WAR ON THE SHORE IV: THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW

To mark the occasion, the XWA website has spoken to some of the biggest names in Morecambe wrestling – the wrestlers, the staff, the fans and the promoters – to uncover their memories of what many believe is the pre-eminent venue for British Wrestling today.

KARTEL SET TO DEBUT

At XWA Best of the North West earlier this month, The Manchester Massive became officially the best tag team in the North West of England when they defeated The Mil-Anfield Connection.

Their victory followed a decisive win over Lance Lenehan and Jamie Flynt at Last Fight At The Prom and victories in six-man action over Stevie Knight and The UK Pitbulls, and over Ricky Knight, The Kraft and Zak Zodiac over the Battle of Britain Weekend.

Couple their impressive doubles form with Joey Hayes' incredible pinfall on the legendary former British Heavyweight Champion Robbie Brookside on March 1 - when he became the XWA's first Best of the North West Champion - and it's clear The Massive are enjoying the kind of hot run of form they've never experienced before.

But the popular underdogs from Longsight still have their detractors, most specifically the whispering campaign that has been waged against Declan O'Connor. In recent months both 'Dangerous' Damon Leigh and Jiggy Walker of The Mil-Anfields claimed Declan is the weak link of the team and The Massive's success is solely down to Joey Hayes.

Now another duo have stepped forward to challenge the chav lads to prove if they really are a cohesive unit, or if their recent success has indeed been carried by one stronger individual. The Kartel - a swaggering, loud-mouthed and dangerous duo from Essex - are the current IPW:UK Tag Team Champions. Terry Frazier and Sha Samuels have beaten just about every other tag team in the South of England over the past 12 months and this week, they announced their intent to 'conquer the North'.

Frazier and Samuels have signed a contract to make their XWA debut on Saturday April 12 in The Dome and demanded to face the best tag team the North West has to offer. That means The Manchester Massive. O'Connor and Hayes have agreed to the match, with Declan said to be especially keen to prove himself against such strong opposition.

So at War On The Shore: The Anniversary Show, for the first time ever, it will be The Manchester Massive v The Kartel. The best in the North versus the best of the South. Expect a classic tag team match-up with regional bragging rights on the line.

Johnny Phere simply doesn't know when to shut up.

Sick of 'The Psychotic Warrior's incessant whining about a conspiracy against him, XWA boss Greg Lambert this week added a stipulation to his rematch with Sam Slam at War On The Shore on Saturday April 12.

Just like their original encounter in the final of the Battle of Britain Tournament last September, when Phere became the first and only man to pin Sam Slam in the XWA, their rematch will be fought under No Disqualification rules - where no holds are barred and anything goes!

Only this time, Johnny Phere won't be able to rely on interference from 'Mr Deal or No Deal' Stevie Knight to bail him out. On September 30 last year, Knight's metal briefcase-assisted assault on Sam's head was instrumental in helping Phere upset Sam when he drove him through a wooden table with his patented Ram Slam. But on April 12 2008, Knight has been told that if he so much as sets foot outside the dressing room during the Slam-Phere rematch, then he will forfeit his British Heavyweight Title shot against 'The Wonderkid' Jonny Storm later in the evening.

Keen to even the score with the psycho and inflict as much punishment on him as possible, Sam Slam was only too happy to agree to the No Disqualification stip. Phere, as expected, was absolutely furious...not that there's anything he can do about it.

As far as Greg Lambert is concerned, making the match No DQ is a smart move. The brutality Slam and Phere are bound to wreak on each other's bodies surely reduces the chance that either of them will be in any fit state to interfere in the Storm-Knight championship match main event (which could happen, considering how much Phere hates Storm and Sam hates Knight). And don't forget, Greg guaranteed that when Jonny Storm faces Steve Knight at War On The Shore, there would be no interference, no controversy, and that justice will be done.

To that effect, we still await the special announcement Lambert still has up his sleeve concerning the Storm-Knight championship match.

One of the reasons why Morecambe wrestling has been so special over the past five years is the reverence Dome fans have for the raffle.

Then again, this is not just any ordinary raffle, but it is The Biggest Cult Experience in British Wrestling...The Morecambe Raffle!

With that in mind, to mark XWA War On The Shore: The Anniversary Show on Saturday April 12, it is only appropriate that Morecambe fans will have the chance to welcome back one of Morecambe wrestling's most favourite sons, the man who first put The Morecambe Raffle on the map. That would be the original host of The Morecambe Raffle, and the MC at Morecambe Dome wrestling shows from 2003 to 2005, 'Hardcore' John Atkins!

Now a successful author, John Atkins will return to The Dome on April 12 for the first time in three years, as the special guest host of The Morecambe Raffle - Anniversary-Style!

Although XWA owner Greg Lambert and Mr Atkins have had a frosty relationship in recent years - stemming from Atkins' defection to ring announce for IPW:UK during their feud with the FWA - it is believed Dirk Feelgood, another individual who is synonymous with The Morecambe Raffle, has been instrumental in smoothing things over and getting 'Hardcore' John an invitation to the XWA's anniversary celebrations. And everyone at the XWA is really looking forward to seeing the original MC and host of The Morecambe Raffle, back doing what he does best.

XWA WAR ON THE SHORE IV

Saturday April 12 2008

The Dome, Marine Road Central, Morecambe, Lancashire

Doors 7pm, Bell Time 7.30pm

Tickets - £16 ringside, £11 adults, £9 children, £34 family of four, £42 family of six (advance sales only)

BOX OFFICE – 01524 582803 or tickets available at Morecambe/Lancaster Tourist Information Centres

CARD TO DATE

THE MAIN EVENT – BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

NO DISQUALIFICATION REMATCH

BRITISH FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

NORTH v SOUTH TAG TEAM MATCH

SINGLES GRUDGE MATCH

AND

The Morecambe Raffle with its original host ‘Hardcore’ John Atkins!

Please note – card subject to change.  Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.