By Doctor Bedlam
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Hello again dear readers, it’s the last Fight Club before Fear & Loathing and, if I’m honest, it was a mixed bag of a night, so lets get started.

Before I go on, the name of the event, France 2000… why? I know why two years ago, it was a homage to the World Cup in 1998 or was that the Playstation game of the same name… anyway, the next year they went for France 99, didn’t work as well and doesn’t really again. If I was to explain it to someone just coming into ICW they’d be baffled, and if they were going with the retro game theme for pre-Fear & Loathing Fight Clubs, why not mix it up like ICW: Bubble Bobble, ICW: Goldeneye, ICW: Doom or even ICW: Jimmy White’s Whirlwind Snooker (or how about ICW: ICW The Game? Remember that? Oh wait you won’t because it was never released despite heavy advertising), these are some suggestions but I
digress.

Surprisingly, for a pre-Halloween event very few people dressed up, we had someone as Thor (and it was a good likeness, I even heard some passing tourist even asked for a photo of him that’s how good it was) and I saw a few outfits I couldn’t quite put my finger on what they were but it’s all in good fun.

Stevie Boy vs RUDO – Now I’m going to be a big cynic, the whole thing was clearly a work (granted a very good one) and it was always gonna be Stevie versus Joe at SWG3, though RUDO cashing in did throw me a bit though. I believe it was a case of the storyline behind him getting the briefcase was part of the heel owner Dallas thing and that storyline isn’t happening now so they just had him lose it like this in part probably so the chances of a cash in wouldn’t hover over the match itself like it has in the past.

Kid Fite vs Kez Evans -This was a sold match in my opinion, Kez is really growing on me, he’s a good solid heel. The only complaint was lack of security when they went in the crowds, ICW was never this lax before, Kid Fite had to get people to move himself for example, good match but poor security.

Mark Coffey vs Josh Terry – Terry just got destroyed by Mark in a clinical performance in my opinion. Mark is a true powerhouse in the ring and its getting harder to decide which Coffey brother is the better wrestler, Josh put a valiant effort but to no avail.

Kinky Party vs Kings of the North – This wasn’t a match but a brawl interrupted by Noam Dar to make their match at Fear and Loathing a six man tag, oh the joy. The only good thing I can see is the possibility of a Pinky Party – Kinky Party issue going on and the Kinky’s splitting up somehow (please). Yeah not excited about our boy Noam, sorry, hell I’m more excited about seeing Adam Maxsted than Noam. Plus, how many times has someone been dropped with the crowd surfing, it’s been a few times now, it’s also like the match will not start till they finish drinking bit, because they do it every time its just getting a bit routine and losing its edgy randomness.

Angel Hayze vs Viper – This was one of the better matches of the night. Interesting that ICW didn’t do the obvious for Fear & Loathing and have Viper and KLR again but made it a tag match and included Angel, whose impressive showing is hopefully the start of good things from her.

Kieran Kelly, Leyton Buzzard & Aaron Echo vs More Than Hype – This was match of the night for me, and, believe it or not, while every guy in that ring put their heart and soul in that match, it was Aaron Echo who impressed me most. He should be at least Zero-G Champion by now, seriously. I’d love More Than Hype to get the tag belts and defend them Freebirds style though, though to do that they’d need to get a win or two first.

Iestyn Rees vs Andy Wild – Iestyn hit on a rather simple idea for a feud with Andy Wild, I daresay the
one he could have been happening instead of the confusing mess he has with Mark Coffey. Bodybuilder
versus Powerlifter, a debate that probably happens at gyms the world over and a feud based on that
would be a nice wee one for two great athelites like them to work on. I am a fan of Iestyn and would like
him in the title picture at some point and Andy Wild has finally found a role in ICW again, good solid
match.

Kings of Catch, Fite Network & Liam Thomson vs Bad Company & The Nine9 – This was an okay match but it felt a bit hijacked by Wolfgang and Liam Thomson. This was one of the matches people were excited to see and to see it not really live up to the billing to focus on building up another match entirely, should have left it as the four tag teams going to war.

Luca de’ Pazzi vs Ian Skinner – Paxxo has became a sort of Italian Alberto De Rio (though can we have different music? Neesun Dorma was used before and there’s other Italian music out there, I remember in WWE at one point every Oriental wrestler came out to the Orient Express theme.) I liked this match, it wasn’t setting the world alight but then it didn’t need to it, let both guys display their talent, what more can you ask for.

Kenny Williams vs Noam Dar – Woo hoo the man of many names and gestures is back. By the way whats with the number eleven on his back? I have it on good authority that the number Noam considered close to him was ninety three, so why the change to eleven? Anyway, I’m glad Kenny won. Kenny, out of the two of them, has gotten better and better over the years. Noam… not so much, in my opinion at least (which I know counts for the square root of sod all but still my opinion). So yeah, extremely glad Kenny won.

What I find amazing is on the buildup for the Joe versus Stevie feud, well two things do anyway is whereas yes you have to suspend belief sometimes but I did get the impression from some on social media it was all very real. If it was, if Joe had legit invaded Gonzo security would (and should have) been on him before he hit the ring. Yes Joe did a good job making it look legit but Joe is good at that sort of intensity and, to be honest, it brings me to my next point. This seems the sort of storyline that occurs over months, not two shows. Imagine if he had attacked Stevie after his match at Shug’s, or the next Fight Club, got banned but still turned up attacking and enraging Stevie until he demands the match take place. Just seems like they crammed what should have been months of storyline into this show, but hey, what do I know, I’m just a fan.

About the Coach Trip video. No… just no and that’s all I will say on it, moving on.

Okay I’m gonna be a cynic with this Aivil and Kasey stipulation. If Aivil wins it still means Kasey can get a
rematch, and even if Aivil loses (when she shouldn’t) it just makes all those matches seem ultimately
pointless if it wasn’t leading up to this one. We all know with ICW, if they can will drag this feud out further… just a feeling.

Okay, I said earlier in the Iestyn Rees and Andy Wild match how this would have made a nice wee feud as opposed to the confusing mess we have. Now I find out that at Fear & Loathing, there is not just one match between Andy and Mark Coffey, but two thanks to a pre-show match with Power Forward (whom we still know bugger all about) and More Than Hype involved on the first night, and then a two out of three falls singles the next. So many issues about this, the first being how the blue hell does this nonsensical feud warrant two bloody matches in the same weekend? It’s not going to suddenly make sense the more they fight y’know. I just feel that this whole feud comes off as half baked in general.

Carmel, in general. comes across as interestingly a very good sincere commissioner and I like her style, lets hope she continues the good work.

My predictions for Fear & Loathing in regards to the belts? World and Zero-G titles will be retained but Tag and Women’s change hands.

I hope you enjoyed my report, as always please remember, it’s just my opinion.