As I sat at Dyce Farm after an afternoon watching Blippi (with my family I should add) that gosh darn purple notification appeared in my notifications. Iron Girders Pro Wrestling was live streaming their IGPW23 event LIVE on Twitch. It’s a few days later and I’ve bumped the event up my watchlist because you never know when the archive gods will snatch the event away from us.

Ian Skinner defeated Charlie Vyce by pinfall.

This was a match that I was incredibly hyped for. Skinner versus Vyce, Vyce versus Skinner, and it was all go from the off. Charlie Vyce halted the exchange of physical ideas to remove his gear and reveal that he was wearing matching yellow and black tights. Adding that layer that this was supposed to be the reunion to battle for the PWE Tag Team Championships. Charlie offered his hand out which was quickly kicked away by Ian Skinner. The match spilled to the outside where Vyce delivered open palm strikes to the back of a retreating Skinner who sought refuge back between the ropes.

While Charlie Vyce was trying to keep things respectful, Ian Skinner was feral, grabbing limbs and torquing them in unnatural directions. There was no split in allegiance from the crowd, they were all for Charlie who turned back the clock to bust out some lost offence pre-Moxie’s Crew. A Meteora from the top caught a two count for Vyce with Skinner taking to target the legs of his former tag team partner. Swipes were ducked and countered, with neither getting an outright advantage. A release suplex from Ian Skinner awoke Charlie for a moment until a knee to the head rattled him in the corner. A second killshot left Charlie Vyce motionless.

As Vyce regained consciousness, the pair embraced as the Gallowgate chanted once more for Charlie Vyce. A great way to properly reintroduce this Charlie Vyce after a long absence filled with skullduggery and nefarious actions. It was mission accomplished for Ian Skinner to bring that side of Vyce out while also getting to show his growth since the demise of a team that had bags of potential that ultimately came at the wrong time. The visual of the matching gear was great, and with the PWE Tag Team Championships active in Iron Girders Pro Wrestling and the post-match respect, I’m all in for Vyce & Skinner/Skinner & Vyce going all the way. Money.

Commissioner Bulwark came out to go over some upcoming Iron Girders Pro Wrestling dates but was interrupted by Che Monet. Monet had some choice words for the IGPW Champion, Angel Hayze, that unfortunately got cut off during the stream replay. Sam Taylor appeared and put out a challenge for IGPW Championship himself. Che tried a sneak attack but Sam sent him out of the ring. Commissioner Bulwark confirmed a number one contender match at Ally Park the following week between the two.

Victory Royale Qualifier – Branagan defeated Grant McIvor by pinfall to qualify.

It was a competitive grapple to begin things, McIvor was happy to go hold for hold but there was an air of naivety with Branagan snapping counters with precision. The armdrags came thick and fast with match keeping up a pure form until a disgruntled Branagan dug in a punch to the bread basket to weaken the torso, latching on an Abdominal Stretch to torture Grant McIvor. A Fisherman’s Suplex could only hold McIvor for a near fall, with the jostle seeing Branagan being thrown into the ropes, only to turn things around to throw Grant over for a lovely Butterfly Suplex for another two count.

McIvor hoisted Branagan up to deliver a Wasteland, following up with a second rope senton for two. The momentum continued to switch, Grant thought he’d secured victory from a half Boston Crab but Branagan managed to reach the ropes. Before Grant could do anything else, he was darted into the second turnbuckle and rolled up to suffer a loss.

It was great to see Grant McIvor still doing the wrestling. There was very little signs of ring rust that negatively impacted the match, with any minor hesitations showing that gap in recent in-ring activity between the two. Branagan continues to be fascinating to watch.

PWE Tag Team Championships – Tommy Lockhart & Craig Anthony defeated KoE (Marcus King & Adam King) by pinfall to win the PWE Tag Team Championships.

The challengers didn’t get a chance to complete their entrance before KOE appeared in the ring to attack. Craig Anthony sent Adam and Marcus out to the outside with some breakneck manoeuvres, tagging in Tommy Lockhart as the match began to settle down. Lockhart sent Adam King for a wee trip for an Airplane Spin, and Marcus didn’t get to be left out for a spin of his own. Lockhart and Anthony sent KOE to the outside and while they were Kind Of Elusive, we got back to business for Tommy to toss his hat successfully on his cane that was held by Craig Anthony. If that wasn’t a good sign then I don’t know what is.

Marcus King caught Lockhart mid-springboard to ragdoll Tommy about, and KOE did their best to keep him isolated. KOE tried to pop Tommy Lockhart up but Tommy grabbed a girder of the Gallowgate before dropping down onto a confused KOE for a double DDT. Craig Anthony tagged in as the pace once again picked up. Marcus and Adam tried to stop any momentum by exiting the ring, but found themselves staring at Anthony and Lockhart taking turns at flying out onto them.

Adam was rolled back in, a second turnbuckle Moonsault from Tommy followed by a 450 Splash by Anthony almost had it until Marcus pushed back Lockhart to break the fall. An irate Marcus King started giving out to referee Katie Walker who slapped Marcus following one too many derogatory comments to leave him staggering into a German Suplex/diving European Uppercut. The match broke down with KOE taking charge, throwing Tommy Lockhart into a sit out powerbomb. Adam made the signal to end the match but Craig Anthony took out Marcus, with Tommy rolling up Adam to capture the PWE Tag Team Championships.

A great match. Between the tease of Ian Skinner and Charlie Vyce coming back together, to the emergence of a new team on the block of Craig Anthony and Tommy Lockhart, it’s an exciting time in the Iron Girders Pro Wrestling tag team division. The audience bit for the near falls, and I appreciated that Tommy and Craig entered in matching red and gold coloured gear. It showed that intention of the team being all in on being a team from the get go. They threw in some tandem moves but it was their individual prowess that managed to separate KOE. When KOE were in the ring together they were undeniable, especially when they could focus on one target, so to see them being separated it made their spells working together have a sense of urgency because they noticed that Anthony and Lockhart might have them if they were apart, which turned out to be correct. Fantastic.

Clan Chief Knockout Tournament – Colton Davis defeated Robbie Cardwell by pinfall to advance.

Robbie Cardwell, powered by Monster and the disregard for his own body, mauled at Colton Davis which had Davis on the back foot. A big clothesline from Robbie had Colton on the outside, a diving through the ropes was met with a push back from Davis, Cardwell went for a second attempt and found himself running into the sole of Colton Davis’ boot. Big feet, means big damage. Colton grabbed Robbie Cardwell and effortlessly chucked Robbie out of the ring with a thud, which could’ve been the body of Cardwell hitting the cold floor or the apron, either way it wasn’t something pleasant.

It was time for Colton Davis to impose his will on his opponent. Robbie was still breathing but Colton was making it difficult with chops to the chest. Cardwell managed to connect with a jawbreaker but was swatted from the sky when he tried to go aerial. Robbie did his best to avoid the chokeslam attempts from Davis, breaking the hold on his throat to give Colton an enziguri and a coast to coast drop kick. Cardwell went to the top turnbuckle but was caught by Colton Davis who proceeded to grab Robbie by the throat and push him off the second rope to the floor below. Somehow Cardwell beat the count from referee Katie Walker but was spaghetti legged.

A disgustingly high chokeslam from Colton Davis left Robbie down long enough to send Colton to Braehead Arena to continue in the Clan Chief tournament on August 2nd.

Cardwell’s willingness to hurl himself certainly made Colton Davis look like a monster. It was effective in having Colton be taken as a serious threat to the whole tournament as a killer to pair with him being a physical giant. The story was a simple David versus Goliath dynamic, just this time Goliath wins. Robbie got enough of himself in to keep that vocal support strong.

There was another audio cut out at the point but from what I’ve gathered it was Robbie declaring for the Victory Royale rumble in August.

Chris Kingston defeated Moxie Malone by pinfall.

Kingston suckered Moxie into a car and mouse game, letting her chase him back into the ring to leave her open for a back elbow. A slight pause to calculate his next move had Kingston watching Moxie Malone flinging herself at him and punching at his alleged wigged dome. Malone erratic in trying to get her hands on Chris Kingston, who got a well timed arm up to take back the upper hand. Moxie sent Kingston down with an Old School armdrag and a running boot into the corner. Unfortunately Chris Kingston stood his ground from an Irish Whip to turn the tables again, driving Moxie down hard with a back suplex.

In a shocking turn of events, Moxie ripped the headpiece off Chris Kingston, a bewildered Kingston then got battered by Malone. Big Mick wandered out and brushed off a dive from Moxie. Jake Lawless jumped onto the back of Big Mick and rode him out of the venue, Malone connected with an Unprettier to Kingston but was interrupted by Stone Malone (no relation) charging out. Commissioner Bulwark hauled Stone to the back but all that was enough time for Chris Kingston to roll up Moxie for the win.

It was quite jarring to see good guy Moxie Malone. It was especially interesting to see Commissioner Bulwark technically make the save after their very tumultuous history in Iron Girders Pro Wrestling. A fun match that certainly served as part of the story, there’s still plenty in the tank but to see Moxie being cheered was a good sign, even if she ripped the thick flowing hair off the skull of Chris Kingston. Scandalous.

BT Gunn & Angel Hayze defeated Prince Levi & Saxon Huxley by pinfall.

The usually crazy eyed Prince Levi was wide eyed for a whole different reason as he tried to communicate with Saxon Huxley. Levi’s night wasn’t getting much better when he got chopped by BT Gunn shortly afterwards. Gunn tagged in Angel Hayze, who took down Levi. Hayze tagged BT back in, as Levi ran to his corner to bring in Huxley. Angel Hayze wanted back in, showing no fear of Saxon, dodging her way into finding the wild man crotched on the top rope and brought in Gunn to assist with rattling the Saxon Huxley’s giblets.

BT had the same tactics of duck and move, striking when needed, managing to slam Saxon to the canvas. It didn’t keep Huxley down for long as Gunn and Hayze tried to double team but Saxon was too strong, knocking BT and Angel into each other and tagging in Levi. Some uncooperative tandem offense had Saxon press slam an unwilling Prince Levi onto BT for a near fall. Levi tried to isolate The Oddity, who eventually got Angel Hayze in who took it to Prince Levi. Hayze tried to set up for a neckbreaker to Levi, but a sidestep caused a rampaging Saxon to lariat the back of Levi’s neck instead.

Gunn threw the IGPW Championship to Prince Levi, as Levi held the belt, looking confused, Lionel Ritchie’s Hello played over the speakers, cutting off at the exact moment BT’s foot made contact to the jaw of Levi, who was making anime style heart shaped eyes at the gold he once held. They couldn’t have timed that better if they tried. Huxley re-entered to cause a ruckus and grabbed Hayze by the hair. A misaimed double foot stomp had Levi collide with Saxon, and as Levi was sent tumbling to the outside it was a barrage of attacks from Angel and BT Gunn, bookended with a basement forearm that had Hayze pin Saxon Huxley.

Levi admonished Saxon after the match who gave the Prince a royally massive sit out chokebomb to end the night being cheered.

A party main event where some frolics and silliness were had. The Hello moment was received well and the impeccable timing of the music stopping made it all the better. Saxon Huxley is a giant of a man, standing all broad shouldered and intimidating. I’m surprised that Che Monet and Sam Taylor didn’t reappear but it might have been too similar to the previous match.

A curious note is that half of the matches ended with some sort of roll up pin, two of which being O’Connor Rolls. That’s a very minor quibble on what was a strong sports entertaining show. A hot opener, a shocking title change, and a happy conclusion to the night. It was an easy event to watch that had strong monuments throughout.

The show is still currently available to replay on Twitch here, and will appear on YouTube soon.

We host Iron Clash TV (available on the Iron Girders YouTube channel), check out some past matches from the promotion that is Girders Built.