German catch

[David Mantell]

Quote

I enjoyed this match and will come back at some stage to do a blow by blow account as there's enough interesting detail here to warrant it.

 

OK here goes.  First up though, the theme music Simply Irresistible, originally the ring entrance music for white meat babyface Jeff Jarrett in that other CWA and in the USWA around this time. There are dining tables on the hard cam side and sounds of plates being scraped throughout.

Round 1 gets down to business with a bunch of cross buttock presses, mostly by Wright. Bernie gets a toe and ankle hold. Markus throws him with his feet but Bernie cartwheels out with ease.  Bernie gets a Headlock into side Chancery throw and crosspress for 2. He is pressed off and nearly lands on Didi who is not amused. Bernie tries the full nelson into snapmare into crosspress, again narrowly missing Didi.  Bernie gets a side chancery, Markus resists the throw but Wright gets it and the 2 in the end  Wright gets a double legdive and tums Markus over into a reverse double leg nelson, almost a folding for 2.  He gets a side bodyscissors, turning his man over for a couple more 2 counts then sliding him forward off a bridge for another one.  Markus tries bridging back for a fall but the bell goes.

Round 2  and Bernie gets a full nelson. Throwing him off doesn't work. Markus gets his escape by some means we can't see as Bernie is in the way.  Bernie lands a forearm smash and a lunge to Bucholz's stomach, then two more forearm smashes. Markus gets a snapmare into guillotine elbowsmash.  Bernie gets a drop toehold and a sideways on surfboard, releasing after Markus had resisted long enough. He posts Markus and delivers an over the knee backbreaker. a snapmare into chinlock. Markus breaks open the chinlock into a wrist lever but Wright rolls back and forth.  He cartwheels and somersaults in the lever before monkey climbing his man. But Markus still has the wrist, so Bernie kips up, unpicks the arm with his foot, snapmares and lengthwise covers Markus who bridges out, so Bernie snapmares Markus who again bridges out.  They log roll in stalemate. Didi leaps over them but trips as they reverse direction.  It winds up with Bernie in a bridge over Didi.  The bell goes

Round 3:   They are running back and forth.  Bernie gets a cross buttocks throw and press for 2.  He gets a wristlever, Markus rolls out and gets Bernie's arm, dragging him down to the guard with a top wristlock. Bernie kips up but Markus drags him down. He kips up again, turns on a front wristlock into the armbar and rolls forwards, cartwheels back and forth and snapmares Markus. Bernie gets a semi Japanese Stranglehold, unrolls it and bodychecks Bucholz.  He gets another armbar and smashes an elbow or two and some knees right in the joint.  He flattens Markus into a hammerlock flat in the mount. He continues the hammerlock as Markus tries to find an escape, in the end Bernie releases the younger man who is still selling his shoulder.  They finger Interlock and from there, Bernie picks off one side wi gets another hammerlock with bar and a high whip, forcing a somersault into bump, then follows with a long distance armdrag.  The bell saves Bucholz.

Round 4. They finger Interlock, Bernie picks off one side and scores a lean back dropkick.  He forces a gentle bump with a whip and puts on a short arm scissors.  He holds for some time, getting the odd 2 count until trying to armdrag and nearly getting caught in a folding press but pushing his man off into another short arm scissors and rolling him in the hold a good few times.  He turns himself again into the folding press position but Markus lifts him in a human glove (I have seen this done with midget wrestler Mark "Little Legs" Sealy before but not a fully grown opponent!) Markus eventually dumps Bernie hard on the mat. Bernie congratulates him for this power move. Bernie gets a side headlock throws his man to the ropes and bodychecks him on the rebound.   Marcus gets in a couple of good armdrags and side chancery throws before Wright gets a monkey climb but Bucholz lands feet first and they both fire a dropkick at the same time, both crash landing as the bell goes. The crowd gives standing ovation.

Round 5. Markus gets the upper hand from the initial lockup, slings Bernie in the ropes and backdrops him with Bernie taking quite a bump. Markus gets in two postings. He overpowers Bernie in a finger Interlock and forces him down but Bernie bridges as he hits the canvas and Markus tries to overload the bridge but Bernie can take the weight  and slip in a monkey climb underneath.  He rolls back into a double kneepress but Markus turns him over into a double leg nelson. It reverses back and forward with Markus getting a 2 on a folding press.  Markus gets a side headlock and runs the ropes, trying for a bodycheck but coming out the worst for it.  Bernie side chancery throws Bucholz but as they run the ropes, Markus ducks under then leapfrogs over then cross buttock throws Bernie and presses him for 2.  Bernie gets a side headlock and climbs the ropes and flips backwards like Kid McCoy's Yorkshire Rope Trick, lands in a position to go for the double leg nelson but Bucholz reverses it so Bernie turns it into a folding press held with a bridge for the one required pinfall.

Perhaps I was a bit too harsh on Markus Bucholz - he does do a couple of interesting moves, the human glove (great power move especially with a full sized opponent) and one decent rollout of an armbar plus keeping yup with back and forth folding press attempts a few times.  Most of this bout however was Bernie Wright and he carried the show. Bernie was as talented as brother Steve, he just didn't spend as much time in the territory as Steve did so had less opportunity to be the key influence.

[David Mantell]

A bit of an odd one here. Steve Regal and Dave Morgan in a TV studio having a sparring session on gym mats. A guy in a green pullover is refereeing.  Regal cannot speak German so does no talking, Morgan does speak German with a pronounced South Welsh ascent. 

This isn't a shoot by the way, it's a pro wrestling exhibition done on a mat.

They lock up and Dave armdrags Steve. Regal gets a crotchhold hold and slam on Morgan who is up at 2.  Regal forearm smashes, side chancery throws and chinlocks the older man who throws him off, getting a 2 count.  Morgan bodychecks Regal who retaliates with another forearm smash. Regal gets a double underhook suplex and cross press on Morgan who kicks out at two. Morgan gets a rear waistlock but Regal throws him off, keeping hold of the wrist as Morgan lands in the guard. Regal gets a top wristlock on the mat but Morgan turns over into a kneeling position, so Regal armdrags him over but he still gets up.  Morgan gets a grovit then switches to a side chancery throw, following up with a Legdrop of Doom.  Morgan gives Regal an inner arm blow and they slap each other a bit before the referee breaks things up. There is still some needle between them. End of Round 1,  I guess.

Morgan answers questions in his very accented German. (Don't ask me to translate.) A trainee in a loud mullet Jan Hind is also interviewed as is the referee.  I think Morgan mentions places he's tired including India, Japan and South Africa. He also comments in slow motion about Regal's side chancery throw into chinlock. 

Regal and Morgan lock up for a second round. Morgan gets an armlock but Regal moves in behind with pressure points. Morgan straightens the arm and for a moment it looks like Regal will roll out but instead he opts for a drop toehold. Morgan chops Regal on the back of the neck, gets a crossface and starts to "ride" Regal.He keeps grip of Regal despite his attempts to slip out the crossface and switches to a grovit. Regal suplexes him but Dave moves out the way of Steve's cross press attempt. Morgan gets an armbar despite Regal's attempt to get back the crossface. He superkicks Regal off.  Regal kicks and forearm smashes Morgan, flooring the Welshman.  They slap each other around. Regal gets a full Nelson then switches to side chancery. End of the second round.

Three women in the studio get interviewed. No idea what they say.  I think the interview asks if they fancy giving it a go! 

Nice little clip of a wrestling match in an unusual setting.

 

[Jetlag]

On 9/21/2025 at 6:34 PM, David Mantell said:

Blond giant Brit Dave Morgan didn't have his Maschke on and was in a good mood on this early 1983 show until a much smaller German called Gunther (not that one, he wasn't even born for another 4 years) Wagner stung him badly in this match.  It's a spliced together highlights package unfortunately but let's make the most of it.

 

Wagner is part of the same old school as Roland Bock, Axel Dieter Senior and Achim Challenge and he works the same methodical stoic style that was characteristic of German wrestling until Steve Wright changes things.  The David Vs Goliath angle here spruces things up somewhat. (Even if this Goliath happens to be called David.

 

 

You've got these two badly confused. Wagner is the taller German, and Dave Morgan is the shorter Brit, who notably spent a lot of time as a globe trotter and eventually settled in Germany. Wagners reputation as a worker really wasn't very good.

[David Mantell]

5 hours ago, Jetlag said:

 

You've got these two badly confused. Wagner is the taller German, and Dave Morgan is the shorter Brit, who notably spent a lot of time as a globe trotter and eventually settled in Germany. Wagners reputation as a worker really wasn't very good.

Thanks for clarifying.  I thnk I got confused by Dave still having dark hair at this point- blond Gunther looked more like the grey Morgan I was more familiar with.

[David Mantell]

From the Heumarkt in 1987. Various short snippets.

Indio takes his time to start a d gets caught in a Hammerlock when he does start and goes straight for a rope break.  Cut to Roll giving Guajaro a high whip but Indio making a feet first landing.   The two have a top wristlock battle. A round end sees Brasil sent back to his corner.  Guajaro attacks him from behind but the referee misses this and turns to see Brasil forearm smashing  Guajaro all around the ring and gives Rolo a yellow card. Guajaro does knock Rolo down in the next round. On a more positive note we see some good arm drags and a monkey climb. Indio gets tied in the ropes and the top of a corner but he overpowers Rolo's flying tackle attempt to get the pin.

Hard to follow as it's a patchwork of little clips. Some of which look promising.

 

[David Mantell]

On 5/25/2025 at 5:29 PM, David Mantell said:

In between we get.. highlights of what looks like the Birmingham Steve Logan versus Dave Morgan

And here is the full match:

Well nearly complete, there are a few seconds missing here and there from where shots are changed but only one of these skips any action.  It's also a good scientific match and a pallette cleanser from some of the bouts we've just just recently on the three Stronghold Euro Territories threads.  I'm a big fan of the Birmingham Steve Logan, it's a pity he never won any Mountevans titles but at least H3 got to spread his wings and see other territories.

Round 1:  Morgan gets a side headlock and takes it to the mat.  Logan is not secured and attempts a handstand escape at kneeling position so Morgan takes him up and cross buttock presses him back down still in the headlock. Logan tries to push him in the further nelson position and briefly has a headscissors on but it slips off.  Logan turns Morgan sideways into a folding press for th3n first pin attempt of the bout.  Morgan stands up and switches to front chancery but Logan straightens his arm and gives him the high whip and bump.  Morgan gets a single legdive and leg straightener, even briefly getting a 1 count, before Logan leg throws him and he spins out to land with a bump.  Morgan gets an armlock, armdrags Logan with it and develops it into a ground top wristlock. Logan gets up so Morgan armdrags him down again, making it a double top wristlock.  Logan again fails to get the headscissor but he turns over and gets up and, Impressively, especially for a bout between two British wrestlers, does the French style flying headscissor takedown. (Usually with the British, the flyer is thrown off to the ground whereas in France it's what they do Instead of rolling out of armbars.). Morgan gets a rear waistlock takedown into H&S (Sleeper) but modified it to a simple side chinlock. Logan tries wedging out and attacking Morgan's head, neither work.  Morgan stands up in the hold and Logan breaks it open into a standing top wristlock, forcing Morgan down in the guard.  Morgan somehow gets a headscissors (sadly it's too zoomed in to see how) . Logan bridges up and it forcing the headscissors open when the bell (Gong? Saucepan?) goes off. Morgan releases 

Round 2: Morgan tries a go-behind but Logan is too quick, so Morgan gets a nice sharp armdrags. Logan gets a standing side headlock into side chancery but Morgan twice blocks the throw. He briefly breaks the side chancery but Logan quickly reapplies and this time gets the throw and a good, sharp one it is too. Logan gets a further nelson into side folding press and gets a few 2 counts before Morgan rolls off. Sadly for no good reason we get a close up of the ref, missing vital action of how Morgan gets a double leg nelson.  The two Bascule back and forth getting 1 counts and two way leg presses. Logan rolls off and they shake hands; the Hamburg audience applauds.  Logan tries for a cross buttock throw but Morgan blocks and armdrags him, getting an armlock in the guard.  He gets up but Morgan resists attempts by Steve to throw his way out of the hold, even with assistance of the ropes. Logan tries for another French style headscissor takedown but this time it's the more normal British outcome - Morgan throws him off and he lands in a bodyslam position.  Morgan still has the arm in the guard.  Logan gets up to try a throw but all his efforts fail and he is bodyslammed back down - still in the armlock.  He stands again - and sadly CUT to the round break with Morgan's Corner where Morgan is limbering up.  Pity, I would like to have seen the end of that round.

Round 3  Morgan dodges various Logan lunges. He tries forca waistlock but Logan clamps in a front chancery first, switching to armbar, bashing Morgan in the back and flooring him with an elbowsmash to the rear of the shoulder joint.  He gets a back hammerlock and drops a knee on it, then cranks it up some more. Morgan stands up in the hammerlock and tries a reverse legdive but Logan dodges.  He eventually slips his free arm into Logan's armpit and gets a beautiful cross buttock throw and press for 2.  He gets a side headlock into another, less spectacular cross buttock throw into mat side headlock, pressing Logan's free arm down and getting a 1 before Logan gets his other arm free. He tries pressing both arms. Sadly the ref is in the way but it looks like Logan bridges up.   Morgan loads himself onto the bridge (it is indeed that, as a cut reveals).  and Logan pitches him off before they go into the Monkey Climb into double knee press spot, into a Morgan double arm stretch into a Logan folding press with bridge but somehow Morgan gets his head clear at 2. BIG round of applause from the crowd.  Morgan gets an armlock into front chancery, long suplex, cross press for 2.  He tries again with the cross press but Logan keeps getting a pesky arm or two up.  Morgan switches to sitting rear chinlock to standing side headlock to standing back hammerlock to legdive and crosspress for 2. He releases. to more applause, and gets a drop toehold just as the, er, Bell, let's call it that and have done with, goes. They shake hands.  

Round 4:  Morgan gets a rear waistlock into standing full nelson. Logan tries powering down with his biceps and grabbing his own leg for leverage (an old Johnny Saint trick) before rearing into Morgan to break the hold and coming back off the ropes with a sunset flip and double leg Nelson for two.  He goes for the left arm as a cover for a single kneelift to Morgan's chest then whips him to the ropes and. on the rebound, floors his man with a shoulderblock to the chest.  Morgan is barely up in time and straight into a side chancery. He blocks two throws but after Logan releases and reapplies, he finally gets the throw, finishing it with an H&S and adjusting to a side chinlock.   He switches to a long press pin attempt but Morgan double ankle chops him in the head and gets up. Morgan gets the wristlever and a hefty kick to the chest.  Morgan gets an underhook and crotchhold into a fisherman's suplrx, There is a bit missing of the impact but when it cuts back in, Morgan has the cross press and manages 2 before releasing Logan who is up at 6.  Morgan gets 3 forearm smashes before the referee blows his whistle to halt it.  He gets in another one and an axehandle to Logan's back, flooring him. He floors him with another forearm smash the n gets an underhook into whip to the ropes but  Logan comes back with a kneelift that floors Morgan.  Dave grabs the ropes from the guard position but Steve pulls him clear and lets him drop, an unusual spot for a clean match. Logan goes for a leg of his downed opponent but the ref warns him off.  Morgan on his back tries a legdive from the mat but apparently Logan, out of shot, dodges it. Logan is getting a little impatient, he briefly ties Morgan up in the ropes but the ref blows his whistle and warns him off.  The ref frees Morgan who quickly gets an abdominal stretch.  Logan tries unfastening the grapevine but the bell goes. Great round of applause from the crowd.

Round 5. Cut to Morgan with a reverse grovit in the mat. Cut again and he has switched it to a reverse chancery and gets a couple of 2s.  Logan struggles quite a bit, can't quite escape but disrupts and further progress to Morgan releases. Morgan gets a side chancery throw and shoulderblock but Logan drops down under the next charge, leapfrogs the one after and then gets a cross buttock throw and press for 2 before Morgan kicks out.  He jabs Steve in the stomach, gets a side chancery, ignores two Logan inner forearm blows to the chest, a chop and another inner arm before finally getting the throw, but Logan leapfrogs and leg flips Morgan then dropkicks him out of the ring, flips him back in over the ropes and forearm smashes him before Morgan gets an inner arm and single kneelift to floor Logan for 4. Morgan gets a double underhook suplex and crosspress but Logan swiftly has an arm up. He keeps trying but gets no more than 1s and is looking a little frustrated when the bell goes to end it all Time limit no score draw. Another big round of applause. Both men are exhausted but shake and raise hands to a standing ovation.

There, that was pretty good. Funny how the first really good scientific match lately (after the Dean/Barrett brawl and the Andre/Valois big man antics) is on the German thread, the territory that specialises more in hearty brutal brawls.  Not to deny we've had a few technical classics like StClair Vs Wright 1986, Owen Vs Tony 1990,  Schumann Vs Liger 1992 and Kovacs Vs Cross 1999 on here.  But it's nice to see that even the drunken, sausage stuffed Oktoberfest etc revellers can appreciate the higher end of wrestling.

 

 

 

[David Mantell]

 

0:18 of this 1948 clip - years before Gilbert Leduc, this guy does a perfect toupie.  FAO @Phil Lions who might be able to fill in a few blanks of toupie pre-Leduc.

[David Mantell]

It's been a bit of a while since we saw in action one of my favourite journeyman heels of Germany/Austria Helmut Lukestik.  Here he faces a smaller,younger, budgie  haired.guy called Freddy Barnes in a darkened tent, illuminated only by a curious inverted pyramid light fitting directly over the ring at Austria's 1989 Volkevestcup.  Helmut is looking unusually flamboyant with a bleached mullet and shiny golden tights but the moustache should make him recognisable.

Round 1 (presumably) is JIP with Helm choking Fred who is tied up in the ropes.  When the ref frees Fred, Helm simply ties him on another side. He boots Barney around the shiny black mat til the bell goes. 

Round 2 and Fred gives Helmut some of his own treatment on the third side and in the corner until Helmut bangs him down and chokes him on the ropes, earning himself a public warning (no sign of cards.) He continues the beatdown till the bell goes.

Round 3 and it briefly looks scientific as Helmut gets a legdive but them he ties the leg in the ropes and boots the kid, then ties him by the necon the fourth side for another beatdown.  Fred fights back with charges and clotheslines but then himself goes to work on Lukestik's leg with a toehold/ legspread and weakening dips to the knee.

Round 4 sees Fred switch tack to the arm with a cross buttock into armlock in the guard into armhank, Helmut tries to get up but is twice dragged down.  The third time, Freddy walks away (so no toupie from Lukestick!)  Helmut gets a full nelson and it's back to choking on the top rope.  He leaps to the ground to drag down on Fred's neck then comes back to continue the treatment.  The throttling then moves to a corner on the camera side.  Helmut includes an over the knee backbreaker.  He interrupts KO Counts to beat down more on Fred. When the bell goes he taunts the crowd (some of whom chant USA at him, following the example of that nice Mister Duggan I guess. He argues with thecref who gives him a second and final Public Warning.  He even jaws with the unseen MC while accepting a swig of drink from a ringside.

Round 5 and Lukestik gets a cross buttock throw but does not follow down.  He slams and stomps the kid, armdrags him then gets slammed himself as Freddy tries to start a face comeback.  Freddy speeds things up with throws and Irish whips that force Helmut to take solid bumps.  Helmut takes his time getting up but is met by another bodyslam.  He fights back with a snappy standing full nelson into side chancery throw.   Freddy gets behind, creeps through Helmut's legs and rear snapmares him, an unexpected great scientific move among this heel beatdown.  He gets his former tormentor with a long suplex, side chancery throw and full finger Interlock into high whip and bump.  Another finger Interlock turns into a lean-back dropkick.  Helmut has enough of this, pummels young Freddy in the corner with forearm smashes and side chancery throws him and knees him down, apparently enough for a third public warning and the a DQ and an upset win for Freddy. The tape cuts out at this point.  

A traditional heel beatdown and fightback by the bullied kid. Helmut is very much playing the same role as late 80s Fit Finlay.  It's a pity we don't get to see more of his reaction to being DQd in disgrace (we last seen him protesting to the ref.). 

 

[David Mantell]

Another Helmut Lukestik video just came up on my Smart TV. He looks more his usual self on here with a black double leotard that screams HEEL andthe dark hair combining with the moustache to make him look like 1980s Freddie Mercury. And once again he's demolishing another babyface Gil Cabanas (the name sounds Hispanic) with the good guy getting the odd hope spot, the most notable of which sees him land on the referee who blames the poor goody and gives him a yellow card.  Afterwards we see Helm tackling another opponent in long white Big John Studd tights.

What's interesting about this clip is the venue - it's a public square in what looks like a German or Austrian rural village and it looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL ❤️.  They are trees and gorgeous buildings everywhere.  The crowd looks like a pub beer garden crowd until the camera swings round and you see there are hundreds, perhaps hitting a Thousand, spectators sat out in the sunshine enjoying the wrestling show while being fed beer by barmaids in saucy versions of traditional Teutonic dress. Professional Wrestling slipping into its element as a staple of a traditional and picturesque part of rustic Teutonic life. 

The only blot on the horizon is right in front of the camera, a rusty piece of ironmongery which was built as a support for something but in this clip just gets in the way.

 

[David Mantell]

Otto Wanz at the Bremen Stadhalle, winning his CWA title the fourth and final time.  There are two different versions - this one was shot by S4C's Reslo production team and later put out on home video in Germany. The commentary was then redubbed into English by original Welsh commentators Bryn Fon and Orig Williams.  It starts with the late 80s/early 90s Reslo theme and has Reslo style graphics all over it.  Otto cuts a bilingual promo in German/English . Vader cuts a promo in much the same style as later in WCW, with manager Orig Williams chipping in now and again.

This of course creates a problem.  Since Orig is on screen as a heel manager, his dual role as a commentator is explained away by his voice being that of Paco Perez , a former All Americas champion from South America apparently.   

Otto is accompanied by Tony StClair and Steve Wright.  The MC is Peter Wilhelm, Otto's business partner in the CWA and years later the German commentator on Eurosport New Catch.  As with the Santí Rico Vs Acapulco bout on Spanish TV, there is a lot of waiting around a while while national anthems etc (Austria get played. The Star Strangled Banner GETS THE BIRD!!! Deutschland Deutscland Uber Alles gets the pyro treatment courtesy of fans with sparklers at ringside.  

It's very much a slug and punch affair, I'm sure @ohtani's jacket will love it.  Bull Power gets most of the early action.  He eventually settles down into an abdominal stretch oin the mat  hen the bell lotto fights back, getting a single leg Boston Crab and pitching the soon to be Vader  to ringside for a brawl.  The round 2 bell saves Bull from a 10 count at 8.

Watch out in Round three for A VADER DOING A SUNSET FLIP INTO DOUBLE LEG NELSON!!!  Otto is bleeding badly through most of these early rounds.  It's like watching a worked boxing match like  Mr T versus Roddy Piper with its clear periods of dominance.  Otto gets a suplex on Vader in Round 4.  In Round 5 , Big Leon gets a Randy Savage axehandle on Otto.  They brawl at ringside with a table involved in proceedings.  Another KO count is dodged by the bell going off.  Otto himself breaks up one promising g KO count to inflict more punishment but the next one he lets run its course to win the title by KNOCKOUT.  The crowd go wild.  

 Just for the record, here is the German version made apparently separately from the S4C Version:

 

 

[David Mantell]

Apparently it said Max Le MERCHANT on event programmes for this show, PMSL. (If you're not aware from the French Catch thread, un Méchant is a heel).  At least the ring announcer gets it right.)

Max comes to the ring dressed for the Australian Outback.  Franzl comes down to the tune of No Limits by 2 Unlimited in the tradition of German babyfaces' affinity for rave music (see Alex Wright and Dave Taylor.) No national anthems although they have a flag each. That man Didier Gapp refereeing again.  

Round 1 starts off very American, clotheslines, running the ropes, the odd duck down or flying tackle from Schumann.  Holds are held onto for long periods with little indication especially from Max of any escape plan.  Franz gets a Scorpion Deathlock on (the remnants of his alleged Bret Hart tribute a couple of years earlier, but the bell goes.

Round 2  Max armdrags Franz down into an armlock in the guard and keeps him there a good long while. Franz gets up (not kips up) so Max armdrags him back down.  I dislike the term Rest Holds but that is what they are being used for with little or no struggle or sign of an oncoming counter/reversal.  Eventually even Franz gets fed up and does some rolls, reverse rolls and scoots across the middle turnbuckle á la Tony Stewart.  He slowly hiptosses Max into a cross press as the bell goes. Max complains to Didi a lot. He's a much better crowd worker than he is a ring wrestler.

Round 3 Franz gets a legdive toe and ankle, leans into  i5 and goes down on the mat.  Max goes for hair grabs but Didi stops him. Max somehow gets out and uses punches headbutts and eye rakes.Some people ringside are blowing on party poppers.  Max does a Japanese Stranglehold and manages to convert it to chinlock even when Franz throws him twice. Franz converts a corner assisted backdrop into a suplex.  Franz gets a headscissors when the bell goes.

Round 4. Max corners Franz and pounds him. More Max heelish beatdowns including a rope choke.  Max finally gets a Yellow Card. Franz boots him down for a 7 count. They slug and punch some more.  Not much more happening when the bell goes.

Round 5.  Max throws Franz out and looks very pleased with himself.  He tries to backdrop Franz in but Schumann lands well, hits the ropes. Slips backwards through Max's legs, tries to get a bodyscissors but Max counters with a Boston Crab attempt.  AND NOOOW, THE FINISH AS BOOKED!: Max pulls Franz up and goes for a whip but Franz gets a crucifix takedown into further nelson pin and wins.

Slow, sometimes stationary bout.  Max has a cute gimmick (Brian 'Crush" Adams dressed up as Barry Windham circa The Stalker) but he works like an American By Numbers. 

 

 

[David Mantell]

 

A rare piece of footage of the Liverpool Lads, Doc Dean and Robbie Brookside as heels together. Dean is twice former British Welterweight Champion. Tony StClair is in Franz's corner.

Doc is looking much as he did in his final Reslo appearances as Disco Damon in 1985 versus Danny Collins, the old black mullet replaced by a fringe and odd paneled trunks. 

Round 1 It starts very technical. Dean straightens a headlock into an armbar and Franz replies, instead of a roll, with a Fireman's carry takedown and crosspress for 2. Doc gets a drop toehold and crossface on Franz. Th3 babyface brawls his way out but Doc gets double legs and a weakener. and a somersault splash off the opes. Schumann gets a side headlock cross buttock press but Dean gets headscissors.He keeps it for quite a while. Schumann eventually goes on his back and uses his legs to undress the clamp. He armdrags and armbars Doc who gets the headscissors back, augmented by a toehold. Bell goes but Doc doesn't release for ages. DJ plays Smoke on the water

Round 2 and Franz gets an armbar. Doc rolls out and gets an arm if his own. He snapmares Franz down and adds an armhank. Franz pulls him self up and on the second attempt boots Doc in the head. Doc gets the arm with a knee on Franz's head. Franz goes up and down the ropes like Tony Stewart to escape. He armdrags and bodyscissors Doc, gets a 2 count pin. Then a chinlock.then double armlock . Bell goes.

Round 3 Franz gets a legdive into legscissor. Doc gets H&S iplus bodyscissors . Franz pulls the headlock open to make a top wristlock on the mat. Doc briefly regains both holds then whips and shoulderblocks Franz and makes a pin but Franz's foot is on the ropes. Doc gets the earlier holds back on, keeps it until the bell goes. Robbie has to restrain Doc from going wild.

Round 4: Franz gets a drop toehold into STF then almost a surfboard (Jushin Liger before Doc gets to the ropes.Franz posts and clotheslines Doc. Dean back leapfrogs Franz, backdrops him, puts him on a corner and huracanranas him down. Goes for a pin but the bell goes - both Liverpool Lads are furious.

Round 5 Franz has a Marty Jones Powerlock but Doc scuttles to the ropes. Franz gets a double underhook suplex for 2. Doc Dean gets an American Figure Four Leglock. Franz tries to counter with an ankle lock. Doc snapmares Franz as the bell goes

Round 6 Doc chops and slams Franz, who drops toeholds him out of the ring where Robbie is waiting. Franz sliding dropkicks them both then topés them both. He snapmares and headscissors Doc for a long while until he kicks out. He gets Doc in a suplex then dumps him on the top rope, the bell saves Doc in a Knockout count.

Round 7. Franz throws Doc out the ring and threatens him with an elbow but gets into a fight with Robbie. Doc is back first, Frank appears to have bladed. Doc goes back out and smashes Schumann' into the timekeeper s table, Robbie rolls him back In the ring. Doc gets a moonsault on Franz for 2. He gets more 2s from crosspresses. He says he got 3 and the ref nearly gives him a yellow card.

Round 8 Doc posts Franz but then they clash heads. Doc is up first, he suplexes Franz into the ring. Franz gets a DDT for 2. Doc gets a blockbuster suplex for 2. Franz gets the belly to belly suplex for the pin to win and defend his title. Robbie is angry. We Are The Champions plays.

Good fight with some good bits of wrestling liberally sprinkled around.  Later that year, the Liverpool Lads went to WCW who treated them as jobbers (see their squashing by Harlem Heat.). Doc settled in Florida and went on to indie wrestling, plumbing and sadly an early grave. Robbie came home and became All Star British Heavyweight Champion, the most hated wrestler in early C21st Germany the Wildcat and recognition as a legend.

[David Mantell]

Some more Robbie, this time in the ring. We've seen Karsten a couple of times now, wrestling a pretty decent scientific match with Franz Schumann in 1998 and as an old bald guy for the EWP in 2009, ironically taking on Robbie in a tag match.

This starts JIP, presumably in round 1. Robbie gets a Superplex off the middle turnbuckle and puts on a curios combination of camel clutch and reverse grovit.  The commentator calls it a "front lock"in German. It's not very effective as KK gets his legs out from underneath and stands in the hold. So the Wildcat reverse DDTs him.  KK gets a quick folding press for 2, angering Brookside who stomps him and flings him to ringside. The bell goes but Robbie smashes KK's back into the ring frame before he's done.

Round 2, presumably, Robbie gets a side chancery and forearm smash.  KK is tangled in the ropes and the Wildcat pounces on him with brawling and a posting. KK gets a surprise slam for a 2 count but misses a dropkick. Robbie gets a rear waistlock and smashes KK forward on the mat then backwards in a German suplex. He gets a folding press opening fall.  

Round 3 and Robbie gets a drop toehold and crossface into Gotch toehold, adding a side headlock.  He goes for the surfboard, gets all four limbs but instead of hauling KK up, reverse grovits him.  The Wildcat lets go, kicking his man around. He gets a belly to belly suplex but is slow following in and so referee Didier Gapp refuses a pinfall count.  They brawl on, Robbie mouthing off to the German crowd before KK posts, Stinger splashes and snapmares him for 2.  Robbie gets a dropkick, some clobbering and Boston Crab.  KK resists so Robbie releases him, boots him a bit and then the bell goes.

Round 4 and Robbie races across the ring to resume the beating.  He gets a side suplex and H&S (Actually the commentators just call in "ein Sleeperhold") transitioning to a chinlock on the mat. KK powers up, elbows out and jumps on Robbie's back with a sleeper of his own.   obbie back him into the corner and posts him. KK reverses it but Rob takes the impact well and boots KK as h3vtries to follow on.  He tries for a suplex but KK reverses it into a fisherman's suplex for the equalising pin. 

Round 5 and Robbie gets a knee in during a lockup and drapes KK in a Tree of Woe in the corner and sliding dropkicks him.  He throws KK to ringside and tries to smash KK's head in the post but the local reverses and climbs the top turnbuckle and gets a flying Bodypress for 2.  He snapmares and shoulder blocks Robbie who leapfrogs him but has hiptoss attempt reversed for 2 by the German who goes in for a flying tackle but is caught in a tombstone piledriver ("Á la Fit Finlay" says the commentator) for the deciding falls.

Much the same comments as Franz/Doc apply. Slightly more wrestling but not intricate enough to be a technical masterpiece. Robbie is settling into the role of thuggy British heel, "2* world wars, 1 * world cup" and all that.

TBC 5:00

[David Mantell]

I wasn't planning on doing a full blown bout review (to match the All Star in Northallerton vlog and the pieces on elderly Pouzade on the British and French thread s) but I came across EWP's YouTube channel and this looked particularly tempting.  I've seen quite a bit of NXT UK man Jack Starz live on /All Star's Dudley shows and here he is making the traditional "Auf Wiedersein Pet" North Sea ferry crossing to the German/ Austrian tournaments.  Back then, shows were often in canvas tents as we have seen. The prefab metal roof on this venue makes it look like a space age version of the same. 

Jack starts off working local boy Markus's arm, flitting between armbar, half nelson and a Gator Hold, a move the UK Skull Murphy used to routinely get submissions with on both sides  of the North Sea.  Markus (gimmick: Rick Rude gone Satanist)  reverses and gets a hammerlock, snapmare and chinlock but Starz pulls out an arm for an armbar on the ground in the mount.  Markus turns and takes the bump.  Jack makes a top wristlock on the mat. Markus backrolls and gets a sitting ambar. Starz escapes with three rolls into upright. Antonius is unimpressed. He feigns a half interlock but goes for a rear waistlock.  Jack tries for a behind leg but Markus elbowsmashes him in the back and gets a full nelson, snapmare and kick to the back.  Markus gets another armbar. Jack gets a rope-assisted back somersault, several forward and back rolls, a cartwheel and a self-underhooking backdrop and armbar.  Markus gets up, forces Jack to the corner and gets a headlock into side Chancery, bounces his man off the ropes and catches him with a bodycheck. He runs the ropes but Starz ducks under the first passing, leapfrogs the second and hits a flying bodypress on the third for 2.  Markus reverses a posting but Jack reverse leapfrogs over a charge and hiptosses his man, dropkicks him.  slams and kneedrops him but only gets 2.  There's an odd skirmish on the ropes which ends up with Markus getting a first yellow card - if I had done German instead of Spanish at school, I might understand what the issue was.  Markus backdrops a charging Starz over the top rope and fires a sliding dropkick to him at ringside.  He follows out, smacks Jack's head in the ring apron, Jack fires back and the two have a forearm smash battle in the floor (I do love the announcer saying "European Uppercut" as an Anglicism among his German.).  Markus eventually throws Starz in the ring, mounts a corner and fires off a missile dropkick.  He charges and chops Starz who drops to the floor and puts a foot on him for and arrogant pin attempt that only gets 1.  He tries stamps, slugs and a suplex but gets only 2. Jack brawls back but Markus hits a scissor kick for 2. He gets an H&S/Sleeper, corners and posts Jack. He again corners, chops and thumps his man.  He posts Jack who replies with a back elbow and a middle rope flying bodypress for 2.  They brawl on until Markus gets a camel clutch. Jack stands and rears his man into a corner. He forearms and posts him but this time it's Markus who reverse leapfrogs and catches his opponent's flyer with a kneelift.  He crawls across the ring and gets only a 2 count.  They brawl on and Starz gets a dropkick and two running elbowsmashes. He rolls Markus to the mat, gets a missile dropkick and a flying bodypress for the one required pinfall. Jack Starz is the winner in 10 minutes. 

Well that was a surprise find. A good technical first half to remind me what I'm liked about Jack at shows these last few years (despite his gimmick - during the pandemic he grew a long white beard and now looks like 1991 Kevin's Nash & Sullivan as Oz and the Wizard minus the mask.) and a "good fight" hard hitting brawl of a second half to keep the OJs of this world happy.  Have saved the Full Matches playlist to my channel so I can do a few more of these.

 

[David Mantell]

Some more Jack Starz in .Germany 2019 and this more or less a relatively clean match. I don't know too much about Stübing but he seems to be another blue eye/babyface like Jack.

Tim gets a rear upper  waistlock on Jack who breaks the hold and rolls forward  Jim gets an armbar front-on and turns i5 to a wristlever but Tim reverses as Jack tries to crank it up.  Jack rolls out and takes two mor rolls to get away.  They agree to a full finger Interlock Jack gets in a leg grapevine to bend Tim over into a bridge. He briefly flattens the bridge by knocking out a leg and gets the odd shoulder press 1 and even 2 count off the ref (yes it's indeed an elderly fat bald Didier Gapp!) . Tim has a large crowd following.  Jack loads himself on Th3 bridge but Tim can take the weight.  Tim snaps in a monkey climb to have Jack down on his back too. Both raise a shoulder each then bridge to avoid a double pin before agreeing a stalemate.  Great round of applause from a 2019 German audience.  Jack gets a front facelock (helpfully Th3 German commentator calls it that) but Tim breaks i5 open an switches from armbar to hammerlock to side headlock then hiptosses Jack to take the hold to the mat.  Starz gets a headscissor and an armbar and brief 2 count. He forsakes the arm to focus on the headscissor, turning  it forward to crank Tim's neck. Tim turns the hold upright,  handstands and reverse kips to extract his head, getting a pop.  Jack gets a butt to the chest and forearm on the back, throws Tom to the ropes and meets him with a shoulderblock. He forearms him in the back but Tim comes off the ropes with a sunset flip into leg nelson. Jack reverses and they Bascule back and forth.  After numerous 1 counts, Jack tries a lower leg held front folding press (I could have sworn he did this with Markus but can't find the mention in my last review.) but gets 2.  Jack gets a backslide for another two leaving both men sitting back to back in two way armlocks.  Tim pulls apart and they break up.  He gets a quick grovit into long suplex, then a pair of monkey climbs from two opposite corners but misses a third as Jack dodged, gets a rear waistlock and throws his man but gets only 2 with a crosspress (follow downs are allowed apparently.) then gets a standing side headlock.  Tim powers up and tries a bodycheck off the ropes but Tim gets the better of it.  They bounce off the ropes, leapfrogging each other until Jack overshoots on a sunset flip and Tim gets him with one of those back elbows the Sheffield Watch Committee so disapproved of in the Seventies and dropkicks Jack out of the ring.  Jack is back but Tim flings him out and gets seven before Gapp breaks the count when Tim tries to intercept Jack's return.  Jack comes back and Tim offers his hand .  My ack accepts but then pulls Tim in for a forearm smash followed by two more, a posting and a backbreaker over the knee.  A crosspress gets only 1 and Tim fights his way up with a headbutt and elbow to Jack's stomach, then a dropkick.  Jack fires back with a stomp. He slams Tim and follows with a kneedrop and cover for 2.  He drives a knee into Tim's neck and gets an arm. He pulls Tim up and pounds him down. They briefly exchange kicks and inner arms until Jack snapmares Tim and shoulderblocks his fallen opponent in the back.  He gets a cover for 2 then a pressure points into full nelson down in the seated position.  Tim stands up and tries to reverse but goes all the way round back into the hold. Jack maintains dominance with the hold despite several reversal attempts. (Looking at the clip time  with only 3½ mins left this is remarkably late in a bout for one of these exchanges.) Jack forces down the pressure on the hold, forcing the shoulder blades against each other but Tim stands up again.  He rears out on the third of three attempts but misses a charging bodycheck and Jack again forearms his upper back which has taken quite a pounding bit to mention the full nelson earlier.  Talking of which, Jack gets the hold right back on!  This time Tim slips out vertically with straight arms, rolls back tomorrow his legs for a front folding press. Jack goes for it and Tim rolls him into a folding press of his own.  A nice trap but it only gets 2 before Jack kicks out then gets double legs, trying for a full Boston Crab.  Tim resists although Jack gets a "lion tamer" (Chris Jericho was a regular in the German tournaments 24:years earlier in the mid nineties) but never quite gets the Crab he is after. Tim gets a leg free and hammers Jack off with his boot.  The two exchange forearm smashes and hit the ropes until Jack intercepts Tim's flying tackle attempt, but Tim still gets him down for 2 the scores a dropkick and rear hipblock to the cornered Jack.  He goes to the apron but badly misses a flyer on Jack who gets his man in a fireman's carry (held in a sideways  position like a Luger torture rack) into a spinning slam and cover for three. Another Jack Stars win for 2019.  A polite clap from the crowd. We cut before Tim is up so don't see if they shake hands.

Even more my sort of bout than the last, still plenty of great science in the late stages, the brawling minimised, no out of the ring brawl for instance. Perhaps it was because Tim wrestled clean unlike Markus (was Jack vaguely meant to be the heel.) but despite the odd blows and minor fouls it mostly stayed a good wrestling match.  I hope Jack does another tour with All Star some time, I'd love to see him live again in Dudley.