Greg Lambert (wrestling)
Grég Lambert (born January 22, 1972 in Morecambe, Lancashire) is a professional wrestling manager, commentator, journalist, author, promoter and ring announcer.[1][2]
Early years
From 1990-1994, Lambert studied English and History at Keele University. He worked as a customer service manager at BT Group, 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 (PS) magazine in 2002 and has been employed by PS (Europe's top independent wrestling magazine) for over a decade, 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, Shawn Daivari, 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 lesser-known 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 2009-11
Greg 'The Truth' Lambert debuted as an obnoxious 'heel' wrestling manager for the FWA at FWA New Frontiers on February 8, 2003, at Walthamstow, 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, as relating 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 he 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 FutureShock, IWP (where he managed WWE star Paul Burchill, including a match against D'Lo Brown in Hull in November 2004) and WAW, where he managed an FWA squad of Doug Williams, James Tighe, Spud and Stixx to victory over a WAW team of Ricky Knight, Zak Zodiac, The Zebra Kid and Jason Cross to lift the British Inter-Federation Cup in Bournemouth on May 28 2005.
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.[citation needed]
Lambert returned to the York Hall, 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.
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.
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 Bradshaw. Lambert formed a critically acclaimed[citation needed] double act with Bradshaw on subsequent FWA live broadcasts and on FWA's weekly online TV show 'Front Line'. Lambert has also commentated on XWA DVD releases and the BritWresFest event at The Coronet Theatre, London, on April 1 2012, as seen on Challenge TV's BWC British Wrestling Round Up in 2013.
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 protégé and HM the Queen's royal footman David Deville, and Agenda members Joel Redman (now Oliver Grey in WWE NXT) 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. However Lambert made his final appearance for FWA in March 2011.
Greg became the regular play-by-play commentator, alongside Chris 'G-Man' Garrett, for Preston City Wrestling in August 2012.
Promoting and booking in UK wrestling
Alongside boyhood best friend Mark Kay, Lambert brought wrestling back regularly to the Morecambe Dome. He has promoted shows in Morecambe from 2003 to the present day, featuring Raven, 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.
FWA vs IPW:UK
On October 15, 2006, Lambert, playing his heel 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 - as seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z6dpNYDZHQ.
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 2007-2012
Days after Final Frontiers, Lambert announced that due to the controversial ending to the Stone-Barker match he was not 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 XWA 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. 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 on 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 September 5 2008 at XWA Last Fight at the Prom, Stone beat El Ligero, who had Greg in his corner. Then 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 2008 (UK) star Luke Marsden to the XWA. Greg and Luke were involved in an in-ring segment with wrestlers 'Rockstar' Spud and 'Bollywood Dream' RJ Singh 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 (Tom Chamberlain) 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 was closed, 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 were then aligned as The Authority, a sinister group who claim to rule the whole of British Wrestling.
The Authority 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.
At XWA Last Fight at the Prom on October 8, 2011, Johnny Phere regained the XWA Title and then gave Lambert a Ram Slam.
At Goldrush 2012, the last show at The Carleton before it closed, Greg turned face again and went back to being a law-abiding authority figure. XWA then began a feud with their North West rivals GPW. At War on the Shore 2012 on May 12 2012 at The Hexagon, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lambert had a confrontation with GPW promoter Johnnie 'Heresy' Brannigan which ended when Brannigan booted Greg in the nether regions and threw Morecambe Bay Shrimps all over him. This led to the XWA v GPW Vendetta inter-promotional series on Saturday, July 28 2012 at The Hexagon. On an incredible night of wrestling in a 'football match' style atmosphere, Team XWA lost to Team GPW by four points to five when Joey Hayes turned heel on Johnny Phere, costing him the deciding match. Afterwards, an emotional Lambert announced he was taking a break from promoting shows with the XWA. An announcement on the XWA website says "there are no further XWA events scheduled". The XWA v GPW feud, booked by Lambert, received rave reviews from fans.
Since June 2012 Greg remained involved in UK wrestling as commentator for up-and-coming British company Preston City Wrestling, initially alongside Chris 'G-Man' Garrett and later partnering Matt 'Stallion' Whitfield.
Phere The Truth
After Greg closed down the XWA, his longtime arch-rival Johnny Phere took over the Morecambe wrestling school and began running small trainee shows at Regent Park Studios under the name of P.A.I.D Promotions (PAID standing for Passion, Ambition, Intensity and Dedication). Phere turned heel on these shows and began a feud with Jynkz. Lambert eventually returned as PAID Promotions ring announcer, claiming he had agreed to do so to keep an eye on Phere. Eventually Phere and Jynkz met in a 'Loser Leaves PAID Promotions' match on July 7 2013 where had Phere lost, Lambert would have returned as promoter. But in a shocking development, Greg turned on Jynkz during the match and helped Phere win. Afterwards the former enemies announced they had formed an alliance. Greg is now Johnny Phere's manager and they call themselves 'Phere The Truth'.
On August 25 2013 at P.A.I.D Promotions' debut show at Morecambe FC's Globe Arena, PhereTheTruth interrupted the start of the show and cancelled the scheduled tournament to determine the first P.A.I.D Promotions Champion. Instead, Lambert announced that Phere was awarding himself the belt! Later after Stixx defeated Craig Kollins to become number one contender, Phere attacked Stixx with a piledriver, then attacked him afterwards in the dressing room before scrawling 'LIAR' in marker pen on his back. This is known as 'the Phere brand'. Phere The Truth have given several interviews where they complain Johnny Phere doesn't get enough respect on the British Wrestling scene and anyone who disagrees with their claim that Phere is the 'Best in Europe' is lying to themselves...in short, they Phere The Truth.
With Lambert at his side, Phere has successfully defended the title three times in 2013. The pair have also branded Ricky J McKenzie, Bubblegum and in an angle on the December 1 Fightmare Before Christmas show at the Globe Arena, Santa Claus!
Phere, with Lambert in his corner, is due to defend the championship in a grudge Chains Match against Stixx at the Globe Arena on Sunday, February 16 2014.
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.
Greg is a boxing ring announcer for semi-professional and amateur events and has worked on shows with former World Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon and British boxing legend Nigel Benn.
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 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 and hosted The Visitor's Sunshine Ball awards night from 2010-12.
He hosted The Resident radio show on Diversity FM in Lancaster from 2011-12.
In November 2012 Greg released his first book 'Holy Grail: The true story of British Wrestling's revival'. It has received five star reviews, a full page feature in The Daily Star's Fighting Talk column and was the number one best-selling wrestling book on Amazon Kindle UK throughout much of December 2012-January 2013, outselling books by Bret Hart, Chris Jericho and The Undertaker. Lambert embarked on a book signing tour of UK wrestling shows in London, Glasgow, Stockport, Preston, Liverpool and Hull from January to March 2013. Copies of Holy Grail are available from www.authorhouse.co.uk
References
- ↑ "Greg Lambert". British Wrestling Council. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ↑ "Trainers". Regent Park Studios. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
External links
- Article on Greg Lambert, in The Wrestling Press, pp. 44–46, Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- The XWA's Official Website