I know, it’s been about a month since both parts of Fair City Wrestling’s ‘ArdlerMania: Part Deux’ went up on YouTube via Empire episodes. It’s been a busy time! But I have sat down to rewatch the event to put fingers to keyboard for your viewing pleasure.

For those that didn’t know, I was on commentary for this event, I also recorded a road trip episode that went out on the SWN Podcast here which primarily consisted of me being baffled that I had got an opportunity to be part of the event in any capacity, so a big thanks to the team for trusting me to sound coherent because it was recorded live pal!

There were no travel woes this time, even if it was ALL THE MODES OF TRANSPORT. Bus to Aberdeen, car to Dundee, taxi to hotel after the show, bus to the centre the next day, before eventually jumping on the train back to Elgin, and home at a nice hour to put my son to bed. Bliss.

This part is becoming more and more like the annoying story fluff at the start of a recipe, you have your ingredients in hand, I’ve got YouTube playing, let’s do a review!

Prior to the show beginning, myself, JP Hamilton, and Tomithy Atlas got prepared, notes ready, terrible singing, and more audio that I hope never sees the light of day.

FCW Women’s Championship – Brodie Adler defeated Moxie Malone by pinfall to retain the FCW Women’s Championship.

We kicked off ‘ArdlerMania: Part Deux’ with AdlerMania, Brodie Adler defending the FCW Women’s Championship against Moxie Malone. The crowd were heavily behind the champion as the opening announcements were made.

Malone went straight for Brodie seconds before the bell was even rung, throwing forearms. Adler was happy to throw back, knocking Malone down with a big shoulder block as the momentum swung back and forth. Malone wore down Adler, punches to the gut, elbows to the side of the skull.

Brodie caught Moxie via a top rope crossbody to give Malone a Fallaway Slam to send The Misfit flying to the outside which turned the tide, lighting the fuse of The Dynamite. Landing a second rope crossbody of her own for a near fall. A hard Samoan Drop couldn’t keep Moxie down.

After flipping out of a Black Hole Slam attempt, countering with a neckbreaker, Moxie got frustrated but her rush to try and finish the task saw her run into a Black Hole Slam for the champion to retain.

A heated opener, Brodie Adler and Moxie Malone had some fantastic chemistry. Moxie brings an unhinged dynamic to matches where she just keeps grabbing, scrapping, absolutely persistent. Adler battled through, showing plenty of power, the crowd were 100% behind the champion and were pleased with the outcome. A cracking opening match which continues the ‘ArdlerMania’ streak of blistering opening bouts.

Patryk Peterski defeated Fulton King w/Marcus “The Glory” Hunter by pinfall.

Marcus Hunter declared that Partyk Peterski didn’t deserve to face him so introduced his replacement, Fulton King.

Two big lads trying to outpower the other as they threw their bodies at the other with big punches and splashes. Hunter picked his spots to interfere and get a dig or two in. Peterski suffered from a basement crossbody for a near fall.

Partyk fought back with a hammerlock lariat but Hunter popped up on the apron to make sure Peterski couldn’t get any more momentum. Peterski wasn’t to be denied, hitting a Full Nelson Slam for another two count.

The momentum was all in the camp of Big Paddy Cool, multiple Polish Hammers, a Death Valley Driver, before finishing the job with a Spinebuster as Marcus “The Glory” Hunter made a quick exit before the referee finished slapping his hand on the mat.

A big beefy brawl, another one were the chemistry just hit right. It was raw, hard hitting, even a little ugly at times, which provided a great experience. The hometown hero overcoming a big terrifying beast like Fulton King, you love to see it.

FCW Junior Heavyweight Championship – Spike Tierney defeated Ravie Davie by pinfall to retain the FCW Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Davie started with all sorts of shenanigans to send Spike Tierney all over the place, having an answer for anything the champion tried, aiming attacks to the shoulders of Spike early on with shoulder blocks and a bit of Old School but his first Lionsault attempt was dodged by Tierney, but Spike couldn’t dodge the step up springboard senton to the outside.

As the match returned to the ring Spike took control, but his Ripcord Enziguri was ducked to allow Ravie Davie to hit a basement cutter to create space. Davie built up a head of steam with rapid punches and a second rope Blockbuster that could only garner a near fall. A second Lionsault was countered into a roll up but Davie got his shoulder up.

It looked to be over with Spike managing to hit his Ripcord Enziguri and a Sky High but it was another kick out for ‘The Fresh Prince of Drumoyne Square’. The battle continued, Davie hit a headbutt and finally landed the Lionsault but Tom Atlas vacated the commentary desk to pull referee Sean Moran out of the ring to interrupt the fall.

Tierney smashed the FCW Jr Heavyweight Championship into the face of Davie but missed a Swanton Bomb. Davie considered using the belt for his own means but decided otherwise. Atlas provided another distraction which allowed for the Swanton to land but it wasn’t enough.

Spike was incensed, pulling the referee near to sneak in a low blow and after a miscue the first time, hit the Abra-Kebabra for the win.

Tom Atlas bounced into the ring but celebrated a little too long, getting a Glasgow Kiss from Ravie Davie while Spike had already made his way to the back with his title in hand.

Barring that awkwardness with the Abra-Kebabra, this was a solid first half main event. The thing with Fair City Wrestling there isn’t much by way of shades of grey. The crowd either like or dislike as a collective so it makes the atmosphere of the matches elevate because of it. Despite Spike Tierney being a Dundee boy, having wrestled in that venue as a good guy for years, the power of being associated with the big bad faction DE carries through, there is no hometown pop, just disdain.

It took a minute for the crowd to heat up for Ravie Davie but I put a lot of that down to a language barrier following Davie’s entrance rap. To be fair, I didn’t understand it at the time. It’s interesting to see how dedicated, and almost closed off, some crowds are when an “outsider” debuts. A good majority didn’t seem to know who Ravie Davie was but as match went on they gathered support for him, which is testament to how well Davie manages to draw people into his character, plus how effective Spike Tierney has been since his change in attitude.

Back from the interval, Mr Atlas had been replaced by Kira Steele who was also making her commentary debut, so Big Daddy JP was in charge of the newbies for the latter half of the event.

FCW Tag Team Championships – Tables Match – DE (Duke & Sebastian Asher) defeated Casino Brutale (RABU & Mikey Devine) to retain the FCW Tag Team Championships.

We returned with the first ever tables match in Fair City Wrestling history. RABU and Mikey went straight to Duke and Asher, overwhelming them in the early going and getting the table in the opening minutes.

DE met Casino Brutale on the outside and the brawl went into the crowd, as the quartet fought around the Ardler Complex hall. RABU had his eye on the time keeper and commentary table but Sebastian Asher managed to keep RABU at a distance.

Duke and Asher took control, with RABU having to Pounce Mikey Devine out of the way of being whipped into the table propped up in the corner, but RABU ended up getting hit with a Hart Attack in return.

Casino Brutale continued to fight, RABU managing to plant Duke with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Asher returned with brass knuckles to hit RABU in the kidney. An attempted Magic Killer to RABU from DE dented the table, so they finally finished the match with Asher driving Devine into the corner to crack the table in two for the win.

A bowling shoe brawl, the table being plastic had it’s pitfalls as it supported by metal a little stronger than your wooden counterparts. Not the easiest to break, which DE discovered. Maybe a tables match was a bit risky if there wasn’t the appropriate furniture available. Considering the story revolving around the brass knuckles maybe them on a pole might’ve been better? Hindsight is a wonderful thing eh. The fire ups from Casino Brutale were slick, with Asher and Duke being rough and ready so their offense isn’t always the prettiest but it looked gnarly.

Hot Shot Gauntlet – Retro Randy Valentine defeated Botchico (1), Big Ross Hauser (2), Valek (3), Jay Robin (4), Oliver Green (5), Tommy Raiden (6), Sam McMillan (7), SAMUEL (8), and Rich Money (10).

Botchico drew the short straw at number one to come up against Big Ross Hauser, who towered over the masked man. Botchico tried to evade Hauser but felt a open palm chop and lariat. Big Ross popped Botchico onto his shoulder but an escape from and dropkick to the back sent the big man over the top rope. Botchico’s involvement didn’t last long after that with Valek sliding in and quickly dispatching him.

Jay Robin made quick work of Valek, Oliver Green, and Tommy Raiden before Sam McMillan managed to knock the DAPW Champion off the apron with a discus bicycle kick. SAMUEL stalked out next and didn’t waste time, jamming McMillan’s head to the mat and throwing him over the top rope.

Retro Randy Valentine entered in the penultimate spot, with RetroMania running wild to send SAMUEL flying. As Rich Money made his entrance, SAMUEL returned to blow a red mist in the face of Valentine. Money thought it was going to be easy work, giving Randy an Uranage that just seemed to awake some RETRO RAGE(TM), a couple haymakers and a big boot landed before Rich Money was sent to the floor to give Retro Randy Valentine free choice for his number in the Fair City Rumble.

A quick battle royal-come-gauntlet, Retro Randy Valentine giving the best 3 minutes he had to dispatch SAMUEL and Rich Money. A feel good finish to the match with each entrant getting a little flourish. The DAPW Champion getting an extended stay set up a potential next challenger nicely, with the North East lads Oliver Green and Tommy Raiden, getting a brisk introduction, along with Big Ross Hauser.

JD Wilde defeated Euan G Mackie by pinfall.

And now for something completely different. Euan G Mackie tried to teach Wilde an Irish Whip, after several minutes of that Wilde was sent to the outside… and wandered off. Wilde was found at the sound booth blaring out Dexys Midnight Runners, LMFAO, 5ive, and a bit of Steps to send Mackie into a distracting line dance.

Wilde springboarded into the ring and it seemed to awaken whatever was causing his previous state, after weathering some offense from JD, Mackie regained his bearings and wore down Wilde with a shoulder block, leg drop, and a second rope splash to wind his opponent.

JD Wilde continued in his lucid state of mind, Mackie tried to suppress JD with a bottle of bourbon… which only seemed to power up Wilde who chugged the bottle before managing to pull off a springboard top rope moonsault. Mackie replied with a second rope avalanche Sliced Bread .

The massive moves continued with JD Wilde muscling Mackie on his shoulders for a second rope TKO for a close near fall. That was enough to discombobulate Euan G Mackie to be tripped and prime for a Curb Stomp for the three count.

The two embraced after the match for a big reaction.

If this was any other audience, anyone other that Mackie in the driver’s seat, this could’ve been a total bust, but the narrative told was layered to keep the investment going. I mentioned the Fair City Wrestling audience being such a collective, they all urged for JD Wilde to return to what he once was, to break the fog that was causing this vagabond nature. A heavily story driven match that worked.

FCW Heavyweight Championship – Ian Ambrose defeated ADM by pinfall to WIN the FCW Heavyweight Championship.

Following an opening exchange of waist locks to jockey for position, it didn’t take long for the battle to be taken to the outside as they fought around ringside. Ambrose tried to get fancy with a couple suicide dives but was caught with the second attempt to be chokeslammed on the apron to put ADM in firm control.

After interrupting ADM’s premature celebrations, Ambrose tried to get back into the match but was met with a Claymore Kick for a near fall as the methodical pace continued for The Clyde River Killer as he swatted away attempted offense to throw Ambrose around with a couple Butterfly Suplexes, sending Ambrose to the outside to seemingly accept a count out victory.

Ambrose slipped on a springboard with ADM pouncing on him, Ian managed to recover to strike with a cutter to reset the match. The forearms flew until ADM directed a kick to the recently rehabilitated knee, it didn’t stop Ambrose from throwing ADM back with a suplex.

The knee came back to haunt Ambrose, his hesitation climbing the turnbuckle gave ADM time to throw Ian off the turnbuckle, give him a powerbomb him into the corner, and a lariat for good measure. A second lariat from ADM found it’s mark on referee Chris Quinn which saw Ambrose land a cutter for a hypothetical three count. ADM followed up with a duo of vertical neckbreakers but substitute referee Sean Moran wasn’t there in time to count the fall. Moran wasn’t long for the match as ADM pulled him in front to take the brunt of a springboard cutter.

A backbreaker chokeslam had Ambrose down for the count but with no referee available it was for naught. ADM went back to the knee with a single leg Boston Crab, maximising the five count when Ambrose made it to the bottom rope. ADM tried the Boston Crab again but was rolled through for a victory roll that managed to keep his shoulders down for the count.

As Ian Ambrose celebrated he was interrupted by JD Wilde and the returning Mighty Fine Eddie Devine for a Scumbucks reunion to close the event as ArdlerMania ends once again with Ian Ambrose holding the FCW Heavyweight Championship.

It was a marathon, not a sprint but it didn’t out stay it’s welcome. Ian Ambrose is a firm favourite in Fair City Wrestling and it goes back to that no shades of grey reaction that FCW attracts, ADM provided a despicable foe for Ian to overcome and he did so to close the night on a high.

FCW provided a nice nostalgic trip for those maybe attending Fair City Wrestling for those that may have stopped visiting the Ardler Complex in a number of years, along with introducing new faces to attract them to Perth for their regular monthly events. A variety night of action which would hit as many demographics as possible, whether it’s a spot of colourful larger than life characters like Retro Randy Valentine, to chaotic fighting like Moxie Malone provides, or simply a brawl up close and personal like the tag team match, maybe you like watching people being thrown over the top rope several times over, this had all of that.

Fair City Wrestling rewarded the loyalty of the audience by providing so many story plot points threaded through while also providing an entertaining event for all ages.

A fun night of wrestling and I got a cracking view from the commentary desk.

The full event is available now over two episodes of FCW Empire:

Part 1

Part 2