Workin’ Man’s Wrestling returned to Dingwall back in May as part of the May Day weekend of events from World Wide Wrestling League. Like last year I got to help out at the show, and on that scorching day, and with the mind I was likely doing backstage interviews so nothing above the waist so shorts were deployed.

Once everything was being set up I was asked to jump in to be the MC for the evening.

Bugger.

With the excuse for the obvious lack of leg day done, the crowd was very much ready for a bit of wrestling in the Royal Legion.

Big Bobby Roberts was introduced to kick off the night, he had a whinge about being back in W3L. Paige Collett made her way out to chastise Bobby for his filthy language, coming out with his boaby patter. All of this was interrupted by Hugo Harris and Hera peacocking around ringside. More squabbling lead to Paige putting Hera in a W3L Women’s Championship match against Rubi Roberts.

W3L Women’s Championship – Hera w/Hugo Harris defeated Rubi Roberts by knockout to retain.

Hera was all over Rubi Roberts, with Rubi having to hit hard and fast to stagger The Goddess. It wasn’t long before Hera was dictating the pace, using Hugo Harris being at ringside to great effect by occupying the attention of referee Jamie Jones. A jawbreaker from Roberts had Hera flailing, a kick to the knee had Hera crouched down as Rubi built momentum to deliver a basement crossbody.

Just as Hera looked to be in trouble, Harris swiped the leg of Roberts, who stumbled into a Full Nelson. Rubi faded out but Hera wouldn’t let go after the bell rung to confirm the match over.

Old School Cool rushed out to break the hold and immediately put the challenge out to Hugo Harris to put the W3L Wrestling Showdown Championship on the line.

W3L Wrestling Showdown Championship – Hugo Harris w/Hera defeated Old School Cool w/Rubi Roberts by pinfall to retain.

OSC overwhelmed Harris, sending him flying with a pushbacks. Hugo took to the outside, suckering OSC to come out for a brawl. OSC got the better of the exchange with Harris sliding into the ring post crotch first as he begged off the challenger. While Hugo recuperated and made sure everything was still as it should be, OSC headed over to get Harris, who responded by hanging OSC off the top rope and landing a smooth standing dropkick to gain the upper hand.

Hera was happy to get involved, choking at OSC when the opportunity arose. Rubi Roberts returned to ringside but struggled to ward off Hera. The OSC chants got louder, as Harris continued to put the pressure on Old School Cool.

The power of the people had OSC find the energy to throw haymakers to rock Hugo Harris, a big boot connected but his leg drop was dodged. Harris missed a Curb Stomp, and was rolled up, the force of Hugo’s kick out left OSC heading into the path of a forearm from Hera, leaving OSC to be school boyed with a handful of tights to retain.

The four squared off again and the fight kicked off again. Paige Collett returned to make a tag team match official for the main event.

A multi-part segment/double match to start off with. Introducing Paige to the crowd and having her flex her authority. It was quite old school W3L to do the first two matches become the main event, reminded me of those first few W3L events in Elgin that I went to a long time ago. The matches were fine, the audience were hot and ate up the drama of it all. There wasn’t a need to go all out, and the matches served as a tease for the main event of the show. Job done.

Connor Molloy defeated Big Bobby Roberts by pinfall.

In a nice surprise, Connor Molloy made his W3L debut against Bobby Roberts. Bobby wasn’t best pleased to be shown up by The Big Slay, who bombarded Roberts with strikes. Bobby was sent to the outside off a second turnbuckle front dropkick.

Much like earlier, Connor fell victim to being hung in the ropes which gave Bobby Roberts the opening to slow down the match to his liking, slamming Molloy and bullying Connor around, launching his full weight at Molloy in attack.

Connor kept fighting, and tried for a slam as Bobby bounced off the ropes which failed. Roberts drove Molloy down with a World’s Strongest Slam, but the Vader Bomb missed with Bobby walking into a superkick that had both me laid out. Roberts swung first only for Connor to dodge, the wild punches of Bobby turned into Molloy body slamming Roberts that shook the hard cam with the landing. It was only good for two.

A tornado DDT sent Bobby back to the canvas, which was another near fall. Connor tried to pick up Roberts but got spinebustered instead. Roberts set up for a spear, Molloy evaded the charge and rolled up Bobby Roberts to get the win.

The video didn’t do justice for how loud the Dingwall audience was for Connor Molloy. His interval in-ring photos were non-stop. Everyone wanted to get in with Connor for a Polaroid or a selfie. It was a smashing debut. A well told David versus Goliath battle with the build up to the slam finally being successful bit on and got the desired reaction.

Behind the curtain bonus… I got so wrapped up in The Bulgarian Baker coming out that I forgot to introduce Bozidar Branimir until he got into the ring.

Rhoderick Jones was introduced but a chair shot could be heard from backstage and it was card subject to change. Chris Renfrew declared that he hated three things; Dingwall, Bulgarians, and bakers… and Bozidar was two of the three. The Bulgarian Baker challenged Renfrew to put the W3L Breakout Championship on the line.

W3L Breakout Championship – Chris Renfrew defeated Bozidar Branimir by pinfall to retain.

Branimir waved his baguette in the face of Chris Renfrew who snapped it with one hand. A bread holding Renfrew was knocked to the outside in a daze. The Bulgarian Baker tried to dive to the outside but was clobbered with the remains of the baguette as Chris Renfrew’s ringside buff had him putting a beating down on Bozidar Branimir.

The Bulgarian Baker jabbed at Renfrew, knocking him down with an elbow. Branimir went to bring in Little Chef but ate a stunner for a near fall. Bozidar fought out of a T-Virus attempt to Rock Bottom Renfrew, landing a Five Knuckle Shuffle for two. The Bulgarian Baker went from another Uranage the was elbow out of for a second Stunner, transitioned quickly into a T-Virus to score the fall.

Renfrew brought in a chair to continue to the attack on Bozidar Branimir. Crashing the steel against the skull of The Bulgarian Baker, and driving Bozidar onto the chair with a T-Virus.

A fun match to get the crowd back into the show after the break. The post-match attack was brutal and broke my heart. Damn you Chris Renfrew, damn you.

Irn Dru Marshall defeated Sam Taylor by pinfall.

Sam Taylor had Dru Marshall in knots to start with, keeping a tight grip with a headlock and sending Dru rolling when he finally broke free. Marshall returned the headlock, switching up to a wrist lock, to a waist lock to keep the youngster on his toes.

Irn Dru tried to catch Sam off guards, who swiftly ducked and dived to turn it around for a lightning fast dropkick to have Marshall reassessing things again. It was a change of tact with a handshake offering to pull Taylor into a clothesline and a running double knee into the corner. A stinging punt up the spine left both hurting.

The fast exchanges kicked off again with hiptosses, ending in a stalemate stereo dropkick. Sam rushed at Marshall but was sent to the outside with Dru jumping out to join him. Taylor went for his own aerial launch to the outside only to be caught by Marshall, who dropped Sam face first onto the apron.

Marshall was content with the count out, keeping Sam Taylor on the outside. A forearm send Dru back long enough for Sam re-enter for a back and forth of pin attempts with Taylor rolling up Jamie Jones in the confusion. The action continued with strikes being returned, Sam Taylor landed a Canadian Destroyer to crumple Irn Dru to the mat.

Taylor went for a victory roll which Marshall dropped down to trap Sam for the three count.

A very good match. It was a competitive tussle that showed how talented Sam Taylor is, coming up against a W3L mainstay in Irn Dru Marshall. The

Rubi Roberts & Old School Cool defeated Hera & Hugo Harris by pinfall.

Roberts had better luck against Hera than earlier, managing to take The Goddess off her feet. Rubi tagged in Old School Cool which brought in Hugo Harris who found himself caught from a crossbody and slammed to the canvas.

Harris and Hera regrouped on the outside, agreeing to charge the ring but Hugo stopped in his tracks to leave Hera sliding in solo. Hera overpowered Rubi, and between that and Harris dragging OSC off the apron, it was complete control for the championship duo. They tried to double team Rubi Roberts but Hugo found himself in the path of a swinging boot to the testicles. OSC hit an Atomic Drop to add injury to insult, turning Hugo Harris inside out with a lariat.

Rubi collided with Jamie Jones that had the referee out of action for the time being. Paige Collett returned to check on Jones before gravitating into a confrontation with Hera. Collett gave Hera a Stunner, and one for Hugo Harris for his troubles. Old School Cool landed a big standing leg drop to cover Harris while Collett made the count.

A big crowd pleasing end to nicely bookended show. The main takeaway was that the audience were wild for an evening of pro wrestling entertainment and they got the good guys to support and the bad guys to boo with easily digestible stories for all ages. It was the definition of family friendly wrestling.

To be in the middle to announce the wrestlers, ring the bell, moving around to help out, it was a quick night, and before you knew it it was time to tear the curtains down and carry things to the van. Being at the front to talk to other fans during the meet and greet after the show, or the interval with Connor, that excitement in the air was evident. It was an entertaining overall experience to be part of.

The full show is available on the W3L Network on YouTube: