October 1st, 2022. The journey begins.

For five years Ian Skinner had toiled his way in the Scottish wrestling scene. A “shooter” to some, “Kickass” to many, and a “psychopath” to others. Wrestling in front of loud and passionate fans, and in front of nobody when a pandemic almost ripped wrestling away from our eyes.

Despite heavily praised matches with the likes of Francesco Akira, Skinner’s path in Scottish wrestling looked murky. Was the Ian Skinner journey over before it truly began?

On May 4th 2022, there was a new hope when Ian Skinner was the second name confirmed for the inaugural Crown Cup, the first being Simon Miller, which is a name that will be revisited many times in tales to come.

The internet was abuzz when Kidd Bandit was confirmed as entrant number three, the fantastical booking of Simon Miller and Bandit started to overshadow the second wrestler that was announced.

People knew Ian Skinner as “The Shooter”, telling opponents to clench their jaw, letting his actions do the talking more often than not. This disrespect from the people unleashed a more outspoken, brash, and cutting side of Ian Skinner who used his words to antagonise and bait his opponents to get flustered and get into a battle of wit that they were ill prepared for.

As the field widened to eight, Ian’s named started getting lost in the shuffle with SovPro deciding that Simon Miller, Kidd Bandit, and Commander Stephanie Sterling were ahead in the hierarchy for this historic match. A decision that SovPro may have lived to regret as it gave Skinner all the ammo required to make sure that everyone would know the name of Ian Skinner.

Despite being pushed further back in the match graphic, he was still on the lips and mind of many with co-owner Cali offering a simple comment on his thoughts on Ian Skinner…

F*ck Ian Skinner – Lou “Cali” Essien (video)

Not content enough with ruffling the establishment along with his seven opponents of the Crown Cup, Skinner used this newly unlocked stinging voice to make his case to be entered into the SovPro Heavyweight Championship four way.

Though his request was denied, it showed that Ian Skinner wasn’t here to be part of the furniture, but the fire that takes over.

For those that were unfamiliar with Skinner, co-owners Shotty Horroh and Ryan Skillet had a virtual sit down with Ian on the road to the inaugural event. Sharing his fears (spiders, nightmares, people sitting at the back of the bus, and facing Smashing Mike‘s Dad), discussing his opponents with some light jabs, and if he was feeling the pressure.

There’s three certainties in life. Death. Taxes. And Ian Skinner drinks a Diet Coke and a cup of tea out of the Crown Cup. – Ian Skinner

Skinner’s confidence was riding high, noting that his opponents weren’t thinking about his wrestling ability but about his personality which would be their downfall. However, some didn’t take too kindly to Ian’s light roast with the follically challenged online wrestling media personality Simon Miller deciding to be the collective voice of his fellow competitors and giving Ian a brown down rating.

The fear was evident as Miller downplayed Skinner’s abilities, walking right into his trap.

The revolution is starting… – Ian Skinner

Skinner’s aim was simple, to become the Crown Cup winner, take the cup around the country to the likes of Insane Championship Wrestling, and Discovery Wrestling, and build SovPro’s reputation off the back of his own matches and ability. A respectable goal. His actions maybe questioned but his mission to make SovPro one of the most talked about promotions in the world was on track.

As the day drew closer, Ian shared his thoughts on his opponents in multiple TikToks. Offering more roasts than a Toby Carvery, Ian once again picked away at the seven competitors with the two that lead to him become the outspoken rizzler, Simon Miller and Kidd Bandit, getting the sharpest end of the tongue.

@ianskinnerpw

oh well, reupload innit

♬ original sound – Ian Skinner

Then we come down to Simon Miller. Why? I didn’t ask. We could’ve been great you and me, just a singles match, Crown Cup, little finals match but you just… the next person just had to take it away.

Kidd. Bandit. You’ve be a thorn in my side ever since you were announced for this match. You’ve taken the attention away from me, taken all the attention, and I don’t really like that. Some say I even have a deficient of attention, and the same way you’ve been a thorn in my side, I’ll be a thorn in the bottom of your foot, every step you take in SovPro will be painful, will be burning, with the hurt I’m going to place on you in this Crown Cup match because the other six people are by the by, for me and you it’s personal, I am coming for you. You better watch out.

October 1st arrived, it was time for First Reign. All the words, the videos, the tweets, they didn’t matter when the bell rang. SovPro had a cup waiting to be claimed.

Simon Miller entered first, starting the contest with Big Guns Joe, Iestyn Rees, and Kidd Bandit. As the minutes past, the quartet in the ring tore into each other with little regard about the marathon ahead. The horns blared as the fifth entrant strutted his way to the ring, Ian wisely took his position at the commentary desk. There was no point of expelling needless energy (of which he has in abundance) when he could watch his opponents fight each other and pick up the scraps.

He noted his strategy, let them fight and he’ll come School Boy them, bish, bash, bosh. His only weakness in his mind was if Smashing Mike’s Dad was somewhere. As he cheered on Big Guns Joe dismantling Kidd Bandit, the focus was clear. Kidd. Bandit.

The fun and games lasted five minutes as Smashing Mike arrived, the crossfire of verbal shots towards his Dad may’ve been a little bit of a misstep on the part of Skinner as he was chased around the hall. Skinner cunningly lead Smashing Mike into the path of HT Drake who delivered a springboard lungblower which gave Ian the chance to knock Drake out of the ring and pick up the pinfall, and elimination, of Smashing Mike before returning to the salvation of the commentary desk.

The match wore on, with Skinner laughing as Commander Stephanie Sterling eliminating HT Drake, with the thought that he escaped any repercussions of his earlier tackle that sent Drake crashing to the outside. Drake got the last laugh by sending Skinner head first into the ring post, but that momentary setback had Ian in the right place at the right time.

After Miller eliminated Iestyn Rees with the dreaded School Boy roll up, Skinner rushed into the ring to score his own School Boy roll up and marking his second elimination of the match. As Skinner sat crossed legged in the middle of the ring, soaking up the crowd’s reaction to their golden goose being eliminated, he forgot for a moment about who was left. As he turned to his left, sitting cross legged next to him:

Kidd. Bandit.

It was down to the final two, and for the next five minutes the similarities in their in-ring styles was evident, with variations of kicks being exchanged as the strikes rained down. The underestimated Ian Skinner locked in an Octopus Stretch to punish Bandit further.

Kidd Bandit had one moment as they ducked a kick, managing to lift Skinner up for a One Winged Angel to the knee to keep Ian down for the three count. That one dodge was the difference between Kidd Bandit having their head knocked clean off their shoulders and becoming the inaugural Crown Cup winner.

​​Maybe if Bandit was fighting for the win instead of hiding on the outside the entire match, I would have seen them and murdered them early – Ian Skinner

Even if the outcome wasn’t what Skinner had set out to achieve. The match proved that if Kidd Bandit was referred to as the protagonist of pro wrestling then Ian Skinner was the antagonistic side of the same coin. The battle was won by Bandit, but this wouldn’t be the end of the war.

In the space of five months, Ian Skinner went from a fairly random addition to a multi person contest, to being in the final two on the night. To many that had only witnessed him on the WWE Network, he was a stoic follower, a minion to others, but those five months showed that Skinner could talk the talk, and First Reign proved he could walk the walk. Fuelled by bitterness, and in part due to a major chip on his shoulder, he had been overlooked for too long and First Reign was his coming out party.

The fans had their say as Skinner left an impression on the SovPro Nation…

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? Part 2: Heavy Is The Head. Soon.

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