ARTICLE: Tables, Ladders And Air Fares
Posted by Andy Quildan
TABLES, LADDERS AND AIR FARES
American Fan Makes 7000 Mile Round Trip To Celebrate IPW:UK’s 5th Anniversary
It has been described as a “can’t miss” show that could be one of the best the UK has seen for many years. But as fans around the country prepare to head for Sittingbourne this Sunday to see IPW:UK celebrate its 5th anniversary, one young man will be travelling further than most to ensure he is there in person to witness history being made – he will be crossing an ocean.
Andrew Benjamin, a 22-year-old student from New York, saw his first three IPW:UK shows while staying in London earlier this year. Despite being an ardent fan of the American independent wrestling scene, he admits he did not know what to expect when he travelled to his first British event.
“With the exception of Oblivion, who I had seen in TNA, I didn’t know who any of the wrestlers were, what type of atmosphere the crowd would give off, or what style of wrestling would be most prominent,” he explains. “But I became an instant fan. What impressed me most is the variety of wrestlers and their styles. You have smaller guys like Spud, big men like Alex Shane, high flyers like PAC, and power based wrestlers like Martin Stone. But every wrestler I have seen brings a different approach to their match. There isn’t just one style, which unfortunately is the downside of so many American wrestling promotions.”
Benjamin’s favourite IPW memory to date came at May’s Sittingbourne Spectacular, when he watched the Leaders beat the Thrillers for the British Tag Titles in a match that he describes as one of the best he has ever seen. Having been left breathless by that emotionally charged epic, he does not have to think too long when asked about his favourite members of the IPW roster.
“I love the Leaders – Zack Sabre Jr’s kicks are so brutal I can feel them from my seat, and Marty Scurll is able to pull off some astonishing manoeuvres. Together they meld together excellently and are one of the most exciting teams I can remember seeing.” Despite their in-ring talents, Benjamin is more reluctant to praise the Thrillers although he does admit that Gilligan Gordon is “a sharp dresser”.
Benjamin returned to America the day after that memorable night in Sittingbourne, but has visited the IPW website daily ever since and was left wide-eyed when he read the announcement of a TLC rematch between the two teams. Despite being short on cash he immediately called his travel agent, booked the cheapest flight he could to London, and bought his ticket for the 5th Anniversary Show. With his plane due to arrive on Saturday morning and a return journey booked for Monday, Benjamin will make a round trip of 7000 miles in 48 hours to see a match he felt he simply could not afford to miss.
“Even if TLC was the only thing on the card, it would be worth it for just this one match,” he says, sitting forward in his chair. “I’m not the kind of guy who regularly travels great distances to watch wrestling – I wouldn’t even travel across the US for Wrestlemania if I had the money. But I just felt that if I chose to miss this match between the Leaders and the Thrillers, I would always regret my decision. I feel like I can count on IPW:UK to always give me a show that will leave me on the edge of my seat, totally absorbed in the drama I am watching. And as a wrestling fan, any promotion that can make me feel like that is worth crossing an ocean for.”
-- IPW:UK presents “The 5 Year Anniversary Show”, Sunday September 13th 2009 at the Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, Kent, England. Doors 5:00pm, show starts 5.30pm. Tickets £12 general admission (£8 children). Family ticket available for £30. Ringside Front Row £30 Second Row £20 all ages. Birthdays, Office Parties and Other Group Bookings now catered for specifically. For more information e-mail Andy Quildan: andy@ipwuk.com.
American Fan Makes 7000 Mile Round Trip To Celebrate IPW:UK’s 5th Anniversary
It has been described as a “can’t miss” show that could be one of the best the UK has seen for many years. But as fans around the country prepare to head for Sittingbourne this Sunday to see IPW:UK celebrate its 5th anniversary, one young man will be travelling further than most to ensure he is there in person to witness history being made – he will be crossing an ocean.
Andrew Benjamin, a 22-year-old student from New York, saw his first three IPW:UK shows while staying in London earlier this year. Despite being an ardent fan of the American independent wrestling scene, he admits he did not know what to expect when he travelled to his first British event.
“With the exception of Oblivion, who I had seen in TNA, I didn’t know who any of the wrestlers were, what type of atmosphere the crowd would give off, or what style of wrestling would be most prominent,” he explains. “But I became an instant fan. What impressed me most is the variety of wrestlers and their styles. You have smaller guys like Spud, big men like Alex Shane, high flyers like PAC, and power based wrestlers like Martin Stone. But every wrestler I have seen brings a different approach to their match. There isn’t just one style, which unfortunately is the downside of so many American wrestling promotions.”
Benjamin’s favourite IPW memory to date came at May’s Sittingbourne Spectacular, when he watched the Leaders beat the Thrillers for the British Tag Titles in a match that he describes as one of the best he has ever seen. Having been left breathless by that emotionally charged epic, he does not have to think too long when asked about his favourite members of the IPW roster.
“I love the Leaders – Zack Sabre Jr’s kicks are so brutal I can feel them from my seat, and Marty Scurll is able to pull off some astonishing manoeuvres. Together they meld together excellently and are one of the most exciting teams I can remember seeing.” Despite their in-ring talents, Benjamin is more reluctant to praise the Thrillers although he does admit that Gilligan Gordon is “a sharp dresser”.
Benjamin returned to America the day after that memorable night in Sittingbourne, but has visited the IPW website daily ever since and was left wide-eyed when he read the announcement of a TLC rematch between the two teams. Despite being short on cash he immediately called his travel agent, booked the cheapest flight he could to London, and bought his ticket for the 5th Anniversary Show. With his plane due to arrive on Saturday morning and a return journey booked for Monday, Benjamin will make a round trip of 7000 miles in 48 hours to see a match he felt he simply could not afford to miss.
“Even if TLC was the only thing on the card, it would be worth it for just this one match,” he says, sitting forward in his chair. “I’m not the kind of guy who regularly travels great distances to watch wrestling – I wouldn’t even travel across the US for Wrestlemania if I had the money. But I just felt that if I chose to miss this match between the Leaders and the Thrillers, I would always regret my decision. I feel like I can count on IPW:UK to always give me a show that will leave me on the edge of my seat, totally absorbed in the drama I am watching. And as a wrestling fan, any promotion that can make me feel like that is worth crossing an ocean for.”
-- IPW:UK presents “The 5 Year Anniversary Show”, Sunday September 13th 2009 at the Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, Kent, England. Doors 5:00pm, show starts 5.30pm. Tickets £12 general admission (£8 children). Family ticket available for £30. Ringside Front Row £30 Second Row £20 all ages. Birthdays, Office Parties and Other Group Bookings now catered for specifically. For more information e-mail Andy Quildan: andy@ipwuk.com.