Frontier Wrestling Alliance
Encyclopedia
Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) is a British
professional wrestling
promotion
. Established in 1993 as the Fratton Wrestling Association it soon became the Frontier Wrestling Alliance six years later and until 2007 when it lost a scripted inter-promotional feud with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
. As a result of losing the promotion was forced to close and the company XWA
was founded, largely based on the old FWA with some old staff and wrestlers as well as some championships. However, in 2009 the FWA brand was relaunched again as a separate promotion to the XWA.
in an attempt to create a forum for serious wrestling training and performance based in Portsmouth. Renaming the promotion to the Fratton Wrestling Alliance 1999, it experienced a renovation that geared it towards national expansion and promoted its first show in February of that year, changing to Frontier Wrestling Alliance by the second show in June. The promotion soon produced a regional television programme in Portsmouth as well as founding a training academy to create its own talent. The emphasis on new wrestlers organically led to an early storyline of new, internationally-influenced wrestling clashing with traditional British wrestling with some veterans brought in to help promote FWA's own performers.
The company created a British championship later that year and in 2000 also crowned tag team champions
as it continued to expand, performing across the south of the country. By August FWA began promoting shows with foreign talent, initially Sabu and Dan Severn
, which it would continue to do so during its first run by cross promoting with other promotions. This eventually led to the British Heavyweight Championship being won by American wrestler Christopher Daniels
, the belt being defended on international soil and a joint-promoted event with American independent promotion Ring of Honor
in 2003. The company used international stars to gain notoriety and were further aided in advertisement when Alex Shane
became a regular presenter on national talk radio station Talksport
, aiding the company's expansion into the north of England. The ties with Talksport became important when FWA promoted a show from the Crystal Palace Indoor Arena
that was broadcast live on radio and later on national television, through Bravo.
In late 2006, FWA entered into a scripted feud with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
(IPW:UK) when FWA wrestlers invaded IPW:UK's annual Brawl At The Hall event and took some of the locker room hostage. In the elimination tag team contest, Team FWA beat Team IPW:UK and proclaimed war on the company. As the rivalry intensified over the next few months, wrestlers from both rosters had matches in both promotions and neutral ground with FWA gaining the early advantage. After months of clashes three events were held under joint banners with the final show, IPW:UK vs. FWA: Final Frontiers, booked for a match between IPW's Martin Stone
and an unnamed FWA wrestler to with both companies' future on the line. The show featured lots of in-fighting, including the two commentators breaking out into a brawl and ended with the mystery FWA wrestler being revealed as the retired former FWA British Heavyweight Champion Flash Barker who lost the match, resulting in FWA folding in March 2007.
and Mark Kay held a press conference and formed a new promotion named XWA alluding to their former company but insisting the two had a different ethos, with the new company gearing its product towards family entertainment rather than being adult orientated. Despite only basing their promotion on the former company, XWA inherited the physical British Heavyweight and Flyweight Championship belts from FWA and continued to use them, promising to also resurrect the FWA Tag Team Championship
, though they never would. However, in April 2009 at XWA's War On The Shore V, Lambert finally announced the creation of XWA's own British Heavyweight Championship belts and gave the FWA belt to Alex Shane, making his only appearance at an XWA event, while Shane presented the new physical title to the winner of the evening's championship match, Sam Slam.
On 13 February, 2010 at the British Uproar event in Broxbourne, Martin Stone defeated Andy Simmonz in the tournament finals to become the first FWA World Heavyweight Champion. He subsequently turned heel
and formed a faction called "The Agenda", whose aims are to decimate the UK's top talent in order to showcase their skills to the large American wrestling companies and earn a lucrative contract as a result. At the European Uprising show in Birmingham on 20th November 2010, Alex Shane turned heel and revealed it was he who was the real leader of the Agenda.
, with the yellow card serving as a warning, and any red card
offence resulting in disqualification. Piledrivers
are banned under FWA rules and can result in a fine as well as disqualification.
Teams:
The Agenda (Greg Lambert, Alex Shane, Martin Stone, Joel Redman, Iestyn Rees, Dave Moralez, David Deville, Colossus)
The Resistance (Leroy Kincaide, Jonny Storm, Sha Samuels, Terry Frazier, El Ligero, Nick Riley)
LDRS of The New School (Zack Sabre Jr. and Marty Scurll)
The Kartel (Sha Samuels, Terry Frazier)
Stixx and Malen (Stixx, Paul Malen)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. Established in 1993 as the Fratton Wrestling Association it soon became the Frontier Wrestling Alliance six years later and until 2007 when it lost a scripted inter-promotional feud with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom is a British professional wrestling promotion. Daniel Edler is the majority owner, chairman and founder of the company. The company was established in 2004 and since their foundation they have held monthly shows in Orpington, Kent...
. As a result of losing the promotion was forced to close and the company XWA
XWA (professional wrestling)
XWA is a British professional wrestling promotion, based in the English north west seaside town of Morecambe, Lancashire, dealing primarily in the professional wrestling industry...
was founded, largely based on the old FWA with some old staff and wrestlers as well as some championships. However, in 2009 the FWA brand was relaunched again as a separate promotion to the XWA.
First run
The FWA initially started out as the Fratton Wrestling Association in 1993 by Mark SloanMark Sloan
Mark Sloan is a British professional wrestler. Sloan is best known for his work with the Frontier Wrestling Alliance due to founding the promotion and being head trainer in the company's training academy, FWA Academy....
in an attempt to create a forum for serious wrestling training and performance based in Portsmouth. Renaming the promotion to the Fratton Wrestling Alliance 1999, it experienced a renovation that geared it towards national expansion and promoted its first show in February of that year, changing to Frontier Wrestling Alliance by the second show in June. The promotion soon produced a regional television programme in Portsmouth as well as founding a training academy to create its own talent. The emphasis on new wrestlers organically led to an early storyline of new, internationally-influenced wrestling clashing with traditional British wrestling with some veterans brought in to help promote FWA's own performers.
The company created a British championship later that year and in 2000 also crowned tag team champions
FWA Tag Team Championship
The Frontier Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested for in the British Frontier Wrestling Alliance promotion. The title was only contestable by male tag teams and in tag team matches...
as it continued to expand, performing across the south of the country. By August FWA began promoting shows with foreign talent, initially Sabu and Dan Severn
Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the...
, which it would continue to do so during its first run by cross promoting with other promotions. This eventually led to the British Heavyweight Championship being won by American wrestler Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
, the belt being defended on international soil and a joint-promoted event with American independent promotion Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
in 2003. The company used international stars to gain notoriety and were further aided in advertisement when Alex Shane
Alex Shane
Alexander Daniel Spilling is a British professional wrestler who is best known by his ring name "The Ascension" Alex Shane. Spilling also works as a promoter and wrestling teacher.-Early career:...
became a regular presenter on national talk radio station Talksport
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
, aiding the company's expansion into the north of England. The ties with Talksport became important when FWA promoted a show from the Crystal Palace Indoor Arena
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
that was broadcast live on radio and later on national television, through Bravo.
In late 2006, FWA entered into a scripted feud with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom is a British professional wrestling promotion. Daniel Edler is the majority owner, chairman and founder of the company. The company was established in 2004 and since their foundation they have held monthly shows in Orpington, Kent...
(IPW:UK) when FWA wrestlers invaded IPW:UK's annual Brawl At The Hall event and took some of the locker room hostage. In the elimination tag team contest, Team FWA beat Team IPW:UK and proclaimed war on the company. As the rivalry intensified over the next few months, wrestlers from both rosters had matches in both promotions and neutral ground with FWA gaining the early advantage. After months of clashes three events were held under joint banners with the final show, IPW:UK vs. FWA: Final Frontiers, booked for a match between IPW's Martin Stone
Martin Stone
Martin Stone may refer to:*Martin Stone , British professional wrestler*Martin Stone , actor in British TV serial The Chronicles of Narnia*Martin Stone , guitarist and literary expert...
and an unnamed FWA wrestler to with both companies' future on the line. The show featured lots of in-fighting, including the two commentators breaking out into a brawl and ended with the mystery FWA wrestler being revealed as the retired former FWA British Heavyweight Champion Flash Barker who lost the match, resulting in FWA folding in March 2007.
Closure and XWA
After the FWA went out of business, Greg LambertGreg Lambert
Greg Lambert is a professional wrestling manager, journalist, promoter and ring announcer.-Early years:From 1990-1994, Lambert studied English and History at Keele University...
and Mark Kay held a press conference and formed a new promotion named XWA alluding to their former company but insisting the two had a different ethos, with the new company gearing its product towards family entertainment rather than being adult orientated. Despite only basing their promotion on the former company, XWA inherited the physical British Heavyweight and Flyweight Championship belts from FWA and continued to use them, promising to also resurrect the FWA Tag Team Championship
FWA Tag Team Championship
The Frontier Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested for in the British Frontier Wrestling Alliance promotion. The title was only contestable by male tag teams and in tag team matches...
, though they never would. However, in April 2009 at XWA's War On The Shore V, Lambert finally announced the creation of XWA's own British Heavyweight Championship belts and gave the FWA belt to Alex Shane, making his only appearance at an XWA event, while Shane presented the new physical title to the winner of the evening's championship match, Sam Slam.
Rebirth
Despite being on the losing end of the battle with IPW:UK and the XWA promotion purportedly taking its lineage, in May 2009, over two years after its original demise, Tony Simpson and Alex Shane announced their intention to revive the national promotion. They held their comeback show, New Frontiers, in early August with matches designed to crown a new FWA World Champion and FWA Flyweight Champion.On 13 February, 2010 at the British Uproar event in Broxbourne, Martin Stone defeated Andy Simmonz in the tournament finals to become the first FWA World Heavyweight Champion. He subsequently turned heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and formed a faction called "The Agenda", whose aims are to decimate the UK's top talent in order to showcase their skills to the large American wrestling companies and earn a lucrative contract as a result. At the European Uprising show in Birmingham on 20th November 2010, Alex Shane turned heel and revealed it was he who was the real leader of the Agenda.
Rules
The promotion follows the same rules as seen in most of professional wrestling but has adopted the penalty card system from footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, with the yellow card serving as a warning, and any red card
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
offence resulting in disqualification. Piledrivers
Piledriver (professional wrestling)
A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. The most common piledrivers are the basic belly-to-back, or Texas piledriver, and the...
are banned under FWA rules and can result in a fine as well as disqualification.
Roster
- Alex ShaneAlex ShaneAlexander Daniel Spilling is a British professional wrestler who is best known by his ring name "The Ascension" Alex Shane. Spilling also works as a promoter and wrestling teacher.-Early career:...
(Also FWA Head of Content) - Martin StoneMartin Stone (wrestler)Martin Harris, better known by his ring name Martin Stone is a British professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling under Frontier Wrestling Alliance , International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom , Real Quality Wrestling and various other promotions throughout the United Kingdom,...
- Joel RedmanJules RedmanJoel Pettyfer , better known by his ring name Joel Redman, is a British professional wrestler, who is best known for his work on the independent circuit in the United Kingdom...
- Leroy Kincaide
- Doug WilliamsDoug Williams (wrestler)Douglas Clayton Durdle is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Doug Williams. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Douglas Williams...
- Zack Sabre, Jr.
- Marty ScurllMarty ScurllMarty Scurll is an English professional wrestler from Ely, Cambridgeshire. He regularly wrestles for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom, All Star Wrestling, Premier Promotions, Live Wrestling Entertainment and many more. Alongside Zack Sabre, Jr...
- Andrew SimmonzAndrew SimmonsAndrew Simmons , better known by his ring name Andy Boy Simmonz, is a British professional wrestler. He is currently working in the independent circuit in the United Kingdom for several promotions. Simmons' most high profile work in the UK came in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance under the face...
- Iestyn Rees
- Dave Moralez
- Jonny StormJonny StormJonathan Whitcombe is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jonny Storm. He has worked for many independent promotions across the United Kingdom, including the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, Real Quality Wrestling and One Pro Wrestling...
- El LigeroEl LigeroSimon Musk is a British professional wrestler better known by his ring name El Ligero. He has been regarded as one of the top wrestlers currently wrestling in Europe.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Jody FleischJody FleischJerome Fleisch is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jody Fleisch. He is best known for his work with the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, One Pro Wrestling and Real Quality Wrestling...
- Sha Samuels
- Terry Frazier
- Mark HaskinsMark HaskinsMark Haskins , is an English professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is also known for his appearances in Dragon Gate.-Total Nonstop Action Wrestling :...
- CJ Banks
- Joey Hayes
- Rockstar SpudJames CurtinJames Curtin , better known by his ring name Spud, is a British professional wrestler. Curtin, known for his small stature, is considered the smallest mainstream wrestler in the United Kingdom....
- BubblegumPhil BlitzPhilip Cartner , better known by his ring name Bubblegum, is a British professional wrestler. He has wrestled in many independent promotions within the United Kingdom but he is perhaps best known for his work in Norton British Wrestling, and his television exposer with Frontier Wrestling Alliance,...
- Darren BurridgeDarren BurridgeGreg Burridge is a semi-retired British professional wrestler. He is best known for his work on the independent circuit throughout the United Kingdom.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Johnny Moss
- Jon Ryan
- Stixx
- Paul Malen
- Nick Riley
- Kris Travis
- Sam Bailey
- Shane Oldham
- Axl Rage
- Colossus
Teams:
The Agenda (Greg Lambert, Alex Shane, Martin Stone, Joel Redman, Iestyn Rees, Dave Moralez, David Deville, Colossus)
The Resistance (Leroy Kincaide, Jonny Storm, Sha Samuels, Terry Frazier, El Ligero, Nick Riley)
LDRS of The New School (Zack Sabre Jr. and Marty Scurll)
The Kartel (Sha Samuels, Terry Frazier)
Stixx and Malen (Stixx, Paul Malen)
Current championships
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won | Event | Defeated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA World Heavyweight Championship | Held by The Agenda | 13 February, 2010 | British Uproar | Andy Simmonz |
| FWA Flyweight Championship | TBD | Vacant | ||
Championships in other companies
| Championship | Last FWA Champion | Date won | Current champion | Current promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Heavyweight Championship | Robbie Brookside Robbie Brookside Robert Edward Brooks , better known by his ring name Robbie Brookside, is a British professional wrestler. He has toured all over the world during his career including such countries as the United States, Japan, Germany, and Mexico... |
15 July, 2006 | Spud | XWA XWA (professional wrestling) XWA is a British professional wrestling promotion, based in the English north west seaside town of Morecambe, Lancashire, dealing primarily in the professional wrestling industry... |
| British Flyweight Championship | Ross Jordan Ross Jordan Ross Jones, better known by his ring name Ross Jordan, is a British professional wrestler. He is currently working under the ring name RJ Singh... |
10 December, 2006 | Spud James Curtin James Curtin , better known by his ring name Spud, is a British professional wrestler. Curtin, known for his small stature, is considered the smallest mainstream wrestler in the United Kingdom.... |
XWA |
| All England Championship | Sam Slam | 25 March, 2007 | Leroy Kincaide | International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom is a British professional wrestling promotion. Daniel Edler is the majority owner, chairman and founder of the company. The company was established in 2004 and since their foundation they have held monthly shows in Orpington, Kent... |
Defunct Championships
| Championship | Date created | First champion(s) | Date retired | Last champions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA European Union Championship FWA European Union Championship The FWA European Union Championship was a short-lived mid-card title contested for in the professional wrestling promotion, Frontier Wrestling Alliance.... |
2000 | Stuart "Fury" Farrimond | 9 July 2001 | Scottie Rock |
| XPW European Championship XPW European Championship The Xtreme Pro Wrestling European Heavyweight Championship is a former professional wrestling title defended in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance.The championship was created in 2003 through a working relationship between XPW and the FWA... |
16 March 2003 | Jonny Storm Jonny Storm Jonathan Whitcombe is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jonny Storm. He has worked for many independent promotions across the United Kingdom, including the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, Real Quality Wrestling and One Pro Wrestling... |
28 November 2004 | Jonny Storm |
| FWA Tag Team Championship FWA Tag Team Championship The Frontier Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested for in the British Frontier Wrestling Alliance promotion. The title was only contestable by male tag teams and in tag team matches... |
24 March 2000 | The New Breed |
20 October 2006 | Stixx and Stone |
| FWA Academy Championship | 28 June 2003 | James Tighe | 27 January 2007 | LT Summers |
| FWA Academy Tag Team Championship | 25 November 2005 | Mark Sloan & Ollie Burns | 27 January 2007 | Mark Sloan & Ollie Burns |
Defunct accomplishments
| Accomplishment | Latest winner | Date won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Rush | Jonny Storm | 3 February, 2007 | Now competed for in XWA |
| King of England | Jody Fleisch Jody Fleisch Jerome Fleisch is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jody Fleisch. He is best known for his work with the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, One Pro Wrestling and Real Quality Wrestling... |
9 February 2002 | One-off tournament |
| Round Robin tournament | Jody Fleisch | 31 July 2005 |