UK Kid
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jones is a British
professional wrestler
better known by his ring name
The UK Kid. Jones has competed in various professional wrestling promotions including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
, Real Quality Wrestling
, All Star Wrestling
, LDN Wrestling, Catch Wrestling Council.
. At the age of 18 he moved to San Antonio, Texas to train at the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy
(later Texas Wrestling Academy
) under Shawn Michaels
. He later went on to train at the Dory Funk's Funking Conservatory. Following his training he went on to make his professional wrestling debut in August 1999, and later would make his debut in the United States against Kris Krugar in San Antonio, Texas.
Varsity Pro Wrestling
In 2006, Jones began running the Varsity Pro Wrestling (VPW) promotion and School of Excellence, performing throughout England as he trained future British stars Robbie Everest, Chris Andrews
, Sam Andrews and others. He also began the training process for WWE superstar, Sheamus The school runs regular sessions several times per week and features guest trainers (such as Bob Holly, Kip James and The Road Dogg) several times per year.
Jones' VPW wrestling events have received wide acclaim as the best on the British wrestling circuit, with many former WWE wrestlers on the roster including Bob 'Hardcore' Holly, former Degeneration X member The Road Dogg, D-lo Brown, Chris Masters, Kip James (AKA Billy Gunn), Shawn Daivari and Al Snow.
In 2007, Jones made an unsuccessful pitch for investment in VPW on Dragon's Den
.
In February 2008, Jones, as the UK Kid, worked an angle on a VPW event in Portsmouth with Billy Gunn, interfering after Gunn's match, beating him with a chair and leaving him bleeding. Gunn vowed revenge on the next VPW Portsmouth show, though it came at the hands of another individual. When a change to Gunn's contractual status with TNA made him incapable of attending the VPW show in May, he sent long-time friend Bob Holly to "teach the UK Kid a lesson", something that Holly accomplished in a tables, ladders and chairs match held in front of over 600 rabid fans.
This highly successful event was followed up with a return to the Portsmouth Guildhall in August, an event that began with the UK Kid revealing that he had arranged for a 15 foot steel cage to be provided and challenged Holly to a rematch. Holly declined, saying that he had already beaten the Kid in a TLC match, so felt it would be unfair to prevent others on the roster getting a chance to humble Jones' arrogant alter-ego. Holly backed "The Devon Powerhouse" Chris Andrews for the match and offered him support in a backstage interview before the match. In the main event of the show, the UK Kid and Andrews wrestled in the cage for over 20 minutes with Andrews obtaining a large gash on his forehead as a result of the intense action. The resourceful UK Kid eventually managed to fight off Andrews' onslaught long enough to retrieve a roll of electrical tape he had sneaked into the cage before the match, and used it to secure Andrews to the ring ropes. With Andrews immobilised, the UK Kid brought a chair into the ring and began pounding his opponent. Bob Holly, who had defeated Matt Vaughn earlier in the evening and was watching backstage, returned to ringside, entered the cage and snatched the chair away from the UK Kid. A tense moment followed before Holly, to the shock of the audience, began beating the defenceless Andrews. Andy Boy Simmonz, Jason Dunce, Jake McCluskey and a host of VPW officials all attempted to come to Andrews' rescue but were prevented from entering the cage by both Holly and the UK Kid. Eventually the beat-down subsided and Andrews - now a bloody mess - was helped backstage and to a local medical facility.
In October, on the next VPW Guildhall show, The UK Kid and Holly revealed their "International Alliance", explaining that Chris Andrews needed to be put in his place, as he was not an International Superstar like either of them. Andrews brought backup in the form of Billy Gunn's long time tag team partner, The Road Dogg and they issued challenges to Holly and the UK Kid respectively. Later that night, UK Kid defeated The Road Dogg by pinfall, following interference by Bob Holly.
Come February 2010 and the promotion's return to Portsmouth, the evening started badly and just got worse for the UK Kid. During an interview segment, he and Bob Holly belittled teenage sensation "Mr. Moonsault" Jake McCluskey, who had just picked up first VPW victory. An impromptu match followed where McCluskey took advantage of the UK Kid's overconfidence, wrapping him up in a small package for his second victory of the night. In the main event of the evening, Holly and the Kid teamed up in a losing effort against Chris Andrews and Billy Gunn.
The following evening in Basingstoke saw the UK Kid gain a measure of revenge, pinning Billy Gunn in a singles match but later being on the losing team in a six man tag match between himself, Bob Holly and Rob Holte facing Gunn, Jake McCluskey and Chris Andrews.
Work for other promotions
In August 2006 The UK Kid teamed with Charlie Rage to lose to The Big Show in a handicap match at Wembley Arena, London for WWE.
On August 28, 2008 at Scottish School of Wrestling
's "Tainted Tradition" event The UK Kid won the SPWO UK Championship after defeating 9 other men in a 10-man Battle royal
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional wrestler
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...
better known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
The UK Kid. Jones has competed in various professional wrestling promotions including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
, 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...
, All Star Wrestling
All Star Wrestling
All Star Wrestling is a British Professional wrestling promotion also known as All Star Promotions, Superslam Wrestling and Big Time Wrestling and originally known as Wrestling Enterprises , run by Brian Dixon and based in Liverpool, England...
, LDN Wrestling, Catch Wrestling Council.
Career
Thomas Jones began training at the age of 16 under Kris Kay in Gosport, EnglandGosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
. At the age of 18 he moved to San Antonio, Texas to train at the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy
Texas Wrestling Academy
The Texas Wrestling Academy is a professional wrestling training school that was operated by Shawn Michaels and Rudy Boy Gonzalez...
(later Texas Wrestling Academy
Texas Wrestling Academy
The Texas Wrestling Academy is a professional wrestling training school that was operated by Shawn Michaels and Rudy Boy Gonzalez...
) under Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
. He later went on to train at the Dory Funk's Funking Conservatory. Following his training he went on to make his professional wrestling debut in August 1999, and later would make his debut in the United States against Kris Krugar in San Antonio, Texas.
Varsity Pro Wrestling
In 2006, Jones began running the Varsity Pro Wrestling (VPW) promotion and School of Excellence, performing throughout England as he trained future British stars Robbie Everest, Chris Andrews
Chris Andrews (wrestler)
Chris Andrews is a British professional wrestler who is best known for his work with the Varsity Pro Wrestling and Real Quality Wrestling promotions, he is a trainee of UK Kid and the VPW School Of Excellence.-Career:...
, Sam Andrews and others. He also began the training process for WWE superstar, Sheamus The school runs regular sessions several times per week and features guest trainers (such as Bob Holly, Kip James and The Road Dogg) several times per year.
Jones' VPW wrestling events have received wide acclaim as the best on the British wrestling circuit, with many former WWE wrestlers on the roster including Bob 'Hardcore' Holly, former Degeneration X member The Road Dogg, D-lo Brown, Chris Masters, Kip James (AKA Billy Gunn), Shawn Daivari and Al Snow.
In 2007, Jones made an unsuccessful pitch for investment in VPW on Dragon's Den
Dragons' Den (UK)
Dragons' Den is a British television series, hosted by Evan Davis. The format of the show is owned by Sony Pictures and is based on the original Japanese series, which has been sold around the world...
.
In February 2008, Jones, as the UK Kid, worked an angle on a VPW event in Portsmouth with Billy Gunn, interfering after Gunn's match, beating him with a chair and leaving him bleeding. Gunn vowed revenge on the next VPW Portsmouth show, though it came at the hands of another individual. When a change to Gunn's contractual status with TNA made him incapable of attending the VPW show in May, he sent long-time friend Bob Holly to "teach the UK Kid a lesson", something that Holly accomplished in a tables, ladders and chairs match held in front of over 600 rabid fans.
This highly successful event was followed up with a return to the Portsmouth Guildhall in August, an event that began with the UK Kid revealing that he had arranged for a 15 foot steel cage to be provided and challenged Holly to a rematch. Holly declined, saying that he had already beaten the Kid in a TLC match, so felt it would be unfair to prevent others on the roster getting a chance to humble Jones' arrogant alter-ego. Holly backed "The Devon Powerhouse" Chris Andrews for the match and offered him support in a backstage interview before the match. In the main event of the show, the UK Kid and Andrews wrestled in the cage for over 20 minutes with Andrews obtaining a large gash on his forehead as a result of the intense action. The resourceful UK Kid eventually managed to fight off Andrews' onslaught long enough to retrieve a roll of electrical tape he had sneaked into the cage before the match, and used it to secure Andrews to the ring ropes. With Andrews immobilised, the UK Kid brought a chair into the ring and began pounding his opponent. Bob Holly, who had defeated Matt Vaughn earlier in the evening and was watching backstage, returned to ringside, entered the cage and snatched the chair away from the UK Kid. A tense moment followed before Holly, to the shock of the audience, began beating the defenceless Andrews. Andy Boy Simmonz, Jason Dunce, Jake McCluskey and a host of VPW officials all attempted to come to Andrews' rescue but were prevented from entering the cage by both Holly and the UK Kid. Eventually the beat-down subsided and Andrews - now a bloody mess - was helped backstage and to a local medical facility.
In October, on the next VPW Guildhall show, The UK Kid and Holly revealed their "International Alliance", explaining that Chris Andrews needed to be put in his place, as he was not an International Superstar like either of them. Andrews brought backup in the form of Billy Gunn's long time tag team partner, The Road Dogg and they issued challenges to Holly and the UK Kid respectively. Later that night, UK Kid defeated The Road Dogg by pinfall, following interference by Bob Holly.
Come February 2010 and the promotion's return to Portsmouth, the evening started badly and just got worse for the UK Kid. During an interview segment, he and Bob Holly belittled teenage sensation "Mr. Moonsault" Jake McCluskey, who had just picked up first VPW victory. An impromptu match followed where McCluskey took advantage of the UK Kid's overconfidence, wrapping him up in a small package for his second victory of the night. In the main event of the evening, Holly and the Kid teamed up in a losing effort against Chris Andrews and Billy Gunn.
The following evening in Basingstoke saw the UK Kid gain a measure of revenge, pinning Billy Gunn in a singles match but later being on the losing team in a six man tag match between himself, Bob Holly and Rob Holte facing Gunn, Jake McCluskey and Chris Andrews.
Work for other promotions
In August 2006 The UK Kid teamed with Charlie Rage to lose to The Big Show in a handicap match at Wembley Arena, London for WWE.
On August 28, 2008 at Scottish School of Wrestling
Scottish School of Wrestling
This is a fan page which is being ruined by others-SSW Titles and Current Holders:-Men:-Diamonds:-Tag Teams:-Alumni/Guests:-SSW Title:The SSW Title, is the most prestigious honour that can be bestowed in SSW...
's "Tainted Tradition" event The UK Kid won the SPWO UK Championship after defeating 9 other men in a 10-man Battle royal
Battle royal
Battle royal traditionally refers to a fight involving three or more combatants that is fought until only one fighter remains standing. In recent times the term has been used in a more general sense to refer to any fight involving large numbers of people that are not organized into factions...
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Scottish School of WrestlingScottish School of WrestlingThis is a fan page which is being ruined by others-SSW Titles and Current Holders:-Men:-Diamonds:-Tag Teams:-Alumni/Guests:-SSW Title:The SSW Title, is the most prestigious honour that can be bestowed in SSW...
- SPWO UK Championship (1 time)