25th anniversary wrestling spectacular

UK promoters Premier Promotions are staging a special Sunday afternoon spectacular to mark the 25th anniversary of their first show, at the venue where it all began in December 1987.

Heading the line-up on Sunday (December 2) will be a huge heavyweight tag match that will see the near 40 stone team of Flash Barker and Kris Kay go up against ‘Dangerous’ Danny Garnell and another wrestler nominated by Garnell’s manager, ‘The Twisted Genius’ Dean Ayass.

Barker, a former PWF heavyweight number one, and Kay, the current Southern Area champion, are normally bitter rivals but have agreed to team up just for one bout against the unbeaten Garnell and his mystery partner, whose identity will be revealed in the ring, after both men became involved in an ugly dispute with Ayass during a recent show in Worthing.

John Freemantle, a former Brighton journalist who has been connected with wrestling since the golden days of ITV’s World of Sport and has run Premier Promotions since day one, explained: “Many of the biggest names in wrestling will be in action, and I am sure the occasion will be a fitting tribute to everything Premier Promotions has stood for since we began.

“For 25 years, we have held a unique place in wrestling, maintaining the old traditions of the rounds system and the best of three falls, while at the same time embracing some changes in style and presentation which modern audiences expect and enjoy.

“It wasn’t meant to be like this. The first show, which featured Big Daddy, was supposed to be a one-off, but 1,000 people turned up. And things sort of snowballed after that.

“It’s been a roller-coaster. I’m not quite sure how, but we are still here, nearly 800 shows later!”

Among the other stars booked to appear are the reigning Wrestler of the Year, Zack Sabre Jr, who is due back this week from a second triumphant tour of Japan; Robbie Brookside, who has held British, European and Inter-Continental titles and has recently returned from America; one of the most exciting stars of international wrestling, ‘Wonder Kid’ Jonny Storm; and two legends of wrestling who appeared on the first Hove show 25 years ago, former world champion Steve Grey and local favourite and PWF title-holder Barry Cooper.

Tickets for the show, which starts at 3pm, are available from the box office on 0844 847 1515, on line via the Hove Town Hall and Hove Centre website, or at the venue on the day of the show.