Brit Wres Roundtable #51: Euro Draft II

[Robareid]

For the second year running Oli, Arn and Robin are joined by guests to compete against each other to attempt to put together the best roster of talent. This year we were joined by PROGRESS commentator Callum Leslie and the internet's Alan Boon.

[Robareid]

Rules:



(Changes to last year's format are in bold)

[Robareid]

Draft Orders:

[Robareid]

After you've listened to the full episode here's the full rosters for you to peruse.

► Show Spoiler

[Robareid]

I've just run into a little bit of the problem for the voting. I forgot twitter only allows you to post polls with four options. We used a non-twitter vote for the retrospective, and barely anybody, so I'm loathe to do that. So, what I've decided to do is vote one of the five of us off using strawpoll, then have the four survivors go through to the big twitter vote to decide who wins.

This first poll will only run for a day and a half, so this is exclusively for you hardcore listeners. Remember, vote for who you think put together the WORST roster.

[Robareid]

We'll now post our 'first cards' that we'd run with our promotion, and try to sell you on a general direction going forward:

[Oli Court]

Here's my card, hopefully it won't finish last... like last year...

► Show Spoiler

8. ~Dreams Come True Ultimate Collision~ Matt Riddle vs Ilja Dragunov

The best match you’re gonna see on any of these Euro Draft cards. Quite simply the two most exciting wrestlers on the European scene, each looking to knock the other’s block off.

7. ~Baby, Andy, Tell Me Oui, Chief Deputy~ Angel Cruz, Absolute Andy and Melanie Grey vs Chief Deputy Dunne, Martin Kirby and Millie McKensie

Balls-to-the-wall Dragon Gate-style comedy match. CD Dunne is clamping down on Angel Cruz’s fun time, so now he must face the wrath of the axe-wielding maniac and his new German friends, who Dunne isn’t particularly fond of either. He’s got some new Anti-Fun Police recruits by his side, but Kirby and McKensie don’t seem too loyal to the uniform. The ladies’ toilets sign WILL be pointed at by all match participants.

6. ~LYKOS MUST DIE Confrontation Campaign~ Mark Davis vs Kid Lykos

Following on from the end of their Attack Tag Team Championship match where Dunkzilla eviscerated Lykos with Zangief-level piledrivers, Davis is now on a one-man mission to ‘Shut Up Lykos’ indefinitely. Comedy interlaced with tragedy as Lykos gets caught by Davis and launched into his ridiculous power moves.

5. ~SUPER WORKER SHOWDOWN~ Trent Seven vs Wolfgang

The last time these two met in ICW, SUPER WORKER Wolfgang put Seven’s head through the wall of the venue, but Trent still came out on top. Another match in their sneaky great series that must leave a permanent head-shaped crevice in the venue wall before it’s over.

4. ~Iconic Session War~ Session Moth Martina vs Katey Harvey

Ireland’s finest do battle in a classic face vs heel matchup. Harvey’s had enough of your shit, Martina will not under any circumstances spill her can, and their two opposing worldviews has them fated to batter each other here.

3. ~Edifying Eddie: Battle One~ Eddie Dennis vs Jordan Devlin

A traditional 5-match ‘trial series’ for newly full-time professional Eddie Dennis begins here. Devlin is a big-headed prick who doesn’t take Dennis seriously and eventually prevails here, but this series will be all about putting major sympathy on Eddie. Expect matches with Wolfgang, Jigsaw, Seven, and finally Riddle to come.

2. ~Shoot the Arrow, Solve the Puzzle~ Kyle Fletcher vs Jigsaw

Fletcher needs to prove himself against veteran Jigaw here, and will get plenty of chance to show off his all-round skills. Fletcher and Davis will tag together on later shows but it’s important to establish their singles prowess too.

1. ~Proving Ground Conflict~ Francis Kaspin and Danny Jones vs 2Unlimited

Opening match full of hungry guys looking to show off their skills. Kaspin and Jones are the consummate wrestlers straight out of the wXw/All Japan dojo respectfully, while 2Unlimited can play heels here as the flashy bastards who don’t need any of that ‘fighting spirit’ stuff, only flips and a cocky-as-shit attitude.

[Callum_Leslie]

Hello everyone!

► Show Spoiler

So first of all, the elephant in the room: There's an inherent PROGRESS bias in my roster. I didn't set out to do that, but the fact is that that's where I watch most of my wrestling! A lot of other guys I had designs on, like Omari, Chris Ridgeway, and Kenny Williams, all went elsewhere. So it couldn't really be helped.

Alright so that aside, on with the card.

Ashmore vs. Chuck Mambo

I've seen these two wrestle each other on Freedom's Road and it was great. A match that could open any card in the country—so that's exactly what I'm doing. They trained together at the ProJo, and they've both massively stepped up their games this year. Ashmore is a guy who really should be seen in more places, the Hipstar gimmick is great. Ashmore would win here to set up what promises to be an excellent match with Jody Fleisch...

Jody Fleisch vs. Joe Hendry vs. Iestyn Rees vs. James Drake

A bit of a leftovers match if we're honest. The rest of the card fit together really well, so I had to find somewhere for these guys. A clash of styles for sure, but solid professional workers who could put together something great. Rees and Drake in particular make a great base for Fleisch, who wins. Rees and Drake probably don't fight that much—I might well put them together as a hench tag team down the road.

Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey

Arn has somewhat outdone me on this, but I've got a great big lads wrestling division. These two are a great example of that. Joe Coffey is one of my favourite guys, and Dave Mastiff is also a great wrestler too. He can bring the comedy, but against Coffey here he's going to be all business. A mean ol' bastard. These two will leather each other and throw each other about, and it will be great. Coffey will win, and likely wrestle Pete Dunne on the next show.

Jinny & Alex Windsor vs. Laura Di Matteo & Candyfloss

Again, it shows my PROGRESS bias—but I feel like I lucked out getting Jinny and Laura here. They have a history, they have had great matches together, and they can get my womens division off to a flying start. Alex Windsor is a great bruising heel, and Candyfloss has a ton of potential. She's very very young at the moment, but for her experience is coming on excellently.

Rampage Brown & Ashton Smith vs. Polo Promotions (Jackie Polo & Mark Coffey)

In the draft position I was in, tag teams were never going to be an option going in. I wrote off teams like the London Riots even though I would have liked them as singles too. However, after going early on Rampage Brown (another of my absolute favourites) and getting the Polos in back to back rounds, I picked up Ashton to give me tag team options.

Jack Sexsmith vs. Timothy Thatcher

More PROGRESS bias, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better babyface right now than Jack Sexsmith. He's such an amazing underdog, with an incredibly authentic personality that audiences the world over connect to. He's at his best with a super serious foil (see his matches with Zack Gibson), so enter Timothy Thatcher. Tim and his intense facial features will stretch Sexsmith in any number of ways, allowing Sexsmith to elicit all the sympathy in the world from the crowd. I'd give Sexsmith a fluke win here to get him up and running with a big scalp. Doug Williams, Iestyn Rees, and James Drake are other possible opponents for him down the road.

Tyler Bate vs. Doug Williams

As soon as this match popped into my head, I knew it had to be a big part of my card. This has happened twice before, but not for three years. That's nearly 20% of Tyler Bate's life or something! He's come on so much since then, this would be a real changing of the guard moment. Deadlift German Suplex vs. Chaos Theory Suplex, yes please.

Pete Dunne vs. Jimmy Havoc (No Disqualification)

Ripped straight from several PROGRESS main events earlier this year, Pete Dunne vs. Jimmy Havoc. Havoc would demand his rules, and Pete Dunne would be happy to oblige—just as he did at PROGRESS in March. These two gelled together really well, especially in that environment. Pete would show his vicious streak and beat Jimmy at his own game. Of course down the road there is only one match we're building to— a rematch of the WWE match of the year, Pete vs. Tyler.

So yeah, it is a little PROGRESS-heavy. It only has four people who've never been in PROGRESS, but it does feature some guys who haven't been there for a while and I certainly have a fondness for. Naturally in putting it together, the PROGRESS formula works for this group—hard-hitting action with a strong big lads division, young talent, and great storytelling.

[Robareid]

► Show Spoiler

Main Event Showdown
Toni Storm vs. Alpha Female
Toni Storm is widely regarded as the best women's wrestler in Europe, and by many as the best in the world. While she has the versatility to play either face or heel, I feel she's best served with the crowd on her side since she's so rootable for. So who better to pair her up than probably the most imposing woman in wrestling today: Alpha Female. She's the perfect woman to put across from Toni, as she's one of the few people who can physically dominate her. I have full faith that these two could put on a main event that nails that epic feel, having a more classic structure than I feel some of the matches below it would have which would perfectly cap off my first show.

High Flying Spectacular
Mark Andrews vs. Will Ospreay
I toyed with the idea of having these two face off against different people, I really did. We've seen this match a bunch of times, but it has been really good nearly every time. For my money, their matches together have been getting better too, with their most recent PROGRESS match being my favourite BritWres match of the year so far. Their styles are ideally suited to the semi-main event spot, allowing them to keep the pace really high and not overstay their welcome in any form. Fifteen minutes of amazing high flying to lead into an epic main event. Seems pretty good to me.

Tag Team War
Robert Dreissker & Emil Sitoci vs. El Ligero & Primate
I love me some big lads wrestling, so I have to confess I was a tad disappointed that I didn't manage to scoop up quite the tonnage I'd been hoping for in the draft. However, I did get Robert Dreissker and Primate, two of the best and simultaneously most underexposed power wrestlers in Europe. You've got all the makings of a great Southern style tag here. Dreissker is the perfect man to dominate Ligero (who might be the best seller on the scene so who better to have as babyface in peril?) during the heat segment, while Sitoci brings the necessary slime to rile up the crowd and make you want to root for the tag all the more. Then who wouldn't want to see Primate on the hot tag running wild on Sitoci? I know I would.

Battle for the Future
Josh Bodom vs. Marius Al-Ani
These might well be the two hottest prospects on the UK scene, they're definitely both up there. They also fit perfectly together, in that their styles will mesh together and Bodom is a natural heel to Al-Ani's natural face. A ten minute super-high intensity sprint between these two is exactly what I want bringing me back from the break. This'd be the start of a long time rivalry between the two, which I'd use to slowly elevate both guys up the card.

--Intermission--

The Rematch
Angelico vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
If you've seen their Fight Club Pro match you'll know why I'm booking this match. I admit Angelico is somewhat hit and miss in singles, but by God does he click with Zack. I believe the great Alan4L has gone on record saying that this is his second favourite European match. The perfect first half main event.

April Davids vs. Rhia O'Reilly
By nature of picking four women each, after you pick your top women's match the other one does somewhat become "what is left". I'm delighted with this match though. April Davids is great, and she's something different with her martial arts background, but still a tad inexperienced so having a veteran like O'Reilly is perfect. This'll be that good hard hitting shit.

Bubblegum vs. Cash Money Erkan
Erkan was my wildcard pick. He's a young, relatively inexperienced, guy who I've seen a handful of times and I know most of you will never have watched any of. He also happens to be like six foot eight yet can move around the ring as well as anybody. I like that. I like that a lot. Throwing him in here with a veteran in Bubblegum (not retired, it was an angle, my mistake, phew) seems like a safe bet for a good match.

Kings of the North vs. Hunter Brothers
Two of the best tag teams on the scene. Both underexposed. The Kings have amazing presence and are great heels. The Hunters have amazing matches, especially with big lads. Which the Kings are. Happy days.

Bad Bones vs. Zack Gibson
I want to kick off my show with the Gibson promo. Fire the crowd up at the beginning of the show. Then in comes Bad Bones, and makes him pay like only he can. Yay.
Some Overall Thoughts:
I considered main eventing with Andrews-Ospreay, but I felt that stylistically Ospreay-Andrews fits better as a semi-main and Storm-Alpha to the main. Actually for my whole second half I think I've got some good variety. All four matches would have a different style. You've got a hard hitting sprint, a classic structured tag, a high flying spectacle and an epic main event. I like that variety.

[Robareid]

► Show Spoiler

This is Alan's post:

So my picks heavily reflect the live graps I've been watching this year - mostly ATTACK! and Fight Club: PRO - as well as some perennial favourites and people who've wowed me on tape. I got the call up to take part late but believe me... I was ready!


1. Six-Way Scramble
Soner Dursun vs TK Cooper vs Kip Sabian vs Chris Ridgeway vs Kenny Williams vs Ryan Smile

Always open with a multi-man, that's the wisdom of my years watching this game we call graps. And what better way than with the basis of my junior heavyweight division, showing their wares in a thrill-a-minute spotfest. Feuds will spin out of this...


2. Unleash The Beast
Michael Dante vs El Phantasmo

I drafted Michael Dante to be a monster, far bigger than anyone else on my roster and stunning in his array of offensive moves. Phantasmo will play the perfect foil for the big man's debut, before slotting into the junior heavyweight ranks.


3. Jetta's Trial

Chakara vs Jetta

As the veteran of the women's scene (as long as you conveniently ignore Saraya), Jetta will be putting my girls through their paces, starting with promising rookie Chakara.


4. Building The Foundation

Travis Banks & Omari vs Nathan Cruz & Earl Black Jr

Travis Banks was my number one pick, and I was stoked to get him. I'm buildin the whole promotion around him, as a babyface territory, and his first feud will be against minions controlled by Nathan Cruz, with this tag-team match a perfect way to get all the players onto the board.


5. Good vs Evil

Viper vs Dahlia Black

Although she can, ahem, swing both ways, Viper will be the hero of my women's division, and Dhalia Black will nicely counter her on the evil side. I envision a series down the line...


6. The Tag-Teams

Mike Bird & Wild Boar vs Bowl-A-Rama

With only 18 names available, tag-team were at a premium and so I picked two from opposite ends of the spectrum to establish my division. Expect them to be joined down the line by combinations from the junior heavyweights, including a rule-bending TK Cooper & Dahlia Black...


7. The Main Event

Chris Brookes vs Grado

As Banks will be the foundation of the territory, he needs a counter, and Brookes was my first choice as absolute rotter. First, though, he'll get everybody's favourite, Grado, to kick things off with a bang.

[Robareid]