King of Europe Cup

The King of Europe Cup (KOE cup) was a European professional wrestling tournament in the style of the Battle of Los Angeles, King of Indies, Super 8, and Ted Petty Invitational tournaments of the United States.[1] The tournament was hosted at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England on April 28 and April 29, 2007 and was the brainchild of two UK wrestling veterans Alex Shane and Doug Williams. In what was considered a historic event in British wrestling history, the tournament to crowned the KOE cup holder and involved 16 promotions and wrestlers from across the world.

This tournament should not be confused with the "King of Europe Tournament", held in 2006 by the Austrian wrestling promotion Rings of Europe.
King of Europe
Tournament winner Nigel McGuinness
VenueLiverpool Olympia
LocationLiverpool, England
Start dateApril 28, 2007 (2007-04-28)
End dateApril 29, 2007 (2007-04-29)
Champion
Nigel McGuinness

Interactive aspects

The following ideas were advertised on the web-site prior to the tournament, but were not implemented.

  • Prize fighting

For the first time in modern British wrestling, fans were given the opportunity to make voluntary donations for match of the night. This money was then added to a £1000 match of the night cash prize which was donated by event organizers, giving £500 a night for the best match on each day. Fans were given score sheets at the start of the show and were asked to put their top three matches from that night in order. The votes were collected and the three matches with the most votes were decided. The fan donated money was then added to the $1000 prize fund giving grand cash reward.

The participants who fans selected to have the best 3 matches each night then received the prize money at the end of each night with 55% for 1st prize, 35% for second, and 10% for third prize, improving the earnings of the wrestlers who give fans the best matches.[2]

  • Match suggestions

At the end of night one, fans were asked upon leaving to select two matches using the eliminated 8 wrestlers from round one. Once again these suggestions were collected and the matches with the most audience votes were made for the following evening.[2]

Qualification

King of Europe Cup
PromotionInter-promotional
DateApril 28, 2007
April 29, 2007
CityLiverpool, England
VenueLiverpool Olympia
Attendanceup to 1700[1]

Some promotions handpicked wrestlers to participate in the King of Europe Cup, while others held qualifying matches to determine their representatives in the tournament.

Chikara

Chikara held a qualifying match to determine its representative for the King of Europe Cup and Westside Xtreme Wrestling's 16 Carat Gold Tournament.

Time Will Prove EverythingMarch 24, 2007 (American Legion Hall – Hellertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Claudio Castagnoli defeated Mike QuackenbushKing of Europe Cup and 16 Carat Gold Tournament qualifying match17:01

International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom

Though involved with the pre-show, International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom was not originally scheduled to enter a wrestler into the tournament.[1] However, this was changed in February 2007 when it was revealed that IPW:UK would in fact be entering Pac.

International Wrestling Syndicate

International Wrestling Syndicate held a qualifying match to determine its representative for the King of Europe Cup and 16 Carat Gold Tournament.[3]

Praise The ViolenceJanuary 20, 2007 (Bogey's World Bar & Billiard – Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
No.ResultsStipulations
1El Generico defeated Jagged and Kid KamikazeThree Way Dance to qualify for the King of Europe Cup and 16 Carat Gold Tournament

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla held a qualifying match to determine its representative for the King of Europe Cup and 16 Carat Gold Tournament.[4][5]

Passive HostilityDecember 2, 2006 (American Legion Post #308 – Reseda, California, U.S.)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Davey Richards defeated Rocky RomeroKing of Europe Cup and 16 Carat Gold Tournament qualifying match16:39

Real Quality Wrestling

Real Quality Wrestling's representative for the King of Europe Cup was determined through a one-night tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship.[6]

Not Just For ChristmasDecember 16, 2006 (York HallLondon, England)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Pac defeated Ashley ReedSingles match in the quarter-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship
2Drew Galloway defeated El LigeroSingles match in the quarter-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship
3Martin Stone defeated IcemanSingles match in the quarter-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship
4Aviv Maayan defeated Jody FleischSingles match in the quarter-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship17:34
5Martin Stone defeated Aviv MaayanSingles match in the semi-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship
6Pac defeated Drew Galloway via count-outSingles match in the semi-final round of the tournament for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship
7Martin Stone defeated PacSingles match in the tournament final for the vacant RQW Heavyweight Championship10:38

Westside Xtreme Wrestling

Are$ qualified for the wXw spot after winning wXw's point system which saw any wrestler scoring a direct pinfall over another wrestler during one of wXw's shows was awarded one point; and whoever scored three points first would represent wXw in both this tournament and their own 16 Carat Gold Tournament. As the promotion is based on the pure effect of the sport, points are not given for a disqualification, countout, or draw or even if your tag team partner scores the fall. Wrestlers are unable to lose the points.

Participants

Promotion Country Representative
One Pro Wrestling United Kingdom Jody Fleisch
Chikara United States Claudio Castagnoli
Combat Zone Wrestling United States Chris Hero
Dragon Gate Japan Ryo Saito
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South United States Matt Sydal
International Wrestling Syndicate Canada El Generico
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom United Kingdom PAC
Premier Promotions United Kingdom Doug Williams
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla United States Davey Richards
Pro Wrestling Noah Japan Go Shiozaki
Pro Wrestling Unpluged United States Trent Acid
Real Quality Wrestling United Kingdom Martin Stone
Ring of Honor United States Nigel McGuinness
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling United States Rhino
Westside Xtreme Wrestling Germany Ares
World Association of Wrestling United Kingdom Zebra Kid

Note: Full Impact Pro was entered in the tournament with Roderick Strong as their representative, but they were replaced by World Association of Wrestling.

Reception

King of Europe Cup received mixed reviews upon the DVD release of the event.

Arnold Furious of 411Mania praised the event with "an easy thumbs up", rating it 9.5. According to him, the tournament had "a number of excellent bouts". He felt that "The first night of the tournament seemed a little OTT with an assortment of finishers getting killed. It seemed in a few matches like it’d only end when someone was dead or in the case of Jody Fleisch, in hospital. That said night one contained some thrilling encounters and at the end a great and unexpected effort from Rhino of all people. The second night boasted some improved technical wrestling including a very strong final between Doug Williams and Nigel McGuinness. It’s a pity the semis were skipped over so quickly but the lack of filler meant the tournament needed a strong final and that was the only way to preserve it."[7]

The Wrestling Revolution staff felt that the tournament featured "some great, British-style wrestling, but mostly from just Nigel (McGuinness), Doug (Williams), (Chris) Hero, Claudio (Castagnoli), and Ares" and "The lack of DQ’s was a big surprise". They praised the tournament final between McGuinness and Williams as "an awesome match", but "nothing on this show was truly special", as "many of the matches feel the like the same match over and over, especially on night one" and had "just a whole bunch of enjoyable wrestling matches".[8]

Results

"Taste of IPW:UK" pre-show

Several matches from International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom took place on the afternoon card before the tournament matches in the evening of both dates. The two-hour pre-shows were billed as containing no interval, but due to travel problems for Rhino, the day one pre-show actually had two intervals. These pre-shows gave one of the UK’s fastest growing independent companies a chance to be seen in front of their largest audience ever.

Afternoon One (April 28, 2007)
No.ResultsStipulations
1The Untouchables (Dave Moralez and Jack Storm) defeated Sweet Justice (Blok Busta and C-Juice)Tag team match
2Dragon Phoenix defeated Claudio CastagnoliSingles match
3Andy Boy Simmonz (c) defeated SpudSingles match for the IPW:UK World Championship
4Pac defeated El Generico (2:1)1Two out of three falls match
5Martin Stone defeated Rhino via disqualificationSingles match
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

^1

Fall: Scoring Wrestler Method
1 Pac Pac pinned Generico with a cradle
2 El Generico Generico pinned Pac after a Brainbustahhh!!
3 Pac Pac pinned Generico after a modified Dragonrana.
Winner: Pac
Afternoon Two (April 29, 2007)
No.ResultsStipulations
1The Untouchables (Dave Moralez and Jack Storm) defeated The Entourage (Mark Sloan and Ollie Burns)Tag team match
2Dragon Aisu defeated CJ JuiceSingles match
3Martin Stone defeated The Zebra KidSingles match
4Andy Boy Simmonz (c) defeated Blok BustaSingles match for the IPW:UK World Championship
5Swiss Money Holding (Ares and Claudio Castagnoli) (c) defeated The Dragon Hearts (Dragon Phoenix and Spud)Tag team match for the IPW:UK Tag Team Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

King of Europe

The results of the main King of Europe card for both days are as follows:

Night One (April 28, 2007)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Chris Hero defeated Claudio CastagnoliSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round14:18
2Go Shiozaki defeated Martin StoneSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round13:30
3Pac defeated Trent AcidSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round17:24
4Matt Sydal defeated El GenericoSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round12:25
5Doug Williams defeated AresSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round14:08
6Davey Richards defeated Zebra KidSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round12:05
7Ryo Saito defeated Jody FleischSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round15:04
8Nigel McGuinness defeated RhinoSingles match in the King of Europe Cup first round14:47
Night Two (April 29, 2007)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Doug Williams defeated Chris HeroSingles match in the King of Europe Cup quarter-final round16:34
2Nigel McGuinness defeated PacSingles match in the King of Europe Cup quarter-final round10:50
3Davey Richards defeated Go ShiozakiSingles match in the King of Europe Cup quarter-final round15:51
4Matt Sydal defeated Ryo SaitoSingles match in the King of Europe Cup quarter-final round10:03
5Nigel McGuinness defeated Davey RichardsSingles match in the King of Europe Cup semi-final round6:51
6Doug Williams defeated Matt SydalSingles match in the King of Europe Cup semi-final round9:19
7Atsushi Aoki, El Generico and Martin Stone defeated Trent Acid and Swiss Money Holding (Ares and Claudio Castagnoli)2Six-man elimination tag team match21:42
8Nigel McGuinness defeated Doug WilliamsSingles match in the King of Europe Cup final18:49

^2

Eliminated: Wrestler: Eliminated by: Method:
1 Trent Acid Atsushi Aoki Submission
2 Atsushi Aoki Ares Pinfall
3 El Generico Claudio Castagnoli Pinfall
4 Ares Martin Stone Pinfall
5 Claudio Castagnoli Martin Stone Pinfall
Winner: Martin Stone

Tournament brackets

16 wrestlers, chosen or qualified from sixteen separate promotions around the world, faced off in a single-elimination two-night tournament, to ultimately crown the King of Europe cupholder.

Round of 16
Night 1
Quarterfinals
Night 2
Semifinals
Night 2
Final
Night 2
            
Chris Hero
(CZW)
 
Claudio Castagnoli
(Chikara)
 
Chris Hero  
Doug Williams  
Doug Williams
(Premier Promotions)
 
Are$
(wXw)
 
Doug Williams  
Matt Sydal  
Ryo Saito
(Dragon Gate)
 
Jody Fleisch
(1PW)
 
Ryo Saito  
Matt Sydal  
Matt Sydal
(IWA:MS)
 
El Generico
(IWS)
 
Doug Williams  
Nigel McGuiness  
Go Shiozaki
(NOAH)
 
Martin Stone
(RQW)
 
Go Shiozaki  
Davey Richards  
Davey Richards
(PWG)
 
Zebra Kid
(WAW)
 
Davey Richards  
Nigel McGuiness  
Pac
(IPW:UK)
 
Trent Acid
(PWU)
 
Pac  
Nigel McGuiness  
Nigel McGuiness
(ROH)
 
Rhino
(TNA)
 

References

  1. "TNA, IPW:UK and RQW now added to KOE Cup" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Posted by Sarah Barraclough, Staff Writer at 1 Stop Wrestling. 24 November 2006.
  2. "King Of Europe (KOE) Tournament" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Posted by Sarah Barraclough, Staff Writer at 1 Stop Wrestling. 14 October 2006.
  3. "The IWS Joins the King of Europe Cup" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Posted by Llakor on the SyndicateWrestling.com messageboard. 10 January 2007
  4. Silverback (26 November 2006). "PWG Presents "Passive Hostility" on December 2!". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. "PWG Passive Hostility". The Internet Wrestling Database. 2 December 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. "RQW Not Just For Christmas 2006". YouTube. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  7. Arnold Furious (8 November 2007). "The Furious Flashbacks – King of Europe Cup 2007". 411Mania. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  8. "IPW:UK KING OF EUROPE CUP 2007". The Wrestling Revolution. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
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