince Phoenix) defending the Brit King Pro Heavyweight Championship against Charlie Sterling in a "No Disqualification" match.
Hell of a card on paper!
The Somerset Hall was a beautiful choice of venue. It has a large, free car park at the back, which is helpful. The hall itself is really nice. There's a bar just outside the hall, there's ample room for a good entranceway, and, most importantly, the crowd was loud. I've said it before and I'll say it again - a hot crowd is the make-or-break of a great match. Same competitors, same moves, same match, but with a dead crowd doesn't feel anywhere near as special. The Portishead crowd really helped set the scene for a fantastic night of action.
Brit King shows are different to the others we attend (Attack!, Chaos, New Wave, Evolution, South West, No Mercy, and Bridge Pro to name a few) for a few reasons....1) The main events are the best in the country. I truly believe that. There is no such thing as an average main event at Brit King. 2) It's incredibly rare to have a quiet crowd. Irrespective of town or city, Brit King crowds almost always bring it. Possibly because the shows are a bit more family-friendly than some others and children are often louder. 3) It feels like home. As much as we love other companies - and we do - Brit King feels comfortable. It feels like a family reunion. I don't feel the same waves of anxiety at a Brit King show that I do nearly everywhere else.
With a raucous crowd of 200 or so ready for the show to start, it was time for JD Knight vs. Guido.
Match 1: JD Knight vs. Guido
As I alluded to above, it must be around my 150th time watching JD Knight perform. "The star of stage and screen...and Star Wars" has been a part of my independent wrestling life for nearly 20 years. 18 to be precise. Half of my life ago. I was 18 when I first watched JD Knight wrestle live. A lot of life has happened between then and now, but JD has remained a constant. A constant performer, a constant entertainer, and a consummate professional wrestler.
I've noticed that Dave Sharp has a tendency to put new wrestlers - whether young or new to Brit King - into the ring against JD Knight. As a grizzled veteran that has seen it all, JD can test the new meat, put them through their paces, and report back. It's a testament to JD's skill that he's viewed as that gatekeeper. It's a big responsibility.
Guido was totally new for us. Of course, we all know ECW's Guido...but this is a different one. This Guido was impressive. He kept up the pace against the experienced Knight and they put on a great opener. The opener sets the scene for the night. Outside of the main event - or first-half main event, which is becoming a thing in some companies - it's arguably the most important match on the show. If the opener kills the mood for the crowd, it's hard to get them back again.
Solid start to the show. Some of the highlights included Guido's hurricanrana, JD suplexing Guido from the ring apron into the ring, Guido's front dropkick off the turnbuckle, and JD's double-arm DDT to Guido to pick up the win. Good stuff.
Match highlights! :-
Match 2: Prince Phoenix W/Chris Bronson vs. Saime Sahin vs. Alexios
This was a well-told story: the heels teaming up to beat down the babyface, only to turn on each other in the end because both wanted to win.
I will admit, I was nervous when this match was announced. Saime is just back from injury, Alexios is just back from injury, and Phoenix was about to fly to Mexico for 4 months the next day - the last time Phoenix flew to Mexico he twisted his ankle in a match just before and it ballooned up during the flight. I know all three competitors and I knew that they'd want to put on a show, irrespective of injuries or flights, so I was just hoping everyone came out of the match unscathed.
As anticipated, it was awesome. Everyone did great! It was non-stop action. One of the advantages of a triple threat match is that the pace can be sustained. Someone can be down recovering some breath while the other two are still going at it. To my knowledge, all three left the match with their health intact, other than the usual bumps and bruises that are commonplace for the wrestlers.
(Bronson's choice to bring back the crop-top and audition for the Village People was met with confusion)
Prince Phoenix going to Mexico does mess up my plans. I was predicting a Brit King Pro Heavyweight Championship win for Phoenix before the end of the year, but with a 4-6 month gap, I'm not so sure now. It could trickle into 2027. Phoenix will definitely be missed. He's one of the greatest wrestlers and heels in Britain. I know he's going to absolutely smash it - for the third time - in Mexico, but his presence being absent from Brit King for the spring and summer will leave a hole...but it does create an opportunity. Who is going to step up and fill the void that Phoenix will leave for a while? Who is going to seize the opportunity in front of them?
Having Saime back is wonderful. Saime is one of the most likeable people in all of wrestling. He's Brit King's biggest babyface and there is definitely a void when he's off injured. He's the most popular, most beloved member of the roster for sure. He's a hero in Swindon. What's always impressed me about Saime, from 2013 to now, is his athleticism. He's the size of a heavyweight, with the agility and grace of a junior heavyweight. He can moonsault, he can hurricanrana, he can flip, he can dive, and his timing is impeccable. Welcome back, Saime!
("The Kingdom" A.K.A. "El Grande Chicos" was running wild!)
Equally wonderful is the return of the "Greek God", Alexios. Back from neck and Achilles problems for his return match. Alexios is phenomenal in the ring in his own right. When I was talking about who's going to fill the void that Phoenix will leave, Alexios is definitely a candidate. He's an athletic, arrogant heel that can wrestle.
Highlights of the match included Saime's suicide dive to the outside onto Phoenix, Alexios, and Bronson, Phoenix's top rope double-foot stomp, Alexios' handspring kip-up, Phoenix's Pele kick to Alexios after turning on him (perhaps my favourite move in Phoenix's arsenal), Saime's superplex to Alexios, and Saime's pop-up powerbomb to Phoenix - the height Saime and Phoenix generated on that was great.
Ultimately, Saime was able to steal a pin on Phoenix after a roll-up.
Match highlights! :-
Match 3: Tiger Ali vs. Archie Cole
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As I mentioned at the top of the review, this match was a silent show-stealer on paper. Tiger Ali is, in my humble opinion, the single most underrated wrestler in Britain and has been for over a decade. I first watched Tiger wrestle for 4FW - Brit King's spiritual predecessor - in 2012 under the moniker of "Behnam Ali". He was instantly captivating. Fast-forward to 2013, and "Behnam Ali" - still with shoulder-length dark hair - was tearing the house down in Gloucester against a young talent called "Pete Dunne", now of WWE fame. He hasn't lost a step since then. How Ali isn't wrestling all over the country, Europe, and world is beyond me.
This was our second time watching Archie Cole and he's every bit as good in the ring as any teenager or young adult in Britain. He doesn't yet have the notoriety of a Leon Cage or Shane Hook, but he's most definitely in the same conversation when it comes to skill and athleticism.
One thing that I love about Brit King in general and particularly this match was the old-school mentality around it. Ali worked on the knee of Archie during the first section and Archie - showing psychology and ring savvy beyond his years - constantly sold the leg. Even later in the match when Archie was on the comeback, he still sold the knee. He'd do a move, grab the knee. Do a high-spot, grab the knee. He's constantly be holding his knee or tweaking his knee, or hitting his thigh to bring feeling back into his knee. It was very impressive. As was Ali's offence around injuring the knee to begin with. I expected a great match between these two, but the match over-delivered on my expectations. Absolutely brilliant. It should be studied as a blueprint for how to sell a knee injury, how to dominate as a heel, and how to shine in a comeback with offence that engages the crowd.
The match started with a great exchange of athleticism and chain-wrestling between the two, before showcasing other highlights such as Archie's suicide dive to the outside after feinting on the other ropes beforehand, Ali wrapping Archie's injured knee around the ropes before dropkicking it, Archie's crossbody off the turnbuckle where Ali jumped to meet him, Archie's handspring cutter...I could go on and on. It had moonsaults, anklelocks - including bending Archie in a way that shouldn't be recommended - a Swanton Bomb...just check out the highlights below!
Match 4: Nadia Sapphire vs. Ruby Manitoba
While this is a match that we've seen a few times before, it was the most aggressive that either woman has ever looked. It started out fast and ferocious, with Nadia and Ruby brawling around the ringside area. Ruby brought a chair into the mix and chopped Nadia on it. When Ruby went to perform a running chop, Nadia slid off the chair and drop-toe holded?...drop-toe held?...what's the plural of "drop-toe hold"?...whatever it is, she did that to Ruby so that Ruby hit the chair face-first. Good shit, pal.
Nadia remains to be one of the most over heels in the company and one of the most under-appreciated female performers of the era. She can piss a crowd off in an instant. She gets a lot of heat, she knows how to get emotion out of people, and I've seen her almost get punched on multiple occasions. Over the last 6 months, she's also gotten into fantastic shape. I still believe her future in wrestling is as bright as she wants for it to be. Her chemistry with Ruby is apparent and they appear to be the perfect foil for each other.
(Drew living his best life)
Ruby Manitoba is the product of Eddie Ryan's training school - the Lion's Den in Plymouth - like The Blockbusters, Toby St. John and Jordan Sparkes. The school seems to be producing talent after talent at the moment. It's a great feeder system for the British independent scene. They all have brilliant fundamentals. This coupled with Nadia's knee healing up and therefore being able to produce bridging suplexes meant that the match was decent. A little shorter than expected, but likely because of the aggressive nature of the match. Being sandwiched between Ali/Archie and the "No DQ" main event isn't easy, but both Nadia and Ruby did a great job.
Match highlights! :-
Match 5: No Disqualification Match for the Brit King Pro Heavyweight Championship - Chris Bronson (C) W/Prince Phoenix vs. Charlie Sterling
If Tiger Ali vs. Archie Cole delivered in a big way, Bronson vs. Sterling also did. Bronson and Sterling are two of the best wrestlers in the country. I don't think it's possible for either of them to have a bad match...but the chemistry between the two Bristolians is off-the-charts!
While we're on the subject, how good is Bristol for wrestling talent? Bronson, Sterling, Leyton Buzzard...so many of Britain's elite are coming from in or around Bristol. As a Gloucestershirian that's a stone's throw away from Bristol, I take pride in that.
I've seen Bronson and Sterling wrestle before, but never in a no DQ. I like the fact that the weapons violence - specifically chairs - started strong, then took a backseat, then ramped up again. With Phoenix ringside, the match followed a tried-and-tested pattern: the babyface starts strong, the unequal numbers take their toll and the heels start dominating, the babyface makes the comeback, and a brilliant sequence of near-falls ensues.
(Phoenix knocked out of his flip flops!)
Charlie Sterling is heralded as one of Britain's greats and rightfully so. He can play babyface or heel to perfection, he's a strong, athletic build, he's absolutely impeccable in the ring, and he's wrestling all over the country and Europe consistently building a brand for himself. He was #345 on the most recent PWI 500, he's a former South West Wrestling Champion, PROGRESS tag team Champion. He's won belts in RevPro, Pro Wrestling Chaos, Evolution...his résumé speaks for itself.
What isn't fair is that Chris Bronson doesn't have the same reputation yet. Like Charlie, like Leyton Buzzard, like Nico Angelo, like Jay Joshua, Bronson is absolutely one of the best around. He is a fantastic heel...I'm not sure what he's like as a babyface as he always seems to be a heel, which is where I believe he naturally fits. His athleticism and timing are world-class. Honestly, his timing might be the best around. Everything he does looks crisp.
Back to the match...Sterling and Bronson battered each other - and Phoenix - with chairs. They fought around the ringside area, into the crowd...Bronson even threw Sterling over the merchandise table! Bronson wore down Sterling's knee with a chair, but Sterling fought back, slamming Bronson onto a chair. Phoenix made his presence known, but suffered for it. He got hit with a chair, an RKO, slammed on the entranceway, and visibly thrown backstage. Sterling's sweep-into-moonsault combination is one of the coolest things in wrestling right now.
(Someone check on The Stal! Not sure he can survive 4 months without Phoenix. At least they have matching tattoos to remember each other by.)
After capitalising on Bronson's weakened state, Sterling placed a chair on Bronson's chest, went to the top turnbuckle, and delivered an elbow drop into the chair. The chair shot up and smashed Bronson in the mouth. Blood trickled from Bronson's lip onto the mat and onto Sterling's back. I thought for a second that Bronson had lost a tooth, but thankfully he hadn't. It was a great near-fall. It felt as though Sterling might have become the new Heavyweight Champion then and there.
Sterling went to RKO Bronson, but Bronson moved. Referee Drew took the RKO instead. It was a great bump. Drew sold his ass off. Sterling hit an RKO on Bronson and covered him for the three-count...but there was no ref! Sterling hit another RKO on Bronson - this time onto a chair....one...two...Phoenix pulled Drew out of the ring! What a screwjob! As Sterling dealt with Phoenix, Bronson was able to capitalise and smack Sterling in the face with a chair. Bronson retained his Championship in an epic battle! What a match!
Sterling grabbed the mic post-match and thanked the fans. He said that Portishead is the greatest crowd in Britain. He promised to be back next time and to win the Heavyweight Title. The fans went home happy.
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Match highlights! :-
Overall, an absolutely epic show. Our first event in Portishead was definitely a memorable one. It leaves us with a lot of questions...who will fill the Phoenix-shaped void? What will happen with Sterling and Bronson next? Is Alexios going to be Junior Heavyweight Champion, Brian Kendrick's, next test? I can't wait to find out!
The meet-and-greet took place after the show concluded. I grabbed some pictures with Guido, Alexios, and Charlie Sterling, plus had some lovely chats with Dave Sharp, Nadia Sapphire, Tiger Ali, and Prince Phoenix; wishing him safe travels to Mexico. The crew at Brit King - Dave, Nadia, Saime, Ali, Phoenix, JD, Bronson, Drew - really have become a second family to myself and Susie. They were supportive when Susie's Father passed away in January and have continued to be so. It is eternally appreciated.
Next up for us is Attack!'s Rafflemania 7 event in Cathay's, Cardiff. Then we have Swindon, Cardiff, and Gloucester for Brit King in May, plus some events for Evolution and No Mercy in June. Lots more wrestling coming up in the year! Couple that with Comic Cons, a full-time job, and a side-business, and I'm about ready to sleep for a month. But we love everything we do. It's a charmed life.
As always, stay strong, stay safe, and keep kicking ass.
- Your Friendly Neighbourhood Shangel (that's pronounced Shane-gel, not Shan-gle).
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