By Louise Westie
Twitter

 

We are officially on the road to Fear & Loathing XII at the SWG3. With us being less than two months away from the grandest stage, I thought I’d preview this weekends Fight Club Taping.

I’ve not really been around Fight Club tapings since “So’s Yer Maw 2” but I have been paying close attention to the recent developments on demand so that I’m aware of all things on the way to SWG3.

Alexander Dean vs Aaron Echo

This is the rematch from the last Fight Club taping after Ricky Knight Junior was injured, Dean wanted an opponent so laid out an open challenge to which “The King of Benidorm” Aaron Echo answered. Echo picked up the victory however Alexander, who is determined to work for another championship opportunity in ICW, demanded a rematch from the newly appointed ICW commissioner Carmel Jacob who agreed.

I’ve only seen Dean wrestle a couple of times and I don’t know precisely what it is about him, but “The Catch Provocateur” just screams future champion to me.

Alexander recently cut a promo on how he was not beaten by the former Rich Kid of Instagram, (who had come off a loss with partner Kieran Kelly against Kings of the North at Shug’s earlier this year) but was caught off guard by him, and if he had time to prepare for him, Dean would have beaten him. He also claimed that when he’s prepared they enter a game of physical chess and in that game he is the “Catch Wrestling Kasperov” and that Echo could not hang with the master when he is prepared. On Saturday, Dean is determined to get Echo to look him in the eye and admit that he just can’t hang with the “The Catch Provocateur”.

Winner – Although I’m a big fan of Aaron Echo, I have to go for Alexander Dean.

Woman’s Championship Match Qualifier – Anastasia vs Isla Dawn

I love how they’ve went about this. ICW have recently stated about the women’s division going to improve into the new year.

This is match number two to determine a new number contender for the ICW Women’s Championship to face Kasey Owens at Fear and Loathing.

The winner of this match will go on to face Avil on October 12th at the Gonzo show at the Asylum, where a number one contenders match will take place.

Anastasia “The Beauty From The Borders” is one of the graduates from the WrestleZone Academy in Aberdeen and made her ICW debut at the first ever King of Hawners when she faced off against Viper, unfortunately picking up the loss. But if she is successful this time around, she goes through to face Avil at Gonzo to become the new number one contender. This young lady has an equally impressive CV and is one of the future wrestlers to watch out for.

Isla Dawn, “The White Witch” recently made her return to ICW at “So’s Yer Maw 2” where Isla faced off against the current ICW women’s champion Kasey Owens. This is not the first time that Dawn has faced both Avil AND Kasey in singles action: In April 2018, Dawn made her ICW comeback taking on Avil since 2016, where Dawn had unsuccessfully challenged our Commissioner Carmel (who was the women’s champion at that time) for the Women’s Championship.  Isla was also a former competitor at last years Mae Young classic and was one of eight competitors for the tournament to crown NXT UK’s inaugural Women’s Champion. Isla has wrestled for NXT, Source, Discovery, Fierce Females and the list goes on.

Winner – I can’t call this one at all. Both women have equally impressive CV’s and this is the first time that these two have never faced off in an ICW ring. If I were to guess, I would have to say Isla Dawn.

Grado & Leyton Buzzard vs Ravie Davie & Kez Evans

I’m interested in this particular tag team match as it appears that with Mark Dallas’ face turn, it leaves Davie and Kez to continue on their dastardly antics from The Mavericks!

Grado just recovered from a leg injury from Shug’s due to a pre-match attack from James Storm. At the last taping, Grado lost against Ravie Davie in a brutal match however, the former World Heavyweight Champion hasn’t lost his touch and pushed “The Fresh Prince of Drumoyne Square” to the limit.

Captain Leyton Buzzard (I’m loving the pirate gimmick) is on a roll recently and was on a vendetta, seeking revenge on the remaining Mavericks. Shug’s this year was Leyton’s shinning moment after picking up wins on both nights first against Joe Hendry and then James Storm. He unfortunately lost to Kez Evans at the last Fight Club taping but has still earned a much anticipated Zero-G title shot at Gonzo against Liam Thompson and it is that which has cheesed Kez off even more.

Ravie Davie, on the other hand, has drawn his arrow on Grado and going around claiming to be the number one man around ICW. He even went as far as to attack Grado in a car park. At the previous tapings, Ravie Davie won by utilising some interference from pal Kez Evans at his side. At the end of the match, none other than Grado’s pal Shellsuit Bob (Stephen Purdon from River City) came in to the aid of Grado however, judging by what happened next, either Davie and Kez weren’t keen on Bob or they weren’t happy with the service at Montego Motors…

Winners – I’m gonna go for Grado and Leyton Buzzard. Those two have each had a loss at the last Fight Club taping to Kez and Ravie Davie.

ICW Tag Team Championships – Kings of Catch vs Kings Of The North

This is a match I’ve seen countless times but never get tired of!

Having retained their belts after that brutal TLC match at Shug’s, KOC are now looking forward to SWG3 and have had a brilliant reign so far as tag champs.

KOTN haven’t been seen since their match against Kieran Kelly and Aaron Echo. The Irish born tag team have been flying the flag at different promotions such as Discovery, OTT and TNT Extreme. Corvin has made a speedy recovery from an injury and returns to team up with Bonesaw to take on Lewis Girvan and Aspen Faith.

Winners – Kings of Catch. The KOTN are brilliant competition, but with Corvin coming back from injury earlier than planned, the KOC would have the advantage.

Liam Thompson vs Wolfgang

This is probably going to be a show stealer! The Regulator of ICW, Wolfgang takes on the former bad boy Liam Thompson in non title action. Wolfgang goes in with a new attitude after attacking members of the Filthy Generation and appearing to work with Square Go contract holder Rudo.

If you know your ICW history, at the Square Go 2017 in Newcastle, Wolfgang stole Liam Thompson’s spot as well as his sink setting the scene for Good Housekeeping I.

This eventually lead on to Wolfgang owning Liam’s sink and then his house (along with his car keys). After Liam’s return at last year’s Shug’s, they settled their feud with Good Housekeeping II, where Liam won back that particular sink.

Since winning the belt from Joe Coffey at Shug’s Hoose Party this year, Liam has already defended the championship against “The Young Bull” Gabriel Kidd at the last taping.

Winner – I’m gonna say Liam but as this is a non title match, I’ve got fingers crossed for Good Housekeeping III at Fear and Loathing XII or somewhere down the line!

Dickie Divers vs Krieger

For the first time in ICW, “Scudmaster Sexy” Krieger takes on one half of The Nine9, Dickie Divers in singles action.

Ever since Kenny Williams had the rant about “forever trainees”, it has sparked something extra in Krieger making him more determined to prove to himself and many that he isn’t a so called “forever trainee” which he is definitely not! His recent death match with Ricky Shane Page and then with Paul Robinson more than proved why he has his place firmly in ICW and is not a “forever trainee.”

Krieger is a member of the Fite Network with associates Lou King Sharp and Kid Fite but is yet to get his hands on some ICW gold. He has stated lately in a promo that he is giving himself until Fear & Loathing to prove why he deserves his place.

Dickie Divers, who has the accolades of former Square Go winner and first ICW tag champion. The ICW original is not one to be underestimated. Currently in the Nine9 with Jack Morris, Divers is an accomplished competitor.

Winner – Krieger.

Stevie James vs Kieran Kelly

Latest addition to the card “The Outlaw” Stevie James vs “Shotgun” Kieran Kelly in singles action.

Stevie, the graduate of The Asylum and member of Bad Company, has recently come off of that momentous win at Shug’s against the P.O.D. He took part in the ambush of Filthy Generation at the last taping and with that brings a whole new attitude!

Kieran Kelly, one of the standout students of Source, and was trained by Mikey Whiplash. Kelly is one of the future stars to watch out for. Having lost to “The Quintessential Athlete” Iestyn Rees, he is looking to get back into winning ways.

Expect a lot of high flying, awesome strikes making a fantastic match between the two!

Winner – Stevie James

Joe Coffey vs Paul Tracey

I don’t know much about Paul Tracey, except that he’s making his ICW return and he’s been wrestling all over the globe, with a kind of upper class royalty lord of the manor gimmick, with a wrestling CV that matches his opponent.

I did not know this until I watched the latest ICW Worldwide, but these two have a much bigger history than I realized! When Joe Coffey was in his early training days, Tracey had played a firm part in teaching Joe everything he knew. I’d go as far as saying that these two had a firm hand in teaching each other what the other knows, so this could be interesting as it’s like student vs teacher.

What can I say about Joe Coffey? He’s a NXT Gallus superstar and a former ICW Heavyweight and a Zero-G Champion. This will be the Iron King’s first match back at ICW since losing to Liam Thompson at Shug’s Weekender and is probably looking to put himself back on the road for gold. Since then, Joe Coffey was victorious against Dave Mastiff at NXT UK Takeover Cardiff in a Last Man Standing Match.

Winner – everyone knows I’m a big Joe Coffey fan and I’m gonna say Joe. But I think these two will ruin each other. Plus given the history between these two, does the Lord of the Manor occupy space in the head of the Iron King to pick up a win?

Stevie Boy vs Andy Wild

“The Stovie Superman, Dad Bod God and Leader of the Wild Boys” Andy Wild takes on “The Pharaoh of Filth” and King of ICW Stevie Boy in a non-title match. There is a stipulation in that if Andy wins, he is guaranteed a future world title shot.

Andy Wild currently finds himself in a feud with Mark Coffey and The Power Forward team. Three years ago, Andy made his ICW comeback for one more match with Noam Dar and was a participant in a ladder match for The Zero-G Championship (his former title) at Fear & Loathing IX. He’s become a full time member of the ICW roster cementing his place after Barramania 4, where he took part in a Zero-G scramble match.

After Stevie’s massive return against Wolfgang this year, he is looking ahead to walking in and you know out of Fear & Loathing as champion.

Winner – I’m gonna say Andy Wild. But I think Rudo and the Power Forward are going to be hiding in the wings watching the outcome of this match very carefully…

 

 

 

*massive shoutout to SWN and Kwaku Adjei for the help and advice.*

*Be sure to listen to the latest Eat, Sleep Surplex Retweet Podcast interview with Kez Evans recorded with ESSR’s Andy at http://suplexretweet.com/ *