With the Norwich Corn Exchange filled to capacity, Two Sheds, the Chairman of the UKWA board came to the ring to a rousing reception. Taking the microphone, Sheds thanked the crowd for attending this inaugural event, and promised top notch wrestling action. He said that the tournaments to crown the first UKWA champions would culminate in their first pay-per-view event, The New Age.
As Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler took their seats at ringside to commentate for the TV audience, the crowd booed as Squire David Taylor made his way to the ring for this first round, British title tournament match. The crowd soon got a pop when Davey Boy Smith came to the ring.
This match was a classic science v power battle, and could have gone either way as in the beginning, Davey Boy got the upper hand with sheer power. However, Taylor soon fought back, and got Davey into an abdominal stretch. After a few moments, Davey powered out with a hip toss. Soon gaining the upper hand again, after a press slam and a power clothesline, Davey Boy pinned Taylor after a running powerslam. As he celebrated in the ring he was attacked from behind by Taylor's tag partner, Lord Steven Regal. Taylor joined in the attack and they left Davey Boy lying in the middle of the ring.
A limo was seen arriving at the rear. None other than Hulk Hogan exited, and he was warmly greeted by Two Sheds. Two Sheds and Hogan showed that they apparently had a very good relationship.
The next match was a first round hardcore tournament match. Test, along with Trish Stratus, came down to the ring to a mixed response. Trish took the mic, and began to bad mouth the locals, calling them in-bred and backwards. As she continued her tirade, it was stopped by a loud guitar-riff. Test and Trish looked towards the crowd as the spotlight shone on the hardcore legend, the Sandman. Cracking open a beer, Sandman made his usual, slow entrance through the crowd, sharing several beers as he went along. Five minutes later, and with the crowd singing along to the Metallica song, Sandman finally made his way into the ring, and as Trish distracted him, Test attacked from behind with a clothesline. As Trish left the ring, Test took over, using his power advantage to gain the upper hand. As the match spilled to the outside of the ring, Test got hold of Sandman's kendo stick. Climbing to the top turnbuckle, while Sandman stood dazed on the floor, Test was about to fly when Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring. With there being no rules, Austin pushed the ref aside and knocked Test off the turnbuckle, sending him flying to the floor. As Austin made his way to the back, the Sandman regained his senses, got his kendo stick back, and nailed Test between the eyes. With Test dazed and busted open, Sandman picked up the pin and the victory.
Then, there was TV advert; "With all things, must come a new start, a new beginning, a NEW AGE. Coming soon, live on pay-per-view, 5 new titles, 5 new champions. The UKWA presents THE NEW AGE, live only on pay-per-view!" Chairman Two Sheds was then seen in Hulk Hogan's private dressing room. Hogan told of how pleased he was at being in the UKWA, and Two Shed told him that he deserved to be the first UKWA world champion. Then, there is a knock at the door, and none other than Nature Boy Ric Flair enters. Two Sheds warmly greeted this wrestling legend.
The action returned to the arena, as the first round of the cruiserweight title tournament began. High-flyer Matt Hardy got a tremendous reception from the crowd, as did his opponent, the giant killer himself, Little Spike Dudley.
For probably the first time in his career, Matt had a size and power advantage, and he used this well in the early stages of the match. A dropkick sent Spike flying over the top rope, and as the ref began to count, Matt climbed to the top rope and unleashed a body-press on his unsuspecting opponent. This move took as much out of Matt as it did on Spike, and both men only just avoided the count-out. The rest was what Spike needed as he began to mount his comeback, eventually connecting with a dropkick of his own. As Matt lay prone near the corner, Spike climbed to the top, and dived off with an elbow drop. However, Matt rolled out of the way, and Spike crashed into the mat. Matt picked Spike up, and was about to unleash the Twist of Fate when Buh Buh and D-Von came down to the ring. Distracted, Matt released his grip, and as the ref sent the other Dudleys back, Spike used his Acid Drop move to earn the pin and a match in the second round.
After a break, Michael Cole made his way to the ring to conduct an interview. To the resounding disapproval of the crowd, the game, Triple H, made his way out. While Michael wanted to talk about his world title qualifying match next week against Masata Tanaka, Triple H wanted to talk about the UKWA chairman. He said he found it ironic that while Two Sheds was promoting a "New Age", he was pandering to the old fossils, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, when he should have been promoting the younger talent. This verbal tirade continued until Two Sheds himself appeared on the stage. The chairman said that instead of worrying about the legends, he should be worrying about Tanaka. He then said that if he was worried about the validity of the wrestling legends in the UKWA, he should get first hand knowledge by teaming with one of them, in the form of Macho Man Randy Savage, against the all Japanese team of Tanaka and Nobohiku Takada, in the night's main event. In finishing, Triple H said he could defeat the Japs without the help of an old man.
The cruiserweight tournament continued as "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero came out to face Dean Malenko. These two former friends put on a fine display of high-flying and technical wrestling, as the match went back and forth, with no one gaining a clear advantage. Gaining the advantage with an unseen low blow, Eddie put Dean in a surfboard, keeping the move on for a couple of minutes. Dean showed how tough he was by refusing to tap out. Frustrated, Eddie released the hold, and tried to whip Dean into the turnbuckle. However, Dean reversed the move, and sent Eddie crashing. As Guerrero staggered out, Dean hit him with a clothesline. Picking Eddie up, he whipped him into the ropes and delivered a high-leg clothesline. Then, as the crowd cheered, Malenko pulled Eddie into the centre of the ring, and put on the Texas Cloverleaf. Eddie resisted for as long as he could, but with the 10 minute time limit approaching, Eddie tapped out, allowing Dean to progress in the tournament. After the match finished, in a show of sportsmanship, Dean extended his hand, but Eddie was having nothing of it.
In the back, Triple H burst into the locker room and confronted Randy Savage. The Game told the Macho Man to stay out of the way in the tag-team match, so he could take care of Tanaka and Takada. Savage pushed Triple H, saying that he would need all the help he could get, because there was no DX in the UKWA.
The crowd really got into things as The New Age Outlaws arrived on the scene. The Outlaws were looking to force their way into the Fatal Four Way tag title match at The New Age. However, they faced a tough test against The Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who got just as good a welcome as the Outlaws. With Nash and Road Dogg starting the match, Nash easily over-powered the Dogg, wearing him down with slams, clotheslines and a big boot. Soon, Dogg tagged to Billy Gunn, who seemed to be able to match power with Nash. After a few attempts Gunn was able to knock Nash down with a clothesline. Nash soon tagged in Hall, who attacked Gunn with a few rights before knocking him down with a clothesline. Putting Mr. Ass in an abdominal stretch, Hall gained some extra leverage from Nash before the ref forced Hall to break the hold. Tagging Nash in, Nash whipped Gunn into the corner before delivering several elbows to the jaw. A whip into the ropes, and Nash missed with a big foot. However, both men had the same idea as both unleashed clotheslines. With both men lying on the mat, the ref began his count. Despite being more fatigued, Gunn was the first to rise, and he managed to make the tag seconds before Nash did the same. With Dogg and Hall now in the ring, Hall missed with a right as Dogg ducked, and he then unleashed his usual left jabs/right punch combo, followed by his achy shaky knee drop. Getting Hall into a position for his pump handle slam, Dogg was about to unleash his move when Nash ran in and hit him with a clothesline. The brought Billy Gunn back into the ring. The ref tried to break Nash and Gunn up, but they pushed the ref to the mat. This was enough for him, as he called for the bell and a double DQ. It took several officials to break up the brawlers, and it was obvious this situation was far from over.
Two Sheds was seen talking to Randy Savage in the corridor. Savage said he was worried about Triple H being his partner. Two Sheds told Savage that if the game stepped out of line his associates would deal with him.
The next match between two veterans was in the British title tournament. Marty Jones, still claiming to be a light-heavyweight, but obviously looking like he wasn't, got a mixed reception as did his opponent, "Gentleman" Chris Adams.
The two veterans although showing signs of age, still put on a good exhibition of technical wrestling. Move was countered by move until Jones got Adams on the mat into a rear chinlock. This appeared to wear Adams down until he managed to get back to his feet and break the hold with a series of elbows. This advantage didn't last long as Jones tried several European uppercuts in an attempt to knock Adams out. Adams retaliated with the same move, using his slight power advantage to gain the upper hand. He then whipped Jones into the corner, and as a groggy Jones staggered out of the corner, Adams connected with his patented super-kick. A pin later and Adams was in the second round.
After the break, Hardcore Holly was seen in the back, preparing for his upcoming match. Then, Crash appeared, offering to help his cousin in his match. Hardcore pushed Crash out of the way, telling him to stay out of his business.
Hardcore walked out to the ring to a mixed reception, and awaited his opponent in the first round, Hardcore tournament match. His opponent, Raven, soon appeared, dragging out a rubbish bin full of weapons. With the match underway, Hardcore showed his greater wrestling skill, getting Raven tied up in a hammer lock. Raven countered with an elbow to Holly's face. He then tried to whip Holly across the ring, but it was reversed, and Holly used his excellent dropkick, which sent Raven crashing out of the ring. Knowing he couldn't match Holly's wrestling skills, Raven sought out his bin, and tossed all of his weapons into the ring. Holly picked up a baking tray as Raven entered the ring. Raven ducked the swing, and kicked the tray into Holly's face. Taking the tray, Raven used it to deliver several blows to Holly's mid-section. As Holly slowly got to his feet, Raven grabbed his bin, and levelled Holly with it. This beating with weapons went on for several minutes, but try as he might, Raven couldn't get the pin. Throwing Holly out of the ring, Raven took the time-keeper's hammer, and nailed Holly in the ribs. Another pin attempt failed, and Raven threw Holly into the crowd. The two battled through the crowd into the backstage area towards the concession stand. As Holly staggered towards the hot dog vendor, Crash appeared. He grabbed Raven by the shoulder and spun him around. His right hand blocked, Raven delivered a stinging punch of his own, and threw him into the wall head first. This distraction allowed Hardcore time to recover, and staggering to the concession stand, he grabbed a glass pot of boiling hot coffee and smashed it into Raven's skull. Now scalded and in great pain, Hardcore easily got the pin. Then, as Crash jumped up in an attempt to celebrate with his cousin, Hardcore pushed him down and walked towards the dressing room as Raven received medical attention.
The time for the main event arrived, and Two Sheds made his way to ringside to join Joey and The King for commentary. The difference in the unity between the two teams was plain for all to see with the entrances. While Masato Tanaka and Nobohiku Takada came out together, their opponents, Randy Savage and Triple H, came out separately, and while Tanaka and Takada discussed strategy, Savage and Triple H argued, almost coming to blows. This continued as the ref called for the bell, and Tanaka swung Triple H around, and unleashed with several right hands. He then whipped the Game into the ropes, and caught him with a clothesline. A quick tag to Takada, and Tanaka whipped HHH again, and Takada caught Triple H with a snap belly-to-belly suplex. The brawling tactics of Tanaka were replaced by the technical skill of Takada. The Bushido legend caught Triple H with a waistlock, and delivered a belly-to-back suplex. Another quick tag and Tanaka put the arm wringer on Triple H. Several quick tags later and it was obvious Triple H hadn't done his homework.
Still in the arm wringer applied by Takada, after a few moments, Triple H began to fight back with several rights. He then whipped Takada into the ropes, and caught him with a high knee. As Savage screamed for the tag, Triple H ignored him and began to take the fight to Takada, giving him the face- buster. However, when Triple H got close to his corner, Savage got the blind tag, much to the disgust of the Game. As the ref ushered the annoyed Triple H out of the ring, Savage leapt in and went to work. With Two Sheds urging him on from ringside. Whipping Takada into the turnbuckle, he followed up with a clothesline. As Takada staggered out of the corner, Savage climbed the turnbuckle and caught him with an axhandle. The pin attempt was broken up by Tanaka. Savage looked over at his partner, looking as if he was tempted to make the tag, but instead slammed Takada, then caught him in a sleeper hold. The crowd began to get into the match as on the apron Tanaka screamed at his partner to fight back. The cries of his countryman were enough to stir the fighting spirit within him as Takada slowly rose to his feet. Turning slightly, Takada turned the sleeper hold into a back suplex. As both men lay spent on the mat, the ref began his count, and while Tanaka screamed at his partner to encourage him, Triple H seemed disinterested.
Savage, the least exhausted of the two, was the first to rise, shortly followed by Takada, as each man began the slow crawl to their respective corners.
Takada won the race, and tagged in an eager Tanaka. As Savage got to his feet and staggered to his corner, Triple H extended his hand, and Savage tagged him in. Triple H went to work on Tanaka, catching him with a couple of clotheslines. As Takada came in to help his partner, the Game threw him over the top rope, where he began a running battle with Savage. The Game was really taking the battle to Tanaka, and, as on the outside, Savage threw Takada into the ring steps, Triple H delivered the Pedigree on Tanaka. However, instead of going for the pin, the Game turned his attention to Two Sheds at the announcers table, and began to argue with him. While doing this, he failed to notice Savage climbing the top rope and deliver the flying elbow drop to Tanaka. Going for the pin, the ref, trying to pull Triple H away from the ropes, didn't realise his mistake when he counted Savage's pin on Tanaka, because Savage wasn't the legal man. A three count later, and Savage began to celebrate the victory, much to the annoyance of Triple H. Getting into Savage's face, the two resumed their argument. Savage, content with his night's work, turned his back on the Game to leave the ring - big mistake. Triple H attacked him from behind, and the Pedigreed him to take him down. Then, with Savage lying prone in the ring, Triple H went ringside, and grabbed a steel chair. Setting it up in the middle of the ring, Triple H was about to Pedigree Savage onto the chair when Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair came racing down to the ring to make the save. As Triple H began to bad mouth them all as he left the arena, Two Sheds climbed into the ring to check on Savage's condition as Rampage went off the air.