Following on from Fair City Wrestling’s previous Empire episode, this week’s featured the 2024 Fair City Rumble match itself in full.

We’re still in the Empire Zone, and a new Game Changer will be crowned out of the 30 entrants, I do love a rumble match.

Fair City Rumble – Retro Randy Valentine eliminated Luke Matthews to win the Fair City Rumble.

Entrants and turned out to be the FCW Tag Team Champions, Duke and Sebastian Asher, they geared up to battle before faking out the crowd with a big ol’ hug. They stalled for time as the countdown for ran down… only for another DE member, FCW Junior Heavyweight Champion, Spike Tierney to arrive. The trio stotted about the ring, soaking in the boos.

Jumpin’ William McLeod went straight into the lion’s den, throwing forearms but the numbers advantage was soon apparently as DE destroyed McLeod with a Duke Bicycle Kick, Tierney Abra-Kebabra, and finally an Asher Jackhammer to dispatch of the lad.

Phantasm (#5) died with a spear from Asher as he dove from the top rope. A triple team Magic Killer/Double Foot Stomp combo left DE to scrape up what was left for another elimination. JD Wilde (#6) came in all guns blazing, scattering DE and hitting Tierney with a hard TKO. His Cribby Cruncher follow up was stopped with a brass knuckled right hand of Sebastian Asher which allowed DE to pounce. Botchico (#7) ran out but soon succumbed to the odds, with Euan G Mackie (#8) finally making it three on three, as he managed to dodge the DE attacks to rally Wilde and Botchico to take the fight to the faction.

All six brawled to the ropes, sending the other over the top to cause everyone to be eliminated. The fight continued as the ring stood empty for Marcus “The Glory” Hunter (#9) to walk into proud as punch. He ran the ropes as the countdown started… only to be met by Partyk Peterski (#10).

Peterski finally got his hands on Hunter, but his toying with Marcus allowed for Luke Matthews (#11) to enter, distracting Patryk enough to let Hunter survive for the moment. Matthews aimed a sweet kick to the skull of Peterski, with Hunter providing the assist to form an alliance. Stan The Slav (#12) evened the score to form a very European bond, sharing a swig of vodka with Patryk. Stan and Partyk launched Hunter over the top rope to rid him from the match but Marcus grabbed the arm of Peterski to pull him over the top rope as Sam McMillan (#13) made his entrance.

Body Guy Brandon (#14) laid out all the bodies, crashing McMillan down with a Hellevator as he joined the fray. Retro Randy Valentine (#15) ran wild on Brandon, soon throwing him over the top but the Body Guy clunch onto the bottom rope ala 2000 Road Dogg. Eden (#16) let out a primal scream to confuse Brandon, which was effective as she rammed his head to the mat with a Tornado DDT. Greig Avernus (#17) stormed out and Sparta kicked Eden for a big reaction, he was soon joined by Jack Hunt (#18) to give Stan The Slav a High Low , they went to attack Eden but was saved by SAMUEL (#19) who ate a wheelbarrow flatliner on her behalf. Eden took down The Absolute with a top rope dropkick with Valek (#20) joining the fight. The Absolute and Red Gate battled with Valek being the last man standing, with Stan The Slav soon following.

Rich Money (#21) was in and out thanks to Sam McMillan and Randy Valentine throwing him over the top rope before his entrance music had finished. DAPW Champion Jay Robin (#22) entered and found himself paired against DAPW King of the Class Sam McMillan. Rhys Dawkins (#23) who bigged himself up as the smartest wrestler on this side of the globe, after an initial flurry he had to deal with a Jay Robin superkick.

As the ring began to fill up Sami Sparx (#24) and Fulton King (#25) caused chaos but Robin managed to drop the top rope to send Sparx flying to the ground. Johnny Pressley (#26) formed a kinship with Retro Randy, Tommy Raiden (#27), Shaun Faegan (#28), Oliver Green (#29), and Ryan Roode (#30) completed the field as Filthy Ryan ironically started the clean up, throwing out Rhys Dawkins, being joined by Retro Randy to throw out Johnny Pressley, Body Guy Brandon, Sam McMillan, Shaun Faegan, and Valek.

In among the madness, Oli Green and Tommy Raiden found themselves eliminated. Sami Sparx ran back out to eliminate Jay Robin as he stood on the apron fighting with Fulton King.

It was King, Roode, Matthews, and Valentine in the final four. Retro Filth dispatched Fulton King but Roode was lifted over the ropes by Luke Matthews to leave it down to two. Matthews smashed Randy with a pop up knee to the face but a follow up kick tapped into the Retro Rage with Randy firing up with a Big Boot of Doooooooooom to send Luke Matthews out of the ring to become the new Mr. Game Changer.

Ryan Roode looked suspiciously disappointed at ringside before clapping his Retro Filth tag team partner and leaving him have his moment.

Talk about a well paced Rumble match. The DE opening, Marcus “The Glory” Hunter versus Patryk Peterski, the string of debuts that all got a moment to shine, Red Gate and The Absolute, the Retro Filth reunion, the clear out, it made the hour fly by. That lingering shot of Ryan Roode looking on is something that might be foreshadowing into the new year.

The storyline beats with Legends Never Die and Jay Robin, the aforementioned Hunter and Peterski, The Absolute and Red Gate, this had plenty for seasoned Fair City Wrestling attendees to enjoy and for new fans getting introduced to the characters. A very entertaining rumble bout.

The show is available on YouTube: