F-A-N spells "fan", but it also stands for "Fan Appreciation Night", where KPW gives back to the fans! On 11 March 2011 at Wellington High School. Kiwi Pro Wrestling is kicking off 2011 with a Fan Appreciation Night, one massive night of pro-wrestling action where there's one low price! Tickets for fans over 12 years are $10 each, under 12s are free (when accompanied by an adult). There'll also be the oppertunity to get the autograph of your favourite KPW stars! Currently (card subject to change), a packed card of wrestling action is on offer with nine matches which include the debut of no less than three new KPW wrestlers: Wild Willz, Mako and Bull Addams. Topping the bill is the match for the KPW Championship, a match like no other!
If memory serves, the last time there was a Triple Threat KPW Championship match was back in 2007 at "Kaos Theory", and the defending champ managed to walk away with the belt. Will history favour the Technician? He did the seemingly impossible and unseated Max "the Axe" Damage and staved off the challenge of Jade Diamond one-on-one, further cementing his dynasty. Never one to be outdone, H-Flame came back with a victory over Inferno at the last show to be crowned number one contender. H-Flame loves the fans and they love his cockiness, power, speed, agility and technical ability. Can the "international superstar" use their support to become king of the mountain again?
Of course, the "elephant in the room" who could shatter both wrestlers' dreams is this "Mystery Man", who has suddenly emerged and who seems to have everybody's number. Surely he's the X-Factor for which neither H-Flame nor the Technician can be fully prepared. In a Triple Threat match, the line between alliances and allies is often blurred, making the outcome difficult to predict - which is all part of the excitement! With the KPW Championship on the line, there's everything at stake for the Mystery Man and the "international superstar" H-Flame. No-one trains harder than the Technician and no-one can unleash power like H-Flame, but will the Mystery Man be able to bridge the gap and come away with the KPW Championship? KPW is all about surprises and at "Fan Appreciation Night", this match is all set to deliver!
In a recent interview with Kade Morgan, I pointed out that even though he's one half of the KPW Tag Team Champions and a third-generation wrestler, he might be underestimating his opponent. Personally, I think Mr Samoa has the potential to be the "next big thing": he's got the size, the speed, the power and he loves to wrestle in front of the fans. Kade Morgan has the pedigree of previous generations, a perfect blend of grappling and skill, marred with a disdain for the fans. Since his recent debut, I know that Mr Samoa has been eager to take on more experienced opponents; he's attacking the roster with the same infectous enthusiam and "island styles" that he brings to the ring. Kade Morgan is equally keen to cement his spot in the KPW totem but stopping Mr Samoa's momentum before it's begun. At "Fan Appreciation Night", with the fans behind him, will Mr Samoa roll over Kade Morgan like a minor speedbump on the way to the top, or will "3G" cut the big man down to size?
With his tag-team partner out at the moment, the "Young Lion" has turned his attention to singles competition. Dane King may boast that he's the best, but he always strives to live up to that claim, and the fans love him for it! Conversely, Jimmy Fox enjoys a love-hate relationship with the KPW fans. He'd love to be adored by them, but his arrogance always spills over into rage that they can't understand they should be "fixated" on him. Make no mistake, Jimmy Fox is a proven wrestler in singles and tag team competition, with an amazing array of moves and insults. There's nothing he enjoys more than sticking it to the fans who won't cheer for him by winning a match any way he can. For his part, the relative newcomer Dane King knows he needs wins to rise in the rankings, and I know he'd love the chance to show up Jimmy Fox in front of the KPW fans. When these two colourful characters collide in the KPW ring, anything can happen and probably will!
Everybody knows "The Ayotollah of High Rollas" has no time for the KPW fans - he believes he can afford better friends! Roberts is a young man who can afford all the best things in life, who strives through hard work and ruthlessness to be the very best. He's got everything going for him - why be humble? Who needs the KPW fans when you're the "King of Bling"? Having the best training and keenest mind means that Charlie Roberts can work a match from any angle and take out an opponent from any direction, usually by foul means rather then fair. Wild Willz doesn't need any of that flashy stuff. He's all about raw power, raw speed and raw meat! It was this raw potential that impressed the KPW trainers at the "Wild 4 Wrestling" training school. Though inexperienced, Wild Willz has excellent speed and aerial ability that will make him a formidable opponent. The wild man with the distinctive shaggy hair will be hungry for a win in his KPW debut to impress the fans, whereas Charlie Roberts will be seeking to let his experience and cunning guide him to a victory!
If the quick and nimble El Condor can keep his distance and his head, the flighty fan favourite may have a chance against the awesome power of his straitjacketed opponent. El Condor is fierce and fearless, but the KPW mainstay will have to bring his "hit and run" game to bear against the Brute. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out yet again that the Brute is a second-generation wrestler with a wealth of grappling experience. His ability to absorb punishment is prodigious - the harder he gets hit, the harder he hits back! His massive strength is such that a single move can stun an opponent. Come "Fan Appreciation Night", will the masked man be flying high, or be stuffed and mounted by the rope-chewing Brute?
He's been around, he's had his ups and downs and now the masked journeyman of KPW DR Diablo faces a graduate from the KPW "Wild 4 Wrestling" training school: Mako! The young man from Canon's Creek was a standout at the training school with his ability to unleash a titanic burst of speed and power that flattened most opponents. Coupled with his agility and ferocity, does Mako have hat it takes to be a break-out star? Diablo has the ability to absorb punishment and stay in the fight through sheer tenacity, but will it be enough against the debuting Mako? Can the good Doctor keep the momentum from his last win going? Can Diablo keep a cool head and prevail, or will he be the first victim to Mako's rampage?
"Fan Appreciation Night" will be a big night for Lazarus Volt. The ex-ringmaster was born to perform for an audience and he feeds off the cheers of the fans to take the fight to his often bigger opponents. This time, the "little man from the big top" will be facing big bull from the Bay of Plenty, Bull Adams. Strangely enough, Addams will be making his KPW debut against the man who discovered him and trained him at the High Wire Wrestling School - Lazarus Volt himself! Bull Addams has the will and the skill, but his talent remains an unproven quality. Don't ever sell Lazarus Volt short - he was undefeated in his rookie year in singles competition and gone on to make his reputation by taking on and taking down bigger men. But Bull Addams didn't come all the way from Tonga to KPW to be toppled in his very first match - at "Fan Appreciation Night", the circle will be complete, and maybe the student will become the master!
The culmination of a year's bitter feud, this match will prove that there's no more bitter enemies than former team-mates. Their last encounter at 2010's "February's Feud" left the Queen with such a bad taste in her mouth that - obviously unbalanced - she embarked on a brutal spree of revenge-by-transference with repeated assaults on Nurse Payne. Having suffered the involuntary retirement of partner-in-crime Jonnie Juice and knowing Jessie's still around seemed to drive the Queen over the edge. Driven by revenge, the none-too-regal Queen Hollie would love to stamp her royal seal into ex-Team Pretty team-mate Jessie! The KPW fans have never been shy about letting Queen Hollie know how little they care for her, and she's never been shy about treating the "commoners" with royal disdain! Jessie is known to followers of KPW's "Off The Ropes" as someone who can take their time with a plan, namely going undercover as Queen Hollie's intern "Suki Gogo" to set up the long-time foe for a fall. With the crowd on her side, they'd love to see the young firebrand take the Queen down a peg or two, and at "Fan Appreciation Night", they might just get their wish!
Having worked well as a unit and largely cheated their way to a victory at the last show, the titanic team of Irishman MIKE RYAN and "Wonderful" WILBA FORCE look all set to continue their winning ways. On paper, the team is the perfect combination of Ryan's extensive experience and brutality and Force's power and size. In the ring, they know how to cut the ring in half, run interference and just brutalise an opponent in a one-sided blitzkrieg on the way to securing a victory - and the heck with the fans if they don't like the cheating! Look for the Golden Greek himself at ringside, the Mediteranian Machiavelli with the master plan and no qualms about interfering to help his team secure a win and ensure his hegemony in KPW! However, Ryan and Force might well recieve a much-needed reality check at "Fan Appreciation Night"! They'll face high-flying and agile Whetu the Maori Warrior and nigh-unstoppable "Powerhouse" Jade Diamond. This "mighty team", beloved by the fans for their team-work, devastating manoeuvres and risk-taking, are the same duo that fought the current KPW tag team champions The Renegades to a standstill on a number of thrilling occasions. Under the expert tutilege of "On The Mat" veteran and original Maori Warrior, Whetu and Diamond have gone from strength to strength, but will it be enough to topple the terrible trio of Mike Ryan, Wilba Force and Terry the Golden Greek?
With nine matches of such calibre, Kiwi Pro Wrestling is all set to put on a showcase event for the fans to show them how much we appreciate their past and future enthusiasm and support! As always, the card is subject to change. This is Blair the Flair (on behalf of Alex "Danger" Donahue) saying, "Thanks for your support and I'll see you at ringside!"
BLAIR the FLAIR.