Potteries-born Dean Allmark will take on Rampage Brown in a major title contested by two bitterly determined wrestlers at Stoke's Victoria Hall on Saturday March 16.
The event has been billed as the ultimate decider for Britain's most prestigious wrestling championship.
Both men have enjoyed reigns as All Star Superslam number one with the title and glittering belt more closely associated in recent times with The Victoria Hall than any other venue around the country. It was here Brown, trained in his native Yorkshire by former top wrestler and referee Jeff Kaye, caused a major upset in 2009 seeing off seven other rivals including former champions in a Victoria Hall tournament that decided a new number one after injury forced 'Liverpool Lad' Robbie Brookside to relinquish the belt.
Fast forward to 2010 and Brown arrived at The Victoria Hall on a cold October evening with two major titles to his name but, barely four hours later, left with none after Potteries fans saw three championship changes in quick succession. Firstly, in a double challenge, Brown’s UEWA European heavyweight belt and the world heavy middleweight crown of another Stoke star, Mikey Whiplash, were on the line and it was Whiplash who gained a disputed win.
Later, Whiplash lost the UEWA belt to James Mason while Brown’s Superslam crown, was on the line against ‘Xtreme’ Dean and looked in command against Allmark until walking into an out of the blue super kick that floored him for the full count. Brown didn't waste time feeling sorry for himself setting off to campaign in the United States for WWE in the opening months of 2011 before returning to re-establish himself as champion.
That's how it has stayed with Brown delivering ever more powerful displays as Superslam belt holder while Allmark, now based on the Wirral, has become his most persistent challenger. Dean also continues as head coach for the All Star Training School, helped on the administrative side by wife Letitia, daughter of All Star managing director Brian Dixon and former 'Queen of the Ring' Mitzi Mueller.
But it was in the Stoke area that Dean received his wrestling grounding from tough teachers Keith Myatt and Chris Curtis at the aptly named ‘Camp of Pain’ before making his professional debut at Longton. Following a breakthrough with All Star Wrestling, Europe’s longest-established promotion now into a 43 year, Dean enjoyed success on the solo front and also as one half of a title winning ’Dream Team’ tag combination partnering fellow Stoke campaigner Kid Cool.
Tickets can be purchased at The Regent Theatre Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or at www.atgtickets.com/stoke.
