{"id":73306,"date":"2020-07-25T15:40:16","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T19:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/?p=73306"},"modified":"2020-07-25T15:40:27","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T19:40:27","slug":"tna-british-boot-camp-where-are-they-now-season-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2020\/07\/25\/tna-british-boot-camp-where-are-they-now-season-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"TNA British Boot Camp \u2013 Where Are They Now? (Season 1 & 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2013, BSkyB<\/strong> worked with TNA Productions<\/strong> and commissioned two series of British Boot Camp as they aggressively attempted to build their UK wrestling audience. The show was to air on Challenge and would build on the theme of WWE’s Tough Enough<\/strong> and TNA’s Gut Check<\/strong>, a feature that ran on episodes of IMPACT<\/strong> where independent wrestlers would try out for a roster spot.\u00a0 The theory was that this would show TNA’s commitment to new and exciting independent talent and build international relations for the company.\u00a0 They were already expanding into India, Japan, and Mexico through cross-promotional events and there was a plan to hold a similar boot camp show in Western Australia but it never materialised.<\/p>\n

It made sense for the UK to be one of their first major attempts as they held a large portion of the TV audience thanks to IMPACT having a primetime TV slot on a freeview channel which also provided PPVs for no charge.\u00a0 The annual Maximum IMPACT tour was a must-see event for many UK fans as they enjoyed capacity crowds which led to several IMPACT tapings being held as part of the tour.\u00a0 TNA had a solid grip in the TV ratings war in the UK and would regularly run equal to or exceeding both Raw<\/strong> and Smackdown<\/strong> and was the only nationalised non-WWE wrestling product broadcast.<\/p>\n

Unlike WWE at that point, TNA were happy to put gold on their British stars with The British Invasion<\/strong> winning tag team gold, Doug Williams<\/strong> winning the X Division and Television titles, Rob Terry<\/strong> winning the Global title and Magnus<\/strong> capturing the heavyweight title.\u00a0 Along with other talent such as Mark Haskins<\/strong> and Nigel McGuiness<\/strong> (as Desmond Wolfe<\/strong>), there was plenty of local talent to draw in the UK fanbase.<\/p>\n

Series One broadcast in January 2013 with a cast of four hopefuls competing for a contract.\u00a0 It was heavily themed around being a fly on the wall \u201clearning the business\u201d reality show as they come to terms stepping up from the independent scene to a \u201cmajor\u201d company like TNA.\u00a0 The coach for the series was UK legend Rollerball Rocco<\/strong>, an old friend and tag partner of Hulk Hogan<\/strong> from back in the day.<\/p>\n

So who were the competitors and where are they now?<\/h2>\n

\u201cParty\u201d Marty Scurll<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before he was The Villain<\/em>, Marty Scurll<\/strong> portrayed a happy go lucky party boy oozing with self-confidence and machismo.\u00a0 While he won\u2019t look back on Boot Camp as a career highlight he did provide some great entertainment while being interviewed by national media saying Dixie Carter<\/strong> is fit and he \u201cwould\u201d, implying he would like to get to know her more\u2026\u2026intimately.\u00a0 This led to him getting an on-air scalding for unprofessionalism but he then went on to pull one of The Blossom Twins<\/strong> in a bar segment, so things turned out ok for him.<\/p>\n

Despite failing to win the show, Marty has gone on to have a stellar career, initially revamping his entire character to The Villain<\/em> in while working with Progress in 2014, he then went on to both NJPW<\/strong> and ROH<\/strong> where he joined Bullet Club<\/strong>. Additionally, he won the ROH TV Championship and held with IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.\u00a0 As of January 2020, he signed a new multi-year contract with ROH where he is now also head booker.\u00a0 Scurll is currently under investigation by ROH following allegations made about him as part of the #SpeakingOut movement<\/p>\n

The Blossom Twins<\/strong><\/h3>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sNhsVoRXxEo<\/p>\n

Hannah<\/strong> and Holly Blossom<\/strong> had been part of Ohio Valley Wrestling <\/strong>since 2009, working as both tag team and singles wrestlers.\u00a0 Portrayed as two wholesome English roses in Boot Camp, they both put on a series of decent matches throughout the show. They weren\u2019t given much to work with and came across as very vanilla throughout.<\/p>\n

Despite going on to make further sporadic appearances on IMPACT after the show ended, the duo officially stepped away from the ring just a year later in January 2014 after both won the OVW Women’s Title.\u00a0 As mentioned in the show, at last check, they were both working as teaching assistants. Holly is married to OVW referee Chris Sharpe<\/strong> and Hannah is married to indy wrestler Chris Silvio<\/strong> and released a romance novel in 2018.\u00a0 The two now have a YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\n

Rockstar Spud<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"British<\/p>\n

The eventual winner of the first series, despite having one of the stupidest names in wrestling, Spud endeared himself to the fanbase and went on to become an excellent addition to the roster.\u00a0 Playing on his small physique but larger than life attitude he was given ample opportunity to show his personality and in-ring skills.\u00a0 It led to the perfect roster transition where he swiftly aligned himself to Dixie Carter and EC3<\/strong> and was initially used as a personality rather than in-ring talent but went on to win the X Division Championship on two occasions.\u00a0 He ended up in a salary dispute with IMPACT in 2017, which led to him asking for his release.<\/p>\n

His talents were recognised by WWE, who brought him in and he was reinvented as Drake Maverick<\/strong>, the new General Manager of 205 Live<\/strong>.\u00a0 He would then go on to briefly manage Authors of Pain<\/strong> and was allowed a one-match reunion in the corner of EC3 at a Smackdown taping. Apparently, Vince McMahon<\/strong>\u00a0disliked them as a duo and the match never made it to air.<\/p>\n

Since then, he was initially released as part of the COVID cuts but brought back to the NXT roster and remains working with WWE.\u00a0 While they seem unsure the best way to use him on a consistent basis, Maverick is a capable wrestler who is able to beautifully portray the comedic villain when required.<\/p>\n

Second Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In October 2014 Series Two<\/strong> would be much more of an X-Factor themed show with a much larger roster. \u00a0Rather than handpicking a few contestants prior to taping, this time talent had to audition for a spot on the show.\u00a0 They would be given the chance to make an entrance to a training ring where they could cut a promo or showcase themselves in a way they see fit in an attempt to gain the approval of the judges Samoa Joe<\/strong>, Gail Kim,<\/strong> and Al Snow<\/strong>.\u00a0 The finals feature twelve male and four female contestants all vying for the coveted roster spot.<\/p>\n

Eliminated in the First Round:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A number of regulars to the British and European scene popped up but never made it to the finals, these included Cyanide, Joe Vega, King Rorster, Matt Fox, Nordic Warrior, Sexy Kev,<\/strong> and Heather Schofield<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Eliminated in Second Round<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Babyfaced Pitbull, Priscilla, Pyro, Simon Lancaster, Melanie Price, Lana Austin,<\/strong> and Viper<\/strong><\/a> failed to make it to the finals.<\/p>\n

The most surprising entry here is without doubt Viper, who is now competing in NXT UK<\/strong> for WWE under the name Piper Niven<\/strong>.\u00a0 Prior to Boot Camp, she primarily performed in her native Scotland before wrestling in Japan for Stardom<\/strong>.\u00a0 She would be a mainstay in Glasgow\u2019s Insane Championship Wrestling<\/strong> and was crowned their inaugural Woman\u2019s Champion in 2015, where she remained until signing with NXT UK in 2019.<\/p>\n

The Finals \u2013 Last 16<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kris Travis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vREIcgajGok<\/p>\n

Despite making it to the next round, he was tragically diagnosed with stomach cancer in September 2014 and was unable to continue in the competition.\u00a0 Using his time away, he would tirelessly raise funds for cancer charities and he returned in June 2015 announcing he had defeated the disease, performing for various promotions throughout the UK. Unfortunately, it was soon announced in September 2015 that the cancer had returned and at the age of just 32 he passed away in March 2016.\u00a0 Tributes were made far and wide to Kris from the likes of Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Cody,<\/strong> and all the UK wrestling fraternity leading to many calls for him to receive the annual Warrior Award.<\/p>\n

El Ligero<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ligero was one of the shows most experienced participants, having traveled the independent circuit around the globe since 2002 and has competed against some of the world’s top talent.\u00a0 The veteran was picked up by WWE in 2018 as part of NXT UK and has featured on 205 Live.<\/p>\n

In June 2020 he was released from his contract following allegations made against him as part of the #SpeakingOut movement.<\/p>\n

Joel Redman<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"NXT
Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Redman would regularly team on the indy circuit with Mark Haskins<\/strong> as The Thrillers<\/strong> before joining Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW)<\/strong>\u00a0and later NXT in 2012.\u00a0 Performing under the name Oliver Grey<\/strong>, he would team with Adrian Neville<\/strong> as British Ambition<\/strong>, where they would become the first-ever NXT Tag Team Champions defeating The Wyatt Family<\/strong> (Luke Harper<\/strong> and Erick Rowan<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

He was released in 2014 and returned to the independent circuit until joining up with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)<\/strong> in 2019.\u00a0 He is currently teaming with former WWE superstar Yoshitatsu<\/strong> under the team name One World<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Martin Stone<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Similar to Ligero, Stone was another established veteran who has traveled Europe from 2002 until being picked up by WWE in 2011 on a developmental deal under the name Danny Burch<\/strong>.\u00a0 While rarely appearing during his time there, he would hone his skills until his release in 2014.<\/p>\n

On-screen he was shown as a no-nonsense English hard man as befitting his character but it wasn\u2019t enough to make it to the next round.\u00a0 After Boot Cam,p he swiftly returned to the WWE fold in 2015 performing on NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live in both singles and tag team competition with Oney Lorcan. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard Parliament<\/strong><\/h3>\n