June was a rather noteworthy month in the wrestling world. Between Kazuchika Okada’s reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion ending at 720 days and WWE announcing NXT UK, you couldn’t turn your head without something else popping up. There were a number of big events taking place in Scotland, so let’s get in to the sixth edition of Wrestlers of the Month!
Honourable mentions go out to Aaron Echo, Anastasia, Andy Wild, Aspen Faith, Damien, David Devlin, DCT, Irving Garrett, Jack Jester, Jayla Dark, Krieger, Leyton Buzzard, Lou King Sharp, Lucha DS, Luke Aldridge, Michael Chase, Sha Samuels and Stevie James.
10. Mark Coffey
Mark Coffey started his month in England, teaming with Jackie Polo in an unsuccessful challenge for the EVO Tag Team Championships against The Heritage City Hitmen, the team of Ricky Lee and Josh Goodwin. He made his WWE debut the following week, teaming with his brother Joe to beat NXT duo Heavy Machinery at the Download Festival. After appearing in the crowd to support Joe on night one, Mark got involved the following night as The Coffey Brothers ambushed Mark Andrews, Travis Banks, and Flash Morgan Webster. The Power Forward returned to Target Wrestling at the end of the month, losing to Martin Kirby in a Fatal Four Way Match also including Lionheart and Zack Gibson. His month came to a close with a victory alongside Jackie Polo as they beat KOE, the tandem of Kai Williams-King and King Killa, at Source Wrestling’s show in Govan.
9. Kieran Kelly
“Shotgun” Kieran Kelly began the month with a bang, defeating Jesse Santana at PBW’s Dumbarton event. He followed this up retaining the Scottish X Championship against 2018 Drew Galloway Invitational Tournament winner Irving Garrett, a match that originally ended in a draw but was restarted to determine a decisive champion. The biggest opportunity of his career came the next week when he and Chris Renfrew were victorious over Leyton Buzzard and Bantz, meaning young Kieran Kelly how has a full-time spot on the ICW roster. Following he and Underdogs partner Scott McManus defeating Alexander Darwin MacAllan and Rowan Frey, known collectively as The Titans, at a Source Wrestling show in Govan, Kieran was awarded a different kind of ICW contract than the one he expected as he became the first person to hold the ICW Hydro 24/7 Contract (or whatever they’re calling it). If Kieran can keep a hold of the contract until December 2nd, he’ll receive a match at Fear and Loathing XI.
8. Lewis Girvan
Lewis Girvan began June by picking up the CCW Heavyweight Championship down in Ireland at Revolution VI, beating Danny Butler, Ricky Combat, and Justy to become the new champion. Things took a downturn from here though, as he and Kings of Catch partner Aspen Faith were unsuccessful on a number of occasions. They lost to The Rejected in a WrestleZone Tag Team Championships match also involving defending champs Proper Mental, followed with a loss to Kriss Ross at a Target Wrestling show. The very next day, they were beaten by the Alpha Evil duo of Bram and Iestyn Rees at ICW Drunk & Drunker. Finally, a debut for Tidal Championship Wrestling saw them fail to take the TCW Tag Team Championships from The Lion Kings, the team of Sebb Strife and Nsereko. July’s already been a good month for The KoC with a win over The Kings of the North; here’s hoping they keep it up!
7. Isla Dawn
Having seemingly impressed WWE officials during her time as Stacey Coates on Raw last November, Isla Dawn now finds herself as part of the new NXT UK brand. Her first NXT match saw her and NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler losing to Nikki Cross and Tegan Nox, the former Nixon Newell, at the Download Festival. This was followed by another loss, this time to Toni Storm in an NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Match also including Killer Kelly. A victory came her way at Tidal Championship Wrestling’s High Tide show, defeating both Charli Evans and Millie McKenzie, and then defeating McKenzie in singles action at Fierce Females’ Sweet Sixteen event two days later.
6. Wolfgang
It was a rather busy month for Wolfgang, as The Last King of Scotland competed all over the world. After failing to take the PBW Heavyweight Championship from Stevie Xavier in a Triple Threat Match also including BT Gunn, he was once again competing for NXT. The Download Festival saw him victorious over Fabian Aichner on day one, before he and Tyson T-Bone were defeated by Zack Gibson and Marcel Barthel on day three. An NXT live event in Belgium saw him pin Steve Cutler, then it was back to FutureShock Wrestling as he picked up a win over Chris Egan before being unsuccessful in an attempt to regain the FSW Adrenaline Championship with Sam Bailey being crowned the new champion in a match that also included Soner Dursen and defending champion Joey Hayes. Another failed title attempt saw him pinned by NXT North American Champion Adam Cole at the second WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament. Back abroad where he, Mark Davis, and Pete Dunne lost to Aiden Rex, Andruew Tang, and Trexxus for Singapore Pro Wrestling His last match of the month was a loss to Danny Hope at FutureShock Wrestling.
5. Stevie Boy
Stevie Boy began June with a retention of his PBW Heavyweight Championship over both BT Gunn and Wolfgang at a show in Dumbarton, followed by losing to Gunn in singles competition at Wrestling Experience Scotland’s event in Maryhill. A double header was next for Stevie, as he had another successful defence over Jack Jester at Back To Barrhead. Later that same day, he and fellow Filthy Generation ally Kay Lee Ray lost to DCT and Viper as a new era of ICW Fight Club kicked off. The month came to an end for Stevie at Southside’s Menace II Society VIII, teaming with KLR once more in a loss to Sean Kustom and Xia Brookside. Aside from his in-ring work in June, The Icon Killer was also announced for two tournaments coming up; later this month; first off, the Source Championship Tournament from July 13th-15th, then a debut for Defiant Wrestling in their Ringmaster Tournament, where he has an opportunity to earn a crack at the Defiant World Championship at Refuse To Lose later in the year
4. Viper
Viper’s month began with an appearance in the Riptide Rumble, which was eventually won by Chuck Mambo. The next week, she failed to defeat Charli Evans at Pro Wrestling: EVE’s EVE Are The Weirdos, Mister event, before having a double show day the following week. After overcoming Lou King Sharp at PBW’s Back To Barrhead, she and DCT beat The Filthy Generation’s Stevie Boy and Kay Lee Ray, with Viper becoming the first women in ICW history to pin the reigning ICW World Heavyweight Champion. In the middle of the month, Viper was also the feature of BBC’s Fight Like A Girl documentary, which can be viewed right now on BBC iPlayer.
3. Joe Hendry
A not so prestigious month for Joe Hendry, kicking off with an unsuccessful challenge at Rampage’s Defiant World Championship at their Road To Destruction event, a match that lasted around 15 seconds. The same day the show aired, Joe found himself in Canada as he defeated Eli Drake in his Impact Wrestling debut. The match should air in the coming weeks. Joe’s June continued as he failed to become the #1 contender for WALTER’s Defiant Internet Championship as he was pinned by Will Ospreay at the third annual Built To Destroy, followed by a a loss to Luther Valentine at Pro Wrestling Ulster’s Junction 10: Gold Rush. On the bright side, The Joe Hendry Show was announced for the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival on August 3rd at The Opium. Tickets for this can be bought from joehendry.bigcartel.com.
2. Kenny Williams
Kenny Williams kicked June off with a victory over current ICW rival Aaron Echo at PBW’s show in Dumbarton, before returning to WWE at the Download Festival. After Dave Mastiff eliminated him from the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, The Lucky Yin was able to pin former NXT Tag Team Champion Wesley Blake the following day. Further success came as he defeated Ben Vicious Target Wrestling’s show in Whitehaven. At the conclusion to the second night of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, Kenny appeared on stage alongside the other signings to NXT UK. An exciting new venture in the career of Kenny Williams.
1. Joe Coffey
Joe Coffey’s month saw kicked off with a 2-1 loss to Iestyn Rees at Pro Evolution Wrestling’s Scottish Invasion event, unsuccessfully challenging for the EVO Heavyweight Championship. It picked up the following week however, as he made a long overdue WWE debut, competing at the 2018 Download Festival. After defeating Tucker to advance to the quarterfinals of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament on night one, he and brother Mark overcame NXT’s Heavy Machinery tag team on night two. Skip ahead to a week and a bit later as WWE returned to London’s historic Royal Albert Hall. A battle of the big men took place in the quarterfinals of the UK Championship Tournament saw The Iron King pin Dave Mastiff before eventually failing in the semifinals at the hands of Travis Banks. Joe got some payback the following night however, as he and Mark ambushed Banks, Mark Andrews, and Flash Morgan Webster, establishing themselves as the two men to fear in NXT UK.
Another phenomenal month has gone by. July is set to be quite significant for Scottish Wrestling, with ICW holding another Shug’s Hoose Party weekender and three new championships being introduced. Stay tuned to Source Wrestling, Reckless Intent Wrestling, and United Pro Wrestling to see who will be the inaugural champions!
Point Standings as of July 2nd 2018
1. Joe Hendry (41 points)
2. Viper (38 points)
3. Kenny Williams and Sammii Jayne (29 points)
4. Stevie Boy (26 points)
5. Andy Wild (23 points)
6. Joe Coffey (18 points)
7. Mark Coffey (15 points)
8. Damien (14 points)
9. Aspen Faith and DCT (12 points)
10. Lewis Girvan (11 points)
11. Shawn Johnson and Wolfgang (9 points)
12. BT Gunn (8 points)
13. Mikey Whiplash (6 points)
14. Crusher Craib and Kay Lee Ray (5 points)
15. Eric Arkham and Isla Dawn (4 points)
16. Aaron Echo (3 points)
17. Glen Dunbar, Irving Garrett, Jack Morris, JD Wilde and Kieran Kelly (2 points)
18. Blondie Barratt (1 point)
Thanks to Wrestle Ropes, Hashtag Wrestling, and Cagematch.net for match info
SCOTTISH WRESTLING NETWORK | SWN 