April was another great month for the wrestling world, with WrestleMania week providing several match of the year contenders. With one of the biggest shows on the Scottish wrestling calendar rounding off the month, it’s time to take a look at who I think were the 10 best wrestlers of the month!
Honourable mentions go out to Aaron Echo, Aspen Faith, Brandon Adams, BT Gunn, Chris Renfrew, David Devlin, DCT, Dickie Divers, Jack Jester, Jack Morris, Jackie Polo, Jarek Nowak, Joe Coffey, Justin Deed, Kieran Kelly, Krobar, Lewis Girvan, Lionheart, Luke Aldridge, Michael Chase, Ravie Davie, Sha Samuels, Stevie James and Theo Doros.
10. Kenny Williams
Kenny Williams is back once again, earning an additional one point. The month kicked off with himself and Aaron Echo failing to dethrone The P.O.D’s Rampage Brown and Ashton Smith for their ICW Tag Team Championships, before he jetted off to Germany to compete in the Light Heavyweight World Cup for German Wrestling Federation. After eliminating Kris Jokic in the first round, he was unsuccessful in the finals, a Four Way Elimination Match as Angélico defeated him, as well as Senza Volto and Tarkan Aslan. He returned to ICW the next week and, alongside Aaron Echo, he was defeated by The Filthy Generation’s Aspen Faith and Lewis Girvan. The following Saturday saw him teaming with former WWE Women’s Champion Victoria in a losing effort against Stevie Xavier and Kay Lee Ray for British Championship Wrestling. His month came to a sour end, as he and Aaron Echo were unsuccessful in their attempt to take the PBW Tag Team Championships from Lou King Sharp and Krieger at their Breaking Limits 13 show, and then he lost to Stevie Boy in a Ladder Match at ICW Barramania 4, meaning he would be forced to leave the company. With his ICW contract coming to an end, Kenny kicked Aaron Echo below the belt and signed a new contract with RUDO Sports and Entertainment Brand.
9. Andy Wild
Andy Wild began April with an appearance at Reckless Intent Wrestling, defeating Mikey Whiplash in what I can only imagine was a terrific match. A few weeks later saw a double header for Wild. First, he went to a time limit draw with Mr P, which meant he retained his WrestleZone Tri-Counties Championship, and then he returned to ICW the following night at Barramania 4 as part of the Gauntlet Match for the vacant Zero-G Championship. After eliminating Aaron Echo and Jordan Devlin, he was the third man pinned by DCT. Following this however, it was revealed that Wild would be rejoining the ICW roster full-time.
8. Mark Coffey
Mark Coffey’s first show of April came on the first day of April, as he challenged BT Gunn for the ICW Zero-G Championship in a Triple Threat Match also involving Jody Fleisch. After Gunn was kidnapped by Legion, Coffey and Fleisch went to a double pinfall, leaving the championship declared vacant. The next week, he defeated Grant McIvor at a Source Wrestling event in Govan, before he and Jackie Polo failed to gain the PCW Tag Team Championships in a Fatal Four Way Match, with The Kings of Leon (Lionheart and Sha Samuels) becoming the new champions. The New Age Kliq’s BT Gunn and Chris Renfrew, and defending champions Rampage Brown and Tyson T-Bone (known collectively as Team Single) were the other two teams. Coffey then defeated Jody Fleisch on ICW’s return show to Newcastle, meaning Fleisch would have to enter the Zero-G Championship Gauntlet Match at number one. A great end to the month came for Mark, as he defeated Aaron Echo, Andy Wild, DCT, Jordan Devlin and Rampage Brown in a Gauntlet Match to win the vacant Zero-G Championship, eliminating DCT and Rampage in the process. Mark was confronted afterwards by his brother Joe, who is seemingly vowing to win the Zero-G Championship for the first time in his career.
7. Wolfgang
Wolfgang started April in America, as he entered the NXT North American Championship Invitational Tournament during WrestleMania Axxess. Although he was defeated in the first round at the hands of Hideo Itami, he went on to beat Chad Lail (formerly known as Gunner in Impact Wrestling) the day before WrestleMania 34 in non-tournament action. He returned to Scotland with an unsuccessful attempt at taking the BCW Heavyweight Championship from BT Gunn, before teaming with Gunn the next day in Tarbert for Wrestling Experience Scotland, defeating Jack Jester and Lionheart. This past weekend, he made a successful defence of his FutureShock Wrestling Adrenaline Championship against Stevie Xavier at Loch Lomond Comic Con, and then also defeated Tor Atterhagen in a Chain Match at ICW Barramania 4.
6. Kay Lee Ray
Kay Lee Ray had quite a busy April. After unsuccessfully challenging Millie McKenzie for the Defiant Women’s Championship at The Road to No Regrets, she was over in America. Along with Will Ospreay, she was defeated by Austin Theory and Jinny at PROGRESS’ chapter 67 show (called Bourbon Is Also A Biscuit), but she bounced back the same day with a win over Kellyanne English, Veda Scott and Zoe Lucas at SHINE’s 100th show, where she teamed with Rhia O’Reilly and her Fly High WDSS partner Mia Yim. The weekend after, she and Mia defeated Tessa Blanchard and Indi Hartwell at a show for RISE, then KLR lost to Hudson Envy in a Four Way Match (also including Miranda Alize and Dynamite DiDi) before defeating LuFisto by DQ (both matches for SHIMMER). The next day, she and Mia Yim again teamed up as they lost to Hudson Envy and LuFisto before defeating them in a Tornado Tag Team Match, once again at a show for SHIMMER. As she returned to the UK, she teamed with Stevie Xavier as they defeated Kenny Williams and Victoria for BCW. The pair teamed again the following day for Wrestling Experience Scotland, being defeated by Leyton Buzzard and Kasey. The week after, Kay Lee again failed to take the Defiant Women’s Championship from Millie McKenzie, this time in a Last Woman Standing Match during the No Regrets iPPV. Seeing as she failed to win the Women’s Title, she tried to earn a shot at the Defiant World Championship by entering the No Regrets Rumble, eliminating Jimmy Havoc before being pinned by Joe Hendry.
5. Mikey Whiplash
Mikey Whiplash has received plenty of praise and criticism this month for his Deathmatch wars. His first match of the month was an absolute bloodbath, as he defeated Jimmy Havoc. The next week was more tame, as he and Chris Renfrew lost to The Titans, a team comprised of Alexander Darwin MacAllan and Rowan Frey, at a Source Wrestling show, before he then lost to Andy Wild at Reckless Intent Wrestling. Back to Deathmatches the next weekend, as he defeated both Drew Parker and Clint Margera in the final match of The Mikey Whiplash Deathmatch Invitational. The Necromancer rounded off the month with, you used it, a deathmatch as he challenged BT Gunn for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship at Barramania 4. To everyone’s shock, Stevie Boy cashed in his Square Go! contract during the match and stole the win and the title, pinning Whiplash after he was powerbombed through a sheet of glass. Following Barramania, Whiplash went in to hospital because, well, just look at him;
4. Stevie Boy
Stevie Boy started April with a bit of an upset loss as he lost to Dickie Divers in ICW, but only after a distraction from Kenny Williams. After beating Scott McManus at a Source Wrestling event, it was back down to PBW as he defeated Krieger to retain his PBW Heavyweight Championship before losing again at an ICW show, this time to DCT. The King of Insanity teamed with Kay Lee Ray the following weekend, first in a loss to Leyton Buzzard and Kasey (after Stevie defeated Leyton earlier in the show) and then they were successful over Kenny Williams and Victoria at BCW. After failing to win the FutureShock Adrenaline Championship from Wolfgang at Loch Lomond Comic Con, Stevie defeated Kenny Williams in a Ladder Match at Barramania 4 to retain his Square Go! briefcase. Wasting no time, Stevie cashed it in during the main event between BT Gunn and Mikey Whiplash and became the new ICW World Heavyweight Champion.
Think Kay Lee’s face was everyone’s reaction when he cashed in;
3. Viper
Viper’s April started while she was still in Japan, successfully defending the Stardom World Alliance Championship against Jungle Kyona. She arrived back in the UK the week after, and defeated Rhio to become the new PCW Women’s Champion only to lose it back to her the next day at Who Dares Wins in a Triple Threat Match, with Nightshade as the third participant. She then defeated Livvii Grace at Pro Wrestling: EVE’s Bad Ass Bitches From Mars event before heading over to France for Association Biterroise de Catch. There, she defended the ICW Women’s Championship against Killer Kelly before becoming the new ABC Women’s Champion by winning a Battle Royal. Another defence of the ICW Women’s Title, this time against Kasey at Barramania 4, rounded off another great month for The Vixen of Violence.
2. Sammii Jayne
Sammii Jayne kickstarted her month with a debut for Ireland’s Over the Top Wrestling at Defiant, their first ever all-women show. After Nina Samuels to qualify for the main event, The Queen then defeated Katey Harvey, Raven Creed and defending champion Martina to win the OTT Women’s Championship. Sammii then competed for Pro Wrestling: EVE two weeks later, where she won a Gauntlet Match over Charlie Morgan, Isla Dawn, Jayla Dark and Jetta, before then defeating Erin Angel in singles action. Following this, Sammii set out on her first tour of Japan for Sendai Girls. She teamed with Aja Kong, Cassandra Miyagi and Heidi Katrina in a loss to Alex Lee, DASH Chisako, Hiroyo Matsumoto and Mio Mimono. Two days later, she defeated Solo Darling in singles action and then teamed with Aja Kong as they were beaten by Chihiro Hashimoto and Meiko Satomura on her final day of the tour.
1. Joe Hendry
Number one was tough to choose this month. From successes here in the UK to international tours, there were plenty to choose from. After competing in the Commonwealth Games, The Prestigious One returned to the squared circle on April 21st for Celtic Championship Wrestling in Ireland, where he lost to Ricky Combat in a Triple Threat Match with the winner advancing to a future CCW Heavyweight Championship match (Sean Guinness was the other participant). Hendry returned to Defiant Wrestling at their No Regrets iPPV, where he entered at number 1 in the No Regrets Rumble. After managing to eliminate Kay Lee Ray, David Starr and his now-former Prestige partner El Ligero, Joe was tossed out by Martin Kirby for the second year in a row. At ICW Barramania 4 the next night, Hendry lost to Chris Renfrew as their Falls Count Anywhere Match finally came to an end after 76 days. He got the last laugh however, as Bantz (Dave Conrad) debuted afterwards and attacked Renfrew’s referee Kieran Kelly.
It’s been another terrific month for Scottish wrestlers. The points table is stacked with Joe Hendry and Sammii Jayne just falling behind Viper. May is set to be another big month, with the second annual Drew Galloway Invitational Tournament set to showcase some of the younger talent from Scotland!
Point Standings as of May 1st 2018
1. Viper (27 points)
2. Joe Hendry (24 points)
3. Sammii Jayne (23 points)
4. Stevie Boy (20 points)
5. Andy Wild (18 points)
6. Damien (13 points)
7. Aspen Faith (12 points)
8. Mark Coffey (11 points)
9. Kenny Williams and Mikey Whiplash (10 points)
10. Shawn Johnson (9 points)
11. BT Gunn and Lewis Girvan (8 points)
12. Mikey Whiplash (6 points)
13. Crusher Craib, DCT and Kay Lee Ray (5 points)
14. Eric Arkham and Wolfgang (4 points)
15. Aaron Echo (3 points)
16. Glen Dunbar, Jack Morris and JD Wilde (2 points)
17. Blondie Barratt (1 point)
Thanks to Cagematch and Wrestle Ropes for match info
SCOTTISH WRESTLING NETWORK | SWN 