The biggest European wrestling show in 35 years. Over 6,000 people in attendance at an arena usually run by WWE. A former multi time WWE champion, one of the greatest tag teams of all time and the hottest independent talent on the planet on the card. Not bad for that little company who used to run out of Maryhill.
ICW ran its biggest show ever at the SSE Hydro this past weekend in the shape of Fear and Loathing XI, with names such as Angle, Team 3D, Ricochet and WWE superstar Finn Balor on the marquee. But how did it stack up to past ICW pay-per-view offerings?
First off, the set-up looked legit. You’d be mistaken for thinking that it was a WWE show. A nice big entrance ramp and video screen, bespoke arena screen logos for each of the wrestlers, and the lay out made the place look absolutely packed. Great set design ICW. First out was Finn Balor (after an introduction from Mick Foley ‘via satellite’ (it looked like he was on Facetime in a cupboard so Steph doesn’t find him). So surreal seeing a current WWE wrestler on another company. He thanked the fans and warned that if anyone stepped out of line, they’d have him to deal with. Nice way to open.
First match was the first of many, year-long grudge matches; Davey Blaze against his former tag partner, Joe Hendry. Joe did a Bohemian Rhapsody parody for his entrance, it was a brave pick but he did a sterling effort. The man is still the most entertaining British wrestler on the scene today in my opinion. A great back and forth match between two young guys, with Hendry getting the win with his ‘Freak of Nature’ fall-away slam. As per the stipulation, The Local Hero was meant to get Blaze’s manager The Wee Man in the ring for a five minutes. But seemingly, Hendry was happy with dropping Wee Man with his own Freak of Nature’ and leaving him to be carried out.
Second match was the triple threat match for the ICW Womens Championship between the three best (and arguably only) women in the company at the moment; Viper, Kay Lee Ray and the champ, Carmel Jacobs. A pretty good match in all fairness, these three do bring the best out of eachother and with the storyline of two of the three suffering knee injuries, it gave them a lot to work with and it helped the match no end. Kay Lee Ray ended up getting the win by hitting Carmel with three Gory Bombs, punctuating each one with a dive outside to neutralize Viper.
Following this match, we had something unexpected and Carmel Jacobs says her goodbyes to ICW and apparently announces her retirement. It’s a real shame as not only does it depleted an already depleted women’s roster, but Carmel is one of the best on the mic in the company. Even if she does get a bit shooty on occasion, but that’s why she’s the Pipebomb Princess. I was a fan.
Up next, we have another big grudge match, between Stevie Boy and BT Gunn. This time, it’s ICW’s first ever casket match. These two always have stellar contest and with the added use of a casket, it only helped matters as these two put on a great blow off, gimmick match. I also applaud ICW for giving these matches a big fight feel; a great video package documenting their feud followed by several pall bearers bringing out the casket. Someone’s been watching Lucha Underground. We do have SHENANIGANS!! as Kay Lee Ray comes out to assist BT Gunn. This comes to help as following a ridiculously stiff Powerbomb onto the casket, Stevie Boys rolls in Gunn for the win. They did the Taker/HBK spot from Rumble 98 and when they so it’s good by me. Also, when they were both in the casket, the crowd chanted ‘They’re shagging’. Oh ICW crowd, never change.
Then we have the Stairway to Heaven match for Lionheart’s ICW Zero G Championship. We had all five challengers (Iestyn Rees, Zack Gibson, Liam Thompson, Aaron Echo and Andy Wild) all in the ring following a package (or a bit of it as they went back to the live camera) detailing this match up. I didn’t like this, made them all see insignificant as Lionheart made his special Fear & Loathing entrance. He looked like a Don dressed as Wolverine, and the others just looked like they were just place holders. This was then emphasized as Foley dropped in from his cupboard to announce that he is adding a seventh man – Lionheart’s fiercest rival, Kenny Williams. This match was Lionheart vs Williams, with five other bodies to get them on the show. The other five were eliminated rather quickly (albeit entertainingly) and we were down to Lionheart vs Williams in the ladder portion of this contest. This was also a bit rushed as it was a few sick spots (rock bottom on the ladder, rock bottom off the ladder) and then Williams knocks Lionheart off the ladder, climbs up and wins. Now, this might sound not very good but it was an entertaining contest. It seemingly suffered from not having enough time, and it didn’t need the multi man aspect. A real shame as a Lionheart vs Williams ladder match would of been awesome.
We continue our title matches with the ICW Tag Team Titles, as Polo Promotions face Team 3D. This was made no disqualification by Brother Ray, even though all ICW matches are no DQ. But we’ll let that one slide. This was a great brawl, going all around the ringside and around the Hydro but unfortunately, the end was a bit of a mess. Team 3D looked odds on to win with a 3D but it just.. Didn’t happen. Brother Ray doesn’t do his part, and then Jackie Polo comes in (I assume after missing his cue) hits them both with hard chair shots, then pins one of Team 3D following a scoop slam on a chair.
Oh, that’s a shame.
It was going so well, it’s a damn shame that the finish got all muddy. I hope they get another chance to fight again. Davey Blaze comes out to get put through a table, to gives the fans what they want.
Then we have a match between ‘The Best Young Wrestler in the world’ Lewis Girvan up against Ricochet. This match started with a springboard senton into the third row, and also Girvan. Good way to open things. This woke the crowd up, a great high impact, high flying affair with plenty of awesome awesome and false finishes. Girvan picked up the shock win, making Ricochet tap out via crossface. Ricochet then put over Girvan post match. Girvan is one to watch in 2017.
We now have the ICW World Heavyweight Title match between the champ Wolfgang versus the challenger, Trent Seven inside a steel cage. Trent Seven has had a phenomenal year, winning tag belts in both Chikara and PROGRESS and becoming the top babyface in ICW, gaining this shot against The Black Label’s top guy. This was a great rough, strong style match with a great, unique finish. With Wolfgang and Trent on the top of the cage, Trent lets his hatred of Wolfy get the better of him, and he leathers him with Wolfgang’s brass knuckles. Wolfgang falls off the cage, through two tables below (set up earlier by Seven) giving him the escape win. The babyface got too carried away and cost himself the match, and the heel flukes a victory against his toughest rival without looking like a bitch. Only way this would have been better is if Trent actually won because I love him. Great title match, and only third to last because of the two super matches following this.
We now have the four on four elimination match for complete control of Insane Championship Wrestling. Team ICW (Grado, Renfrew, Samuels & DCT) up against The Black Label (Bram, Galloway, Jester, Kid Fite). Now this has been going on since last Fear and Loathing, and it is all coming to a head. This was a classic ICW messy brawl going all over the place, but again suffering from pacing issues and a slightly botched finish. The eliminations all went at a rapid pace leaving us with Galloway and Jester vs Renfrew. Jester was dispatched leaving us with the final two, and it looked all over with Galloway locking Renfrew in a submission. Arm drops once…twice…three times…ref looks awkward…Renfrew breaks out. Real shame. Mark Dallas jumps in to beat up his rival Red Lightning, Drew looks to Futureshock Dallas, Balor comes out for the save, Jester TURNS on Galloway after a disagreement with Galloway, handing his metal dildo of justice to Balor, one Stone Cold Stoner later and Mark Dallas gets his company back. He then celebrates by firing Red Lightning and group hugs all round.
We now have your main event, ‘The Iron Man’ Joe Coffey up against ‘The American Hero’ Kurt Angle. This was a good, hard hitting match with Angle and Coffey going back and forth for a good amount of time (I was worried we wouldn’t get a long match between the two, but it went a good amount of time). Coffey picks up the shocking SUBMISSION win with his ‘No Mercy’ Boston crab submission, meaning none of the imports actually went over tonight. Different.
All in all, a pretty good show. I enjoyed it. It would have been my favourite show of the weekend if it wasn’t for some slight pacing issues and mini botches that took me out of two matches. The commentary from Billy Kirkwood and William Grange was top as usual, and ICW are really finding their feet as top promotion not only in Europe, but on the world stage as well. With Fear and Loathing X being also in the SSE Hydro, I expect this time next year, ICW will be on another level once again.