From Hippie to King

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December 3rd 2011. Aspen Faith makes his debut, dubbing himself The Hippie Horror. What’s gone on to happen since then is history.

Having first seen Aspen at WrestleZone’s show at the Macduff Town Hall back in September of 2013 (a show also featuring James Midas, still waiting for that return even though it’s never happening), I was instantly hooked by his in-ring style. Although back then he wasn’t as advanced in technical wrestling as much as he is nowadays, it was a delight watching him in the evening’s main event against Crusher Craib for the Undisputed WrestleZone Championship.

The next year saw a new chapter in the career of Aspen Faith as he started a rivalry with British wrestling legend Len Ironside. Stemming from Ironside informing referees of Aspen’s cheating antics, Faith challenged Len at the 2014 Regal Rumble to face him at that year’s Aberdeen Anarchy show. Despite initially declining, Ironside accepted after being called a coward, followed by Aspen clobbering him across the face with a huge forearm smash. After the unprovoked assault, Aspen was barred from changing in the locker rooms.

As Aberdeen Anarchy drew closer, the match was made a World of Sport Rules Match with Aspen’s seconds being Team SMASH members James Midas and KT Kane while Ironside brought in another British legend in the form of Marty Jones. With the Beach Ballroom showdown at a 1-1 tie, The Hippie Horror picked up the win with his feet on the ropes. Since he scored a pinfall victory over a legend in World of Sport, Aspen adopted the new moniker of The King of Catch.

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Aspen, staying true to his new nickname, grew into a more technical-based wrestler, using various strong strikes and submission holds to pick up wins. Battle of the Nations 2014 was, as far as I’m aware, the first time he used the gorgeous pumphandle flatliner he’s since named The Faith Buster. At WrestleZone’s show in Brechin that September, Aspen earned himself a shot at Crusher Craib’s Undisputed Championship by winning a Battle Royal. The match took place at November’s Halloween Hijinx, and saw Craib retain following Len Ironside getting involved. Aspen ended the year with a Tag Team Championship loss at Christmas Chaos as he and partner The Super Executioner lost to The Granite City Hotshots.

2014 also saw Aspen make his debut for another company in the form of Source Wrestling. Competing in a Battle Royal and a tag team match on April 12th, the then-Hippie Horror was just getting started.

2015. The year The King was recognised. This was a fantastic year for young Aspen Faith, with debuts up and down the country for companies like Discovery Wrestling, Rock N Wrestle and Insane Championship Wrestling. Faith reignited his rivalry with Len Ironside at March’s Regal Rumble by attacking Len as he was entering the Rumble Match, stealing the British Empire and Commonwealth Middleweight Championship in the process. After introducing Sammii Jayne as his new manager in Westhill, Aspen ended his fued with Ironside as he and Johnny Lions lost to Len and former WWE star Hardcore Holly at Aberdeen Anarchy.

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Going back to the month of March and we saw Aspen debut for Discovery Wrestling in their traditional Four Way Elimination Match in a losing effort to Danny Boy Rodgers. After entering another two Four Way Matches in Disco, The King of Catch soon became a regular for the Edinburgh-based promotion.

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Another March milestone now, as Aspen also debuted for Insane Championship Wrestling as part of their Spacebaws events. Competing on three events in total that year, he lost to Solar and then-rival Lewis Girvan but managed to pick up one victory against Saqib Ali.

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Heading back up to WrestleZone now as the later months saw Aspen, alongside Sammii, go on a tear through the roster with wins over Shawn Johnson, Bryan Tucker and Grado and Nikki Storm. After a loss to Crusher Craib, Aspen demanded better competition and got that in the form of Cysto. As imagined, he was easily disposed of. Seeing the opposition being given to him by management, The King of Catch took matters into his own hands and laid out a challenge to Lewis Girvan. The two would have numerous fantastic encounters with each other, often teaming with their respective partners in Sammii Jayne and Debbie Sharpe. It all came to a close at Aberdeen Anarchy 2016 as Girvan and Sharpe’s replacement Viper picked up the win over The King and Queen of Catch with STV’s Sean Batty as Special Guest Ring Announcer.

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The latter part of 2016 saw Aspen take a bit of a tumble down the cards as he suffered two concussions, one against Solar and the other against Colt Cabana. His first match back was of course a Kendo Stick Match. Because obviously. You’re looking at next year’s CZW Tournament of Death winner.

But that doesn’t mean it was all bad. Upon returning, a new title was introduced to WrestleZone as Chris McDonald revealed the Tri-Counties Championship. After defeating Blue Thunder in the round of 16 in October, Aspen was one step closer to finally winning singles gold. Also in 2016, Aspen decided to put his past with Lewis Girvan behind him as the two came together to form The Kings of Catch. With their fantastic tandem moves (not quite as good as CCK’s but still), they quickly become one of the most underrated duos in British wrestling.

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Aspen’s time in Discovery Wrestling throughout 2016 was fantastic (except the Colt Cabana situation), with wins over the likes of Michael Chase and Mark Coffey. Disco have really taken the opportunity to showcase one of the best wrestlers in the country.

So here we are. 2017. The year The King ascended his throne. With appearances up and down the country for the likes of WrestleZone, ICW and Discovery Wrestling, The King of Catch further proved the statement of being Scottish Wrestling’s Secret Weapon. It’s physically impossible for Aspen to put on a bad match. After making it to the semifinals of the WrestleZone Tri-Counties Championship Tournament after a quarterfinal victory over Johnny Lions, Faith moved closer to winning his first singles title. The other semifinalists were Bryan Tucker, Zach Dynamite and Bingo Ballance. After the two semifinals ended in controversy at both the Regal Rumble and Live in Westhill, management representative Chris McDonald placed all four men in a Ladder Match at Aberdeen Anarchy. Despite his fear of heights, Faith grabbed the title from high above the ring after breaking the fingers of Dynamite. He was the first, the only, the king.

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Discovery Wrestling have used Aspen exceptionally well throughout 2017, with him being one of eight entrants in their Hotter Than Hell Edinburgh Invitational. After defeating Doug Williams in March and then Chris Ridgeway in September, Aspen moved towards a huge finals showdown with Rampage Brown earlier this month. Another great moment in the career of Aspen Faith, as he ended up winning the entire tournament. As a result, he is now able to challenge Joe Coffey (or whoever happens to be champ at the time) whenever he wants for the Y Division Championship.

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Now, we come to the reason for this post. Insane Championship Wrestling. Having made occasional appearances, Aspen has made more frequent ventures down to Glasgow and further afield for ICW alongside his Kings of Catch partner Lewis Girvan. After picking up victories against teams such as Polo Promotions and The Kinky Party, Aspen and Lewis have been proving their worth in an ICW ring. Then, a fantastic moment came around. Aspen Faith and Lewis Girvan joined The Filthy Generation. This came as a surprise, but a welcome one.

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After helping Stevie Boy in his rivalry against Mikey Whiplash, Chris Renfrew and Jimmy Havoc and then Kay Lee Ray in her rivalry with Kasey and Viper, The Kings of Catch found rivals of their own in the form of ICW’s newest tag team The Kinky Party. After Jack Jester and Sha Samuels cost Aspen and Lewis a match against The Purge, the two teams are now scheduled to face off against each other at The Hydro in a contest that can only be described as The Dirtiest Match in Wrestling History.

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