Darren Burridge……….. from relative unknown to 1PW Superstar!

Send News


Darren Burridge……….. from relative unknown to 1PW Superstar! By Oliver Newman

'The Pukka One' Darren Burridge has become a huge fan favourite in 1 Pro Wrestling. Burridge has come along way in 1PW during the last 20 months with the biggest match of his career thus far coming up (against Nigel McGuiness at 1PW Invincible on August 18th), this is the story of Darren Burridge's 1PW career thus far………….

1PW A Cruel Twist of Fate (1st October 2005)
Proving ground battle royal for a 1PW Contract

Burridge was one a number of men fighting for a 1PW Contract during a pre show match of A Cruel Twist of Fate (1PW's debut show), the eliminations came thick and fast leaving Burridge and U.S. independent stand out Chad Collyer in the ring. The match format then changed from elimination to a 1 on 1 contest between the two men. During this match Burridge debuted the 'furry dice' that have now became infamous to the 1PW fans. Burridge was able to win the contract in a tightly contested match with the Chav lock (Octopus hold) which caused Collyer to submit.

1PW No Turning Back Night 1 (6th January 2006)
1PW Title tournament qualifying match
Darren Burridge v Doug Williams

What followed was a good technical wrestling match between the two competitors. As Burridge showed that there was more to him than meets the eye, as he managed to go hold for hold with Doug Williams. Still the 1PW fans were apathetic towards Burridge chanting 'Kill the Chav' but the chanting was in vain as Burridge was able to pull off a huge upset by pinning Doug Williams and advancing in the 1PW Title tournament!

1PW No Turning Back Night 2 (7th January 2006)
Darren Burridge v Jay Phoenix

This match was a pre show match at 1PW No Turning Back Night 2. Burridge faced Jay Phoenix, it was during this match that Burridge was slowly but surely obtaining support from the 1PW Fans as there were chants of 'Woo' 'Woo'. Burridge was able to defeat Phoenix with the Chav lock (Octopus hold) that made Chad Collyer submit at 1PW A Cruel Twist of Fate.

1PW All Or Nothing Night 1 (4th March 2006)
1PW Title tournament quarterfinal match
Darren Burridge v Abyss

Burridge took the microphone before the match "I'm representing Great Britain and the 1PW Title belt will stay right here in Doncaster" the fans rallied behind him with chants of 'Woo' 'Woo'. Unfortunately for Burridge on this night the fan support didn't count for much as Abyss was able to win the match in lightning quick fashion with the Blackhole Slam. Even with the devastating loss the fans still showed Burridge they supported him with resounding chants of 'Woo' as he came to his feet.

1PW All Or Nothing Night 2 (5th March 2006)
Team SHAG (Darren Burridge & Colt Cabana) v Southern Comfort (Tracy Smothers & Chris Hamrick)

Team SHAG were able to take the advantage during the early going. Causing Smothers to call for a dance off, this was just a setup though because when Team SHAG started to dance Hamrick and Smothers attacked them turning the match in the favour of Southern Comfort. Smothers and Hamrick isolated Burridge from his partner Cabana for long periods of the match, before Burridge was able to finally tag in Cabana. Cabana came in and cleaned house putting Team SHAG in the ascendancy once more, a low blow from Smothers later and Cabana found himself in a 2 on 1 situation, Smothers and Hamrick setup for a Doomsday Device but Cabana was able to counter with a Victory Roll for the 1, 2 and 3.

1PW Know Your Enemy Night 1 (26th May 2006)
1PW Tag Team Title Tournament Quarterfinals
Team SHAG v Ricky Reyes & Chad Collyer

After Team SHAG's impressive win against Southern Comfort they were entered into the 1PW Tag Title tournament, originally against Reyes and Homicide (The Rottweillers) but Homicide couldn't make it so Chad Collyer substituted. Undoubtly Team SHAG like to have fun when they team together, but underestimate them at your peril. Burridge once more took the brunt of the beating from both Collyer and Reyes even coming close to submitting to the 'Collyer Cloverleaf', Cabana intervened and Team SHAG hit a Colt 45/Neckbreaker combination for the win (Reyes left his partner as the pinfall was taking place).

1PW Fight Club (27th May 2006)
Darren Burridge v Nigel McGuiness

McGuiness and Burridge put forth a tremendous technical wrestling display for the 1PW fans, although Burridge was still having fun a more serious side was shown as he went toe to toe with McGuiness. Burridge showed resilience and persistence in this contest, as he took the best that McGuiness had (in the form of the tower of London and top rope lariat) only to come back and take the upset win! McGuiness was furious after the match and on a second viewing it was clear to see why (McGuiness had managed to at the last spilt second lift his right shoulder of the canvas), the referee didn't see this and continued to count the fall.

1PW Know Your Enemy (27th May 2006)
1PW Tag Title Tournament Semi Finals
Team SHAG v AJ Styles & Chris Daniels

The fun and games start straight away as Cabana and Burridge pose for the big screen. The match starts with Daniels and Cabana squaring off, but as Cabana escapes from Daniels by dancing the mind games begin. Daniels continues the mind games and this leads into a 1PW dance off between all four men! The match does get going once more as Styles and Burridge square off, Styles and Daniels do a tremendous job isolating Burridge from his tag partner. Burridge is resilient once more and finally manages to tag in Cabana, with the tag the momentum shifts to Team SHAG. Daniels is taken out of the equation with a double nipple twister followed by a suicide dive over the top rope by Burridge. Cabana looks set to win the match with the Colt 45 but Styles reverses through into a Styles Clash for the 1, 2 and 3!

1PW Fight Club 2 (1st July 2006)
Darren Burridge & 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka v Stevie Lynn & Jay Phoenix

After the loss in the tag title tournament the previous show Burridge decided it was time to become more serious and with a huge match coming up against 'The best wrestler in the world' Bryan Danielson, Burridge seemed more focused than ever before! Unfortunately for Burridge and the 1PW Fans flight problems stopped the aforementioned match from taking place.

Lynn & Phoenix challenged Burridge it seemed like the match would be 2 on 1 until Burridge introduced Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka to the Barnsley crowd. The first ever 1PW pillow fight took place in a 1PW ring, the crowd were even more firmly behind Burridge with numerous Pukka 1 T-Shirts being worn in different areas of the Barnsley Metrodome. The match broke down with Snuka fighting Phoenix on the arena floor while Burridge was fighting Lynn on the inside. Burridge was able to win the match with a top rope head butt. Snuka and Burridge celebrated the win by partaking in the Chav Shuffle.

1PW Devils Due (29th July 2006)
Andy Boy Simmonz Open Challenge
Darren Burridge v Andy Boy Simmonz

Burridge entered the Gemtec Arena, Hull through the fans. Who are really taking to him, with some even following him around the arena during his entrance! Burridge was more business like on this occasion as he left the antics he had done previously on the backburner and just wrestled Simmonz. It was a sound strategy as Burridge was able to defeat Simmonz with the Chav lock (Octopus hold).

1PW Invincible (19th August 2006)
1PW Tag Team Titles
Team SHAG v Jody Fleisch & Jonny Storm ©

Cabana and Storm start the match with a test of strength, which Storm wins and uses to stamp on his opponents hands. So they tie up again and this time Cabana wins but as he attempts to stamp on Storm's hands, Storm stands on Cabana's feet! Just when you thought the fun and games were over we have a dice off (all four men show their dice to the crowd). With the referee down the match was in the balance, on one hand Fleisch was submitting to Cabana's reverse Boston Crab on the other hand Storm hit the wonderwhirl on Burridge. A new referee entered the fray and counted the pinfall. As the result was in question, the big screen projected the image of a three way tag team ladder match between Team SHAG, Southern Comfort and the 1PW Tag Team Champions Fleisch & Storm at the 1PW Anniversary Show.

1PW Fight Club 3 (14th October 2006)
Team SHAG v The Chavs (Harry Mills & Mark Haskins)

The match started out with fun and games from Team SHAG. Burridge took off the cap of Mills, Cabana took it off Burridge, Cabana took it off himself and put it on the head of the referee! Burridge and Cabana hit the dreaded double nipple twister on Haskins! The Chavs picked up the win courtesy of a low blow by Haskins. The Chavs and Damned Nation began a beat down of Team SHAG until Southern Comfort and Jonny & Jody made the save!

1PW 1 Year Anniversary (14th October 2006)
1PW Tag Titles 3 Way Ladder Match
Team SHAG v Southern Comfort v Jody Fleisch & Jonny Storm ©

With the match in the balance during the early going. Tracy Smothers took the microphone and said: "Lets have ourselves a good old fashioned dance off". Just as the match was picking up Damned Nation interfere as Smothers and Hamrick are climbing the ladder. As Smothers and Hamrick chase Damned Nation away from ringside. Jody, Jonny, Cabana and Burridge are left to fight for the 1PW Tag Titles. Jonny and Jody use their high flying skills to keep Burridge and Cabana down. (With a rewind hurracanrana and leapfrog cross body respectively). Southern Comfort renter the fray, but they can't stop Team SHAG. With two power bombs on Jonny and Jody, Cabana and Burridge climb the ladders and become 1PW Tag Champions for the 1st time!

1PW Fight Club 4 (26th November 2006)
1PW Tag Titles
Team SHAG © v Damned Nation (Majik & Dragon Aisu)

Damned Nation became No1 Contenders to Team SHAG's 1PW Tag Team Titles by winning the tag team gauntlet at the 1 Year Anniversary Show. That wasn't the last time Damned Nation were seen on that night as they interfered in the 3 way tag ladder match between Team SHAG, Fleisch & Storm and Southern Comfort. This was Team SHAG's first chance at revenge and they took it, after a competitive match which could have gone either way Team SHAG finished Majik off with the Colt 45/Neckbreaker combination.

20-man Rumble match to crown 1PW's first ever 'Openweight' Champion

After competing for the 1PW Tag Titles earlier in the night, Team SHAG stepped into the ring as singles competitors during the 1PW Openweight rumble, Cabana came in first and was fairing well until he saw the destruction Ulf Herman was bringing and thought better of it and eliminated himself. Burridge was progressing well in the rumble until he ran into Team Supreme and was consequently eliminated also.

3CW 1PW Will Not Die (13th January 2007)
Three-Way 1PW Tag Team Championship Match:
Team SHAG © (Darren Burridge & Madman Manson) v Damned Nation v Jonny Storm & Jody Fleisch

Team SHAG were Cabana-less, with No Turning Back cancelled Cabana made other plans, so Madman Manson substituted for him. Manson brought his own brand of funny to the match as he proceeded to wrestle himself! Dragon Aisu won the match for the Damned Nation as they were crowned the new 1PW tag team champions .

1PW Resurrection (6th April 2007)
1PW Tag Titles
Team SHAG © v Doug Williams & Nigel McGuiness

With 1PW back in business The Damned Nation were stripped of the 1PW Tag Team Titles, the belts were returned to the previous champions Team SHAG. When this match started you had a feeling something great was about to take place and both teams didn't disappoint as they went toe to toe for 30 minutes putting forth an incredible tag team match that had the 1PW Fans on the feet!

After a series of near falls Burridge was able to pin Williams. After the match, Colt Cabana announced tearfully that he had signed a contract with WWE, and that this would be his last 1PW appearance. He and Burridge embraced, and disbanded Team SHAG, relinquishing the tag team titles in the middle of the ring. The 1PW fans gave Cabana a very emotional and heartfelt send off, and everyone at 1PW wished Cabana every success in the world in the WWE.

1PW Know Your Enemy Night 1 (30th June 2007)
Darren Burridge v Delirious

With Cabana in the WWE, Burridge was back once more as a singles wrestler in 1PW. His opponent this time was the lizard man Delirious, Delirious posed a different threat to Burridge as he is a pretty crazy individual. The match started with a series of hilarious moments but then both men decided to become more serious and with that the contest became more of a straight wrestling match. Burridge was able to take the win with a pinfall on Delirious.

1PW Devil's Due (1st July 2007)
Darren Burridge v Andy Boy Simmonz

These two men aren't strangers to each other after they met at Devil's Due in July 2006, on that occasion Simmonz submitted to the Chav Lock (Octopus Hold). Almost a year later Simmonz and Burridge were in the same ring once more, this time Simmonz was more wiley using everything to his advantage including underhand methods. Burridge became smart to Simmonz though and when Simmonz cheated and wasn't caught, Burridge took the first chance he had and managed to out cheat Simmonz with his feet on the ropes to gain the win.

1PW Know Your Enemy Night 2 (1st July 2007)
Darren Burridge v Scorpio

Two of 1PW's stars meeting for the very first time. Scorpio was returning to 1PW after a short lived stint with the WWE, Burridge was once again thwarted in his quest to wrestle the 'American Dragon' Bryan Danielson (Danielson was booked on a long tour of Japanese wrestling company Pro Wrestling NOAH) and couldn't make it to Doncaster. The replacement match was one that had the fans buzzing though, Burridge and Scorpio brought back the infamous 1PW dance off which was greeted by great applause. With the dancing completed both men wrestled a pretty intense and captivating 20 minute match, with Scorpio on the front foot the bell rang for a 20 minute time limit draw.

Darren Burridge has come along way since the inception of 1PW. Seen as a relative unknown when he entered the Battle Royal on October 1st 2005, his meteoric rise to 1PW fan favourite has been a sight to behold. Although he is a wrestler that likes to have a good time, his wrestling skills are pretty impressive as he has shown numerous time over the past 20 months. Having already gained a pinfall victory (although disputed) over his upcoming opponent Nigel McGuiness, the onus is on McGuiness during this 2/3 falls match. Whatever happens the 1PW fans are in for a treat when Darren Burridge and Nigel McGuiness square off one more time at 1PW Invincible on August 18th 2007.

©2007 Combat Hooligans. Duplication of the content from this website without permission by its author(s) is prohibited. Any news, reports and commentary used from this site must be accompanied by a link to www.combat-hooligans.com