Greg Lambert
Encyclopedia
Greg Lambert is a professional wrestling
manager, journalist, promoter and ring announcer.
. He worked as a customer service manager at BT
, before resigning to study journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston
from 2001-2002.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Lambert entered the UK wrestling business after a chance meeting with Dann Read while attending FWA Revival at Crystal Palace Indoor Arena on February 9, 2002 (the day he also met Alex Shane for the first time). His first show was for Read's New Era Wrestling at Ipswich on July 13, 2002, where he commentated on the event for Ipswich Community Radio.
Lambert began writing for Power Slam
magazine in 2002 and has been employed by PS - Europe's top independent wrestling magazine - for eight years, during which time he has interviewed some of the biggest names in the world of wrestling including CM Punk, Bret Hart, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, 'Road Dogg' BG James, Colt Cabana, Davari, D-Lo Brown, Steve Corino and Rene Dupree.
Lambert was made co-host of the Talk Wrestling show on TalkSport, alongside top British wrestler Alex Shane
, and Simon Lilsboy of The Sun, and appeared on several Saturday night broadcasts in 2002. He then became a 'heel' wrestling manager for the FWA, one of the biggest, best and most notorious UK wrestling promotions of the 21st century.
, instigating an attack on Alex Shane by the UK Pitbulls
. He proclaimed himself Britain's Number One Wrestling Journalist, bringing a notepad and pen to ringside for matches. Lambert gained acclaim as one of Britain's top wrestling managers due to his ability to get crowds to hate and heckle him. Fans love to chant 'Harry Potter!' at Lambert due to his ringside attire of a long dark coat and glasses.
Lambert allied himself with wrestling 'cult' The Family, becoming their manager at FWA Crunch on March 16, 2003, in Broxbourne during an angle when they attacked female wrestler Nikita (now Katie Lea in the WWE), girlfriend of Alex Shane. Later that night The Family (Paul Travell and Scott Parker), with Lambert at ringside, beat Alex Shane and Ulf Herman to become British Tag Team Champions.
Lambert went on to lead The Family to three FWA Tag Team Titles during this tremendous feud with Alex Shane and Ulf Herman, which raged throughout 2003 at venues all over the UK. It included a six-person tag at FWA/ROH Frontiers of Honor on May 17, 2003, at the York Hall in Bethnal Green (The Family - Brandon Thomas
, Scott Parker and Paul Travell, defeated Alex Shane, Ulf Herman and Nikita). Later Lambert was at ringside when The Family beat Shane and Herman in a First Blood match
at FWA Vendetta 2003 in Broxbourne on June 22, 2003. The match ended when Raj Ghosh, whom Lambert had recruited to The Family, smashed Ulf Herman in the head with a glass trophy, cutting him open.
Lambert was at ringside when The Family met Ulf Herman
and Mikey Whipwreck
in the final match of their feud at FWA's answer to WrestleMania
- British Uprising 2 at the York Hall in Bethnal Green
on October 18, 2003. After Herman and Whipwreck won, Lambert was tied to the ropes and blindfolded by Ulf Herman, who was about to smash him with a vicious chair shot when 'The Truth' was saved by Alex Shane, who turned on the 7-foot German with a brutal chair assault.
At FWA Crunch on April 11, 2004, he tried to recruit the wrestling butler Simmons to The Family but was unsuccessful. He managed The Family as Hampton Court beat them for the FWA Tag Team Titles at Vendetta 2004 at Broxbourne Civic Hall, Hertfordshire in July 2004, in a match where Paul Travell turned on Lambert and his team-mates. Then he announced that The Family had split up and briefly managed The Triad - Drew McDonald, Thunder and Raj Ghosh. With Lambert at ringside, The Triad lost to Terry Funk
, Paul Birchall and Paul Travell at British Uprising 3 on November 13, 2004 (in a match refereed by WWF manager Jimmy Hart
), in front of FWA's biggest-ever crowd of 1800 at Coventry SkyDome.
Lambert later managed Iceman in FWA and Damage Control in GPW. He also appeared on shows for FSW, IWP (where he managed WWE star Paul Burchill
, including a match against D'Lo Brown
in Hull
in November 2004) and WAW.
Lambert confronted American wrestling journalist Bill Apter
at International Showdown at Coventry
SkyDome Arena
on March 19, 2005 (in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,500) in a segment also featuring Alex Shane
and WWE legend Mick Foley
. Managed Shane, Stixx and Stone and Iceman against Foley, Sandman, Steve Corino
and Paul Travell on November 12, 2005. On April 2, 2006 Lambert managed Iceman in an incredibly brutal hardcore match against Paul Travell at FWA Crunch in Broxbourne. The match ended with both men bloody, and in a no-contest, when Travell finally got his hands on Lambert after a near two-year feud, body slamming him on a canvas full of drawing pins and then delivering a flying Bloodshot Splash from the top rope. Greg made his final appearance as a heel manager with FWA in July 2006.
During his 'performing' career with the FWA, Greg was a regular on the FWA TV show on Sky Digital's The Wrestling Channel. Between 2003 and 2007 he was regarded as one of the top two pro wrestling managers in the UK alongside 'The Twisted Genius' Dean Ayass
.
In May 2009 it was announced that the Frontier Wrestling Alliance would be making a comeback. Lambert debuted as a heel colour commentator at the FWA's comeback show, FWA New Frontiers 2009, at Broxbourne Civic Hall on Sunday, August 2, 2009, alongside Dave 'Stats' Bradshaw. Lambert has formed a critically acclaimed double act with Bradshaw on subsequent FWA live broadcasts and on FWA's weekly online TV show 'Front Line'.
On Saturday November 12 2010 at FWA European Uprising, held as part of the Memorabilia Weekend at the NEC in Birmingham, Alex Shane was special referee for the World Heavyweight Title match between Martin Stone and Leroy Kincaide. Shane turned on Kincaide, costing him the match. Lambert then left the commentary position and raised his black gloved hand to the sky, a move which was then followed by Shane, his protege and HM the Queen's royal footman David Deville, and Agenda members Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees. It appeared that Lambert and Shane were in cahoots in FWA, just as they had been in Lambert's promotion XWA since April 2010, and had formed a sinister faction to rule the FWA.
Soon afterwards, Lambert was appointed FWA's Head of Content, replacing his cohort Alex Shane.
, D'Lo Brown, Steve Corino, Juventud Guerrera
, Christopher Daniels
, and stars of Pro Wrestling Noah
in Japan. Under Lambert and Kay's promotion, FWA regularly attracted sell-out crowds to The Dome from 2003-7 for shows that gained generally strong reviews from UK fans and wrestling media.
Lambert became assistant booker of FWA in late 2004 and was co-booker (with Alex Shane) throughout 2005. Alongside Mark Kay, Lambert took over running the FWA in January 2006.
In his hometown of Morecambe, Lambert played a 'good guy' authority figure and MC from 2006 to 2010. Greg had several run-ins with hated British Heavyweight Champion
Robbie Brookside
on shows at The Dome in 2006. Brookside bullied and berated Lambert at every turn, even decking him with a punch in front of his home town fans after the Liverpudlian won the FWA Title in Morecambe on July 15, 2006.
Since April 2007 Greg has continued as promoter and booker of the XWA (which evolved from the FWA) continuing to draw big crowds by UK wrestling standards to The Dome, and is now regarded as one of the best promoters and bookers in UK wrestling.
Greg also worked backstage on some of the biggest UK shows of the modern era. He assisted Alex Shane, as his right-hand man, to promote FWA British Uprising 3 (which drew 1800 fans to Coventry SkyDome on November 13, 2004), International Showdown (3,500 fans at the Skydome on March 19, 2005, headlined by Mick Foley, CM Punk, Raven, Mitsuharu Misawa, Scorpio and Samoa Joe)and Universal Uproar (2,800 fans at the Skydome on November 12, 2005, headlined by Kenta Kobashi and Mick Foley). Greg's roles on these shows included running the shows backstage, booking flights for international talent, liasing with national and local media, and assisting with creative matters (at Uprising 3). He also worked behind-the-scenes during the second night of the King of Europe Cup tournament on April 29, 2007 at Liverpool Olympia - a groundbreaking tournament organised by Alex Shane and Doug Williams featuring 16 top wrestlers from 16 top worldwide promotions.
Greg also assisted Alex Shane - promoter of TNA's first UK tour- with behind-the-scenes matters when TNA toured the UK for the first time in June 2008.
In December 2009 Lambert was appointed to the Council of Advisors for the British Wrestling Council, British Wrestling's first ever governing body.
On June 20, 2010, Lambert announced a coalition between XWA and FWA at the debut Adrenaline event at Sports Nottingham, and that Adrenaline would become part of the XWA brand.
Greg appeared as a guest trainer at the first ever British Wrestling Council National Training Expo at Sports Nottingham on August 15, 2010 and also appeared on the panel of industry experts in the first ever Exhibition Wrestling event that evening, alongside Robbie Brookside, Drew McDonald, Mark Sloan, Alex Shane, Len Davies and Justin Richards.
character, interrupted the IPW:UK show at Broxbourne Civic Hall and launched the feud between FWA and IPW:UK - where the losing UK company would cease to exist. In a hot angle, Lambert berated IPW:UK and its owner Daniel Edler as a 'copycat company' who had ridden the FWA's coat-tails to the top of British wrestling. The segment ended with Alex Shane appearing in the Broxbourne ring to deliver a vicious chair shot to Edler.
On February 18, 2007 Lambert made an appearance at IPW:UK's show Battle Two at Orpington Halls, Kent, announcing that Alex Shane had a neck injury and a replacement would be found to wrestle on behalf of FWA against Martin Stone at Final Frontiers - where the losing company would cease to exist. Lambert then instigated an attack on IPW competitor Ashley Reed by his former FWA charge 'The Messiah' Brandon Thomas. Later in the evening Lambert managed James Tighe (FWA) against Martin Stone (IPW) but Tighe lost, then turned on Lambert and FWA, handing The Truth over to a mob of IPW wrestlers. Lambert was then thrown out of the building through the fire exit.
Despite all Greg's efforts, the FWA was forced to fold on Sunday March 25 when his hand-picked FWA representative Flash Barker lost to Martin Stone in the main event of FWA v IPW:UK Final Frontiers at the Orpington Halls. This historic match ended when FWA Champion Robbie Brookside smashed Barker with the FWA Title and then flattened Lambert at ringside, before Stone scored the pin with a London Bridge DDT. At the end of the show a distraught Lambert sat in the ring, seemingly unwilling to believe that the FWA was dead.
The first XWA show was on April 7, 2007 at the sold-out Morecambe Dome, where Lambert's presence at ringside distracted the man he blamed for killing the FWA, Robbie Brookside, so he lost the British Heavyweight Title to 'The Wonderkid' Jonny Storm.
With Brookside gone from XWA, Lambert's new arch-rival in XWA was Stevie Knight, who had verbal confrontations with Greg both at XWA Vendetta on June 30, 2007 and at Battle of Britain on September 29, 2007.
On September 30, 2007 Greg promoted XWA's first ever live wrestling event at the Hexagon, Lancaster and Morecambe College.
XWA ran four events at The Dome in 2008 and two at the Hexagon. They also ran two events at The Delphi Club, Sudbury in Suffolk, in 2009.
In January 2008 Greg campaigned hard after the Dome was threatened with closure due to Lancaster City Council cutbacks, starting a Facebook petition to 'Save The Morecambe Dome' (which gained nearly 500 members in four days) and writing a number of articles for The Visitor making the public aware of the possible closure of the popular venue. On January 22, 2008, Greg's 36th birthday, Lancaster City Council bowed to pressure and announced they would keep The Dome open for at least four more years. However, The Dome finally closed in March 2010 after the last FWA show there, Goldrush 2010 on January 30, 2010, and from April 3, 2010 the XWA moved its shows to The Carleton in Morecambe.
The XWA presented its Anniversary Show - War On The Shore 4, on Saturday April 12, 2008 at The Morecambe Dome. This was the XWA's first anniversary, the 25th wrestling show Lambert and Kay have promoted in the Morecambe area, and also their 5th anniversary as wrestling promoters. The show ended with an angle where Martin Stone gatecrashed the Dome and beat up several XWA stars with a cricket bat.
On July 5, 2008 at XWA Vendetta, Stone returned to Morecambe and he and his stable The Firm dragged Lambert into the ring, roughing him up in front of his family and friends. On September 6, 2008 at XWA Last Fight at the Prom this attack motivated Lambert to sign Stone to an XWA contract - only one that should he lose any one of four matches during the next 12 months, he would be banned from ever setting foot in an XWA arena again. The catch was that should Stone win all four matches, Lambert said he would shut down the XWA and leave wrestling forever. On April 11, 2009 at XWA War on the Shore V, Sam Slam beat Martin Stone to rid the XWA of Stone.
On November 1, 2008 Greg welcomed Big Brother star Luke Marsden to the XWA. Greg and Luke were involved in an in-ring segment with wrestlers 'Rockstar' Spud and 'Bombay Dream' Ross Jordan at XWA Battle of Britain at The Hexagon, Lancaster and Morecambe College.
Greg, Mark Kay and partner Martin Shenton opened the new XWA Wrestling Training Centre at Regent Park Studios in Morecambe on January 11, 2009.
In 2009/10, the big rivalry in XWA between Lambert and 'The Psychotic Warrior' Johnny Phere eventually saw Greg return to his heelish ways. Phere demanded that Lambert reinstate him into British Wrestling after losing a Loser Must Leave UK Wrestling match to Jonny Storm. Lambert refused, although the XWA fans put him under huge pressure, and Phere campaigned incessantly. Eventually Greg agreed to allow Phere a Reinstatement Match against Deadly Serious at XWA Last Fight at the Prom 2009. Phere overcame the two-versus-one odds to win and earned his place back as an active wrestler, much to Lambert's dismay.
Meanwhile Greg's cousin Tom Lambert debuted in the XWA. Tom, a hapless but loveable dreamer who had always looked up to his elder cousin, held a lifelong dream of becoming a wrestler. But Greg, claiming he only wanted to protect his relative, refused to let him. Like Phere, Tom campaigned at XWA shows throughout 2009, got the XWA fans behind him and eventually got his way - Greg caved in at Last Fight 2009 and said Tom could have his first match at Goldrush 2010.
At Goldrush on Saturday January 30, 2010, the last show at The Morecambe Dome before it is scheduled to close, Greg turned heel on Tom in an absolute killer angle where he refused to throw in the towel to save his cousin even though Tom had taken five consecutive Sweet Bollywood Dreams (Angels Wings) from his opponent RJ Singh.
On April 3, 2010, XWA promoted their first ever show at The Carleton in Morecambe, XWA War on the Shore VI. The show closed with Johnny Phere beating Spud for the British Heavyweight Title, but then Lambert appeared on the stage and cut a promo announcing the birth of a new regime in the XWA, The Authority. At this, Alex Shane attacked Phere, Lambert called for the bell, and Shane pinned Phere in under a minute to win the title in an unscheduled match. Shane and Lambert are now aligned as The Authority, a sinister group who claim to rule the whole of British Wrestling.
The Authority has appeared in both the XWA and Future-Shock Wrestling during 2010, with Lambert accompanying Shane to ringside for his matches with Johnny Phere and Raynaldo.
In August 2011 The Wrestling Press fanzine voted Lambert the 20th best in a list of the Top 25 wrestling managers of all-time.
, Bethnal Green
on January 12, 2007, as manager of NWA:UK Hammerlock star Jon Ryan for Real Quality Wrestling
. Lambert challenged any wrestler to last five minutes or more with Ryan without tapping out, offering £10,000 cash to whoever could meet the challenge. IPW:UK
star Paul Robinson took up the challenge but Ryan made him submit in three minutes. This match was shown on Sky
Digital channel 427 (TWC Fight) on February 7, 2007.
On Saturday March 24, 2007 at the York Hall, Ryan (managed by Lambert) destroyed Tom De Morney in 53 seconds then beat up RQW security guards. Lambert then managed Hade Vansen
against Ryan's arch-rival James Tighe
, but Tighe defeated Vansen to earn a rematch with Ryan on a future RQW event (this was shown on RQW TV on May 8, 2007). At the end of the show Lambert sent Ryan and Vansen to attack Martin Stone
and Jody Fleisch
, setting up a tag team main event for April 20's RQW show, which Ryan and Vansen won after Lambert interfered. This was Greg's final appearance as a heel manager, to date.
In the storyline, The Truth missed several RQW TV tapings after that because he was banned from the building by RQW management. The promotion folded soon afterwards.
A big fight fan since the early 80s, Greg MC'd the European Boxing Federation's 'Fight Night 3' night of white-collar boxing at The Carleton in Morecambe on Friday November 9, 2007. This has led to Greg MCing further EBF shows starting in Carlisle on November 30, 2007, then in Chorley on March 8, 2008, in Blackpool on March 14, and back in Morecambe on April 4, 2008. On October 17, 2008, Greg was MC for a fight involving former two-time World Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon in Morecambe. On December 27, 2008 he MCd in front of 1,200 fans on a 15-fight show at the Syndicate Superclub in Blackpool, then in front of 1,500 fans on a 20-fight show on May 22, 2009. Greg is now a regular ring announcer for the EBF. He also branched out to MC the Mixed Martial Arts event 'Ultimate Cage Championships' in Blackpool on September 17, 2010.
In 2007/8 Greg starred in an entertainments TV show for The Visitor newspaper called 'It's All Happening'. The regular on-line fun broadcast (available to see at www.thevisitor.co.uk) saw Greg appear alongside TV stars such as The Hairy Bikers, boy band singer Antony Costa and actor Kevin Kennedy - formerly Curly Watts from Coronation Street.
He MCd the Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers' 'Talent On Show' finals at The Grand Theatre, Lancaster, on Saturday June 20, 2009.
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...
manager, journalist, promoter and ring announcer.
Early years
From 1990-1994, Lambert studied English and History at Keele UniversityKeele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
. He worked as a customer service manager at BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, before resigning to study journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
from 2001-2002.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Lambert entered the UK wrestling business after a chance meeting with Dann Read while attending FWA Revival at Crystal Palace Indoor Arena on February 9, 2002 (the day he also met Alex Shane for the first time). His first show was for Read's New Era Wrestling at Ipswich on July 13, 2002, where he commentated on the event for Ipswich Community Radio.
Lambert began writing for Power Slam
Power Slam
Power Slam is an independent monthly non-kayfabe wrestling magazine published in the United Kingdom by SW Publishing, with co-publishers Findlay Martin and Colin Bowman. It began life as Superstars of Wrestling before altering to its current name after 30 issues in 1994. The magazine's UK-wide...
magazine in 2002 and has been employed by PS - Europe's top independent wrestling magazine - for eight years, during which time he has interviewed some of the biggest names in the world of wrestling including CM Punk, Bret Hart, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, 'Road Dogg' BG James, Colt Cabana, Davari, D-Lo Brown, Steve Corino and Rene Dupree.
Lambert was made co-host of the Talk Wrestling show on TalkSport, alongside top British wrestler 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:...
, and Simon Lilsboy of The Sun, and appeared on several Saturday night broadcasts in 2002. He then became a 'heel' wrestling manager for the FWA, one of the biggest, best and most notorious UK wrestling promotions of the 21st century.
The FWA Years 2003-6 and 2009-
Greg 'The Truth' Lambert debuted as an obnoxious 'heel' wrestling manager for the FWA at FWA New Frontiers on February 8, 2003, at WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, instigating an attack on Alex Shane by the UK Pitbulls
UK Pitbulls
The UK Pitbulls were a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of brothers Bulk and Big Dave . Their motto was "if we don't beat you, we eat you!". They held a number of titles in the United Kingdom, notably in their own promotion and in some minor United States promotions...
. He proclaimed himself Britain's Number One Wrestling Journalist, bringing a notepad and pen to ringside for matches. Lambert gained acclaim as one of Britain's top wrestling managers due to his ability to get crowds to hate and heckle him. Fans love to chant 'Harry Potter!' at Lambert due to his ringside attire of a long dark coat and glasses.
Lambert allied himself with wrestling 'cult' The Family, becoming their manager at FWA Crunch on March 16, 2003, in Broxbourne during an angle when they attacked female wrestler Nikita (now Katie Lea in the WWE), girlfriend of Alex Shane. Later that night The Family (Paul Travell and Scott Parker), with Lambert at ringside, beat Alex Shane and Ulf Herman to become British Tag Team Champions.
Lambert went on to lead The Family to three FWA Tag Team Titles during this tremendous feud with Alex Shane and Ulf Herman, which raged throughout 2003 at venues all over the UK. It included a six-person tag at FWA/ROH Frontiers of Honor on May 17, 2003, at the York Hall in Bethnal Green (The Family - Brandon Thomas
Brandon Thomas
Walter Brandon Thomas was an English actor, playwright and song writer, best known as the author of the farce Charley's Aunt....
, Scott Parker and Paul Travell, defeated Alex Shane, Ulf Herman and Nikita). Later Lambert was at ringside when The Family beat Shane and Herman in a First Blood match
Professional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
at FWA Vendetta 2003 in Broxbourne on June 22, 2003. The match ended when Raj Ghosh, whom Lambert had recruited to The Family, smashed Ulf Herman in the head with a glass trophy, cutting him open.
Lambert was at ringside when The Family met Ulf Herman
Ulf Herman
Ulf Nadrowski is a German professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ulf Herman. He is best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998-1999 where he would join with the Full Blooded Italians faction...
and Mikey Whipwreck
Mikey Whipwreck
John Watson , better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the third ECW Triple Crown Champion....
in the final match of their feud at FWA's answer to WrestleMania
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
- British Uprising 2 at the York Hall in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
on October 18, 2003. After Herman and Whipwreck won, Lambert was tied to the ropes and blindfolded by Ulf Herman, who was about to smash him with a vicious chair shot when 'The Truth' was saved by Alex Shane, who turned on the 7-foot German with a brutal chair assault.
At FWA Crunch on April 11, 2004, he tried to recruit the wrestling butler Simmons to The Family but was unsuccessful. He managed The Family as Hampton Court beat them for the FWA Tag Team Titles at Vendetta 2004 at Broxbourne Civic Hall, Hertfordshire in July 2004, in a match where Paul Travell turned on Lambert and his team-mates. Then he announced that The Family had split up and briefly managed The Triad - Drew McDonald, Thunder and Raj Ghosh. With Lambert at ringside, The Triad lost to Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
, Paul Birchall and Paul Travell at British Uprising 3 on November 13, 2004 (in a match refereed by WWF manager Jimmy Hart
Jimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
), in front of FWA's biggest-ever crowd of 1800 at Coventry SkyDome.
Lambert later managed Iceman in FWA and Damage Control in GPW. He also appeared on shows for FSW, IWP (where he managed WWE star Paul Burchill
Paul Burchill
Paul Birchill , better known by his ring name Paul Burchill, is an English professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he signed after training and debuting for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance in his home country.-Frontier Wrestling Alliance...
, including a match against D'Lo Brown
D'Lo Brown
Accie Julius Connor better known by his ring name D'Lo Brown , is an American professional wrestler. Well known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment, he is currently working as an agent for Impact Wrestling.Connor has held forty-eight championships in various promotions during...
in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in November 2004) and WAW.
Lambert confronted American wrestling journalist Bill Apter
Bill Apter
Bill Apter is a journalist specializing in professional wrestling and best known for the kayfabe or so-called "mark" magazines for which he edited and photographed matches from the 1970s to the present. The magazine he became most prominently known for was Pro Wrestling Illustrated...
at International Showdown at Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
SkyDome Arena
SkyDome Arena
The SkyDome Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Coventry, England. It was built in 1999. It is home to the Coventry Blaze Ice hockey team...
on March 19, 2005 (in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,500) in a segment also featuring 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:...
and WWE legend Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
. Managed Shane, Stixx and Stone and Iceman against Foley, Sandman, Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
and Paul Travell on November 12, 2005. On April 2, 2006 Lambert managed Iceman in an incredibly brutal hardcore match against Paul Travell at FWA Crunch in Broxbourne. The match ended with both men bloody, and in a no-contest, when Travell finally got his hands on Lambert after a near two-year feud, body slamming him on a canvas full of drawing pins and then delivering a flying Bloodshot Splash from the top rope. Greg made his final appearance as a heel manager with FWA in July 2006.
During his 'performing' career with the FWA, Greg was a regular on the FWA TV show on Sky Digital's The Wrestling Channel. Between 2003 and 2007 he was regarded as one of the top two pro wrestling managers in the UK alongside 'The Twisted Genius' Dean Ayass
Dean Ayass
Dean Ayass is a semi-retired British wrestling manager and commentator.-Early career:Ayass grew up as a wrestling fan: in interviews, he has stated that some of his earliest memories involving watching wrestling on ITV's World of Sport programme with his father...
.
In May 2009 it was announced that the Frontier Wrestling Alliance would be making a comeback. Lambert debuted as a heel colour commentator at the FWA's comeback show, FWA New Frontiers 2009, at Broxbourne Civic Hall on Sunday, August 2, 2009, alongside Dave 'Stats' Bradshaw. Lambert has formed a critically acclaimed double act with Bradshaw on subsequent FWA live broadcasts and on FWA's weekly online TV show 'Front Line'.
On Saturday November 12 2010 at FWA European Uprising, held as part of the Memorabilia Weekend at the NEC in Birmingham, Alex Shane was special referee for the World Heavyweight Title match between Martin Stone and Leroy Kincaide. Shane turned on Kincaide, costing him the match. Lambert then left the commentary position and raised his black gloved hand to the sky, a move which was then followed by Shane, his protege and HM the Queen's royal footman David Deville, and Agenda members Joel Redman and Iestyn Rees. It appeared that Lambert and Shane were in cahoots in FWA, just as they had been in Lambert's promotion XWA since April 2010, and had formed a sinister faction to rule the FWA.
Soon afterwards, Lambert was appointed FWA's Head of Content, replacing his cohort Alex Shane.
Promoting and booking in UK wrestling
Alongside boyhood best friend Mark Kay, Lambert brought wrestling back regularly to the Morecambe Dome. He promoted shows in Morecambe from 2003 to the present day featuring RavenSteve Levy
Steve Levy is a journalist for ESPN.-Early life and career:Levy was a 1987 graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego. He also attended John F. Kennedy High School...
, D'Lo Brown, Steve Corino, Juventud Guerrera
Juventud Guerrera
Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
, 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...
, and stars of Pro Wrestling Noah
Pro Wrestling Noah
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
in Japan. Under Lambert and Kay's promotion, FWA regularly attracted sell-out crowds to The Dome from 2003-7 for shows that gained generally strong reviews from UK fans and wrestling media.
Lambert became assistant booker of FWA in late 2004 and was co-booker (with Alex Shane) throughout 2005. Alongside Mark Kay, Lambert took over running the FWA in January 2006.
In his hometown of Morecambe, Lambert played a 'good guy' authority figure and MC from 2006 to 2010. Greg had several run-ins with hated British Heavyweight Champion
British Heavyweight Championship
The British Heavyweight Championship is a top British wrestling championship found throughout the country's circuit.Many versions of the British Heavyweight Championship exist in the independent circuit of the United Kingdom at any given time but the scene is usually dominated by one companies...
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...
on shows at The Dome in 2006. Brookside bullied and berated Lambert at every turn, even decking him with a punch in front of his home town fans after the Liverpudlian won the FWA Title in Morecambe on July 15, 2006.
Since April 2007 Greg has continued as promoter and booker of the XWA (which evolved from the FWA) continuing to draw big crowds by UK wrestling standards to The Dome, and is now regarded as one of the best promoters and bookers in UK wrestling.
Greg also worked backstage on some of the biggest UK shows of the modern era. He assisted Alex Shane, as his right-hand man, to promote FWA British Uprising 3 (which drew 1800 fans to Coventry SkyDome on November 13, 2004), International Showdown (3,500 fans at the Skydome on March 19, 2005, headlined by Mick Foley, CM Punk, Raven, Mitsuharu Misawa, Scorpio and Samoa Joe)and Universal Uproar (2,800 fans at the Skydome on November 12, 2005, headlined by Kenta Kobashi and Mick Foley). Greg's roles on these shows included running the shows backstage, booking flights for international talent, liasing with national and local media, and assisting with creative matters (at Uprising 3). He also worked behind-the-scenes during the second night of the King of Europe Cup tournament on April 29, 2007 at Liverpool Olympia - a groundbreaking tournament organised by Alex Shane and Doug Williams featuring 16 top wrestlers from 16 top worldwide promotions.
Greg also assisted Alex Shane - promoter of TNA's first UK tour- with behind-the-scenes matters when TNA toured the UK for the first time in June 2008.
In December 2009 Lambert was appointed to the Council of Advisors for the British Wrestling Council, British Wrestling's first ever governing body.
On June 20, 2010, Lambert announced a coalition between XWA and FWA at the debut Adrenaline event at Sports Nottingham, and that Adrenaline would become part of the XWA brand.
Greg appeared as a guest trainer at the first ever British Wrestling Council National Training Expo at Sports Nottingham on August 15, 2010 and also appeared on the panel of industry experts in the first ever Exhibition Wrestling event that evening, alongside Robbie Brookside, Drew McDonald, Mark Sloan, Alex Shane, Len Davies and Justin Richards.
FWA vs IPW:UK
On October 15, 2006 Lambert, playing his heelHeel (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...
character, interrupted the IPW:UK show at Broxbourne Civic Hall and launched the feud between FWA and IPW:UK - where the losing UK company would cease to exist. In a hot angle, Lambert berated IPW:UK and its owner Daniel Edler as a 'copycat company' who had ridden the FWA's coat-tails to the top of British wrestling. The segment ended with Alex Shane appearing in the Broxbourne ring to deliver a vicious chair shot to Edler.
On February 18, 2007 Lambert made an appearance at IPW:UK's show Battle Two at Orpington Halls, Kent, announcing that Alex Shane had a neck injury and a replacement would be found to wrestle on behalf of FWA against Martin Stone at Final Frontiers - where the losing company would cease to exist. Lambert then instigated an attack on IPW competitor Ashley Reed by his former FWA charge 'The Messiah' Brandon Thomas. Later in the evening Lambert managed James Tighe (FWA) against Martin Stone (IPW) but Tighe lost, then turned on Lambert and FWA, handing The Truth over to a mob of IPW wrestlers. Lambert was then thrown out of the building through the fire exit.
Despite all Greg's efforts, the FWA was forced to fold on Sunday March 25 when his hand-picked FWA representative Flash Barker lost to Martin Stone in the main event of FWA v IPW:UK Final Frontiers at the Orpington Halls. This historic match ended when FWA Champion Robbie Brookside smashed Barker with the FWA Title and then flattened Lambert at ringside, before Stone scored the pin with a London Bridge DDT. At the end of the show a distraught Lambert sat in the ring, seemingly unwilling to believe that the FWA was dead.
The XWA 2007-present
Days after Final Frontiers, Lambert announced that due to the controversial ending to the Stone-Barker match he wasn't taking the death of the FWA lying down and therefore was starting a new wrestling promotion - the XWA solely to run events in Morecambe. In reality the whole FWA v IPW:UK feud had been a 'storyline cover' for Greg's real-life wish to break away from the old FWA way of doing things and change the name of the promotion.The first XWA show was on April 7, 2007 at the sold-out Morecambe Dome, where Lambert's presence at ringside distracted the man he blamed for killing the FWA, Robbie Brookside, so he lost the British Heavyweight Title to 'The Wonderkid' Jonny Storm.
With Brookside gone from XWA, Lambert's new arch-rival in XWA was Stevie Knight, who had verbal confrontations with Greg both at XWA Vendetta on June 30, 2007 and at Battle of Britain on September 29, 2007.
On September 30, 2007 Greg promoted XWA's first ever live wrestling event at the Hexagon, Lancaster and Morecambe College.
XWA ran four events at The Dome in 2008 and two at the Hexagon. They also ran two events at The Delphi Club, Sudbury in Suffolk, in 2009.
In January 2008 Greg campaigned hard after the Dome was threatened with closure due to Lancaster City Council cutbacks, starting a Facebook petition to 'Save The Morecambe Dome' (which gained nearly 500 members in four days) and writing a number of articles for The Visitor making the public aware of the possible closure of the popular venue. On January 22, 2008, Greg's 36th birthday, Lancaster City Council bowed to pressure and announced they would keep The Dome open for at least four more years. However, The Dome finally closed in March 2010 after the last FWA show there, Goldrush 2010 on January 30, 2010, and from April 3, 2010 the XWA moved its shows to The Carleton in Morecambe.
The XWA presented its Anniversary Show - War On The Shore 4, on Saturday April 12, 2008 at The Morecambe Dome. This was the XWA's first anniversary, the 25th wrestling show Lambert and Kay have promoted in the Morecambe area, and also their 5th anniversary as wrestling promoters. The show ended with an angle where Martin Stone gatecrashed the Dome and beat up several XWA stars with a cricket bat.
On July 5, 2008 at XWA Vendetta, Stone returned to Morecambe and he and his stable The Firm dragged Lambert into the ring, roughing him up in front of his family and friends. On September 6, 2008 at XWA Last Fight at the Prom this attack motivated Lambert to sign Stone to an XWA contract - only one that should he lose any one of four matches during the next 12 months, he would be banned from ever setting foot in an XWA arena again. The catch was that should Stone win all four matches, Lambert said he would shut down the XWA and leave wrestling forever. On April 11, 2009 at XWA War on the Shore V, Sam Slam beat Martin Stone to rid the XWA of Stone.
On November 1, 2008 Greg welcomed Big Brother star Luke Marsden to the XWA. Greg and Luke were involved in an in-ring segment with wrestlers 'Rockstar' Spud and 'Bombay Dream' Ross Jordan at XWA Battle of Britain at The Hexagon, Lancaster and Morecambe College.
Greg, Mark Kay and partner Martin Shenton opened the new XWA Wrestling Training Centre at Regent Park Studios in Morecambe on January 11, 2009.
In 2009/10, the big rivalry in XWA between Lambert and 'The Psychotic Warrior' Johnny Phere eventually saw Greg return to his heelish ways. Phere demanded that Lambert reinstate him into British Wrestling after losing a Loser Must Leave UK Wrestling match to Jonny Storm. Lambert refused, although the XWA fans put him under huge pressure, and Phere campaigned incessantly. Eventually Greg agreed to allow Phere a Reinstatement Match against Deadly Serious at XWA Last Fight at the Prom 2009. Phere overcame the two-versus-one odds to win and earned his place back as an active wrestler, much to Lambert's dismay.
Meanwhile Greg's cousin Tom Lambert debuted in the XWA. Tom, a hapless but loveable dreamer who had always looked up to his elder cousin, held a lifelong dream of becoming a wrestler. But Greg, claiming he only wanted to protect his relative, refused to let him. Like Phere, Tom campaigned at XWA shows throughout 2009, got the XWA fans behind him and eventually got his way - Greg caved in at Last Fight 2009 and said Tom could have his first match at Goldrush 2010.
At Goldrush on Saturday January 30, 2010, the last show at The Morecambe Dome before it is scheduled to close, Greg turned heel on Tom in an absolute killer angle where he refused to throw in the towel to save his cousin even though Tom had taken five consecutive Sweet Bollywood Dreams (Angels Wings) from his opponent RJ Singh.
On April 3, 2010, XWA promoted their first ever show at The Carleton in Morecambe, XWA War on the Shore VI. The show closed with Johnny Phere beating Spud for the British Heavyweight Title, but then Lambert appeared on the stage and cut a promo announcing the birth of a new regime in the XWA, The Authority. At this, Alex Shane attacked Phere, Lambert called for the bell, and Shane pinned Phere in under a minute to win the title in an unscheduled match. Shane and Lambert are now aligned as The Authority, a sinister group who claim to rule the whole of British Wrestling.
The Authority has appeared in both the XWA and Future-Shock Wrestling during 2010, with Lambert accompanying Shane to ringside for his matches with Johnny Phere and Raynaldo.
In August 2011 The Wrestling Press fanzine voted Lambert the 20th best in a list of the Top 25 wrestling managers of all-time.
Lambert in RQW
Lambert returned to the York HallYork Hall
The York Hall is a health and leisure centre and one of Britain's best known boxing venues.The venue is situated on Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, London, England. The hall, opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, stages boxing as well as providing a gymnasium and swimming pool.The hall is owned...
, Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
on January 12, 2007, as manager of NWA:UK Hammerlock star Jon Ryan for Real Quality Wrestling
Real Quality Wrestling
Real Quality Wrestling is a British professional wrestling organisation. Len Davies is the Owner and chairman of the company and their sister company, Spectrum Multimedia. The company began as an independent promotion, but soon became an umbrella promotion in 2007 with the self-stated aim to...
. Lambert challenged any wrestler to last five minutes or more with Ryan without tapping out, offering £10,000 cash to whoever could meet the challenge. IPW:UK
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...
star Paul Robinson took up the challenge but Ryan made him submit in three minutes. This match was shown on Sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
Digital channel 427 (TWC Fight) on February 7, 2007.
On Saturday March 24, 2007 at the York Hall, Ryan (managed by Lambert) destroyed Tom De Morney in 53 seconds then beat up RQW security guards. Lambert then managed Hade Vansen
Hade Vansen
Hade Vansen is an English professional wrestler who was under a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment until he was released from his contract on January 9, 2009.-Career:...
against Ryan's arch-rival James Tighe
James Tighe
James Tighe is a British professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with Frontier Wrestling Alliance. He currently competes around the United Kingdom.-Professional wrestling career:...
, but Tighe defeated Vansen to earn a rematch with Ryan on a future RQW event (this was shown on RQW TV on May 8, 2007). At the end of the show Lambert sent Ryan and Vansen to attack Martin Stone
Martin 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,...
and 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...
, setting up a tag team main event for April 20's RQW show, which Ryan and Vansen won after Lambert interfered. This was Greg's final appearance as a heel manager, to date.
In the storyline, The Truth missed several RQW TV tapings after that because he was banned from the building by RQW management. The promotion folded soon afterwards.
Personal life
Greg has worked for his hometown newspaper, The Visitor since July 2002. He is the chief reporter and entertainments editor. He has also written freelance articles for Power Slam - Britain's top wrestling magazine -since 2002. Greg is married and has two sons.A big fight fan since the early 80s, Greg MC'd the European Boxing Federation's 'Fight Night 3' night of white-collar boxing at The Carleton in Morecambe on Friday November 9, 2007. This has led to Greg MCing further EBF shows starting in Carlisle on November 30, 2007, then in Chorley on March 8, 2008, in Blackpool on March 14, and back in Morecambe on April 4, 2008. On October 17, 2008, Greg was MC for a fight involving former two-time World Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon in Morecambe. On December 27, 2008 he MCd in front of 1,200 fans on a 15-fight show at the Syndicate Superclub in Blackpool, then in front of 1,500 fans on a 20-fight show on May 22, 2009. Greg is now a regular ring announcer for the EBF. He also branched out to MC the Mixed Martial Arts event 'Ultimate Cage Championships' in Blackpool on September 17, 2010.
In 2007/8 Greg starred in an entertainments TV show for The Visitor newspaper called 'It's All Happening'. The regular on-line fun broadcast (available to see at www.thevisitor.co.uk) saw Greg appear alongside TV stars such as The Hairy Bikers, boy band singer Antony Costa and actor Kevin Kennedy - formerly Curly Watts from Coronation Street.
He MCd the Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers' 'Talent On Show' finals at The Grand Theatre, Lancaster, on Saturday June 20, 2009.
External links
- Article on Greg Lambert in The Wrestling Press pp44–46, Retrieved 14 September 2010
- The XWA's Official Website