We’ll have a road trip episode of the podcast coming soon about this event, in the meantime it is available on Patreon in audio form here: www.patreon.com/scotwresnet

It’s been over a week removed from since the Rich Energy Arena was packed for WrestleZone’s biggest show on the 2025 calendar. All roads lead to Aberdeen Anarchy and on May 17th 2025 it was a historic night because the doors opened 10 minutes early. I know right? Lessons were learned from the delays at Regal Rumble as the queue formed in the early afternoon all gathered outside the venue. So expect the rest of the events for 2025 to open at least 2 minutes later to make up the time…

The weather was glorious in Aberdeen, the sun was shining and blue skies which has become the norm when this event rolls around. The Gods look down on ‘Aberdeen Anarchy’ favourably, it is unknown whether Caleb Valhalla puts a word in.

A mass of bodies calmly made their way through to the hall, hundreds of seats ready to be sat on, tables upon tables of merchandise, a mini bar of refreshments, and doughnuts… so many doughnuts provided by local company Dough and Co. I can confirm, they were affa fine.

Nixon Newell was also on hand for a meet and greet opportunities.

VIP Ticket Holder Match – Dough & Co Battle Royal – Rhys Dawkins defeated Scotty Swift, Keison Howie, James Taylor, Travis Knox, Kai Orson, Tommy Raiden, Lord Mr Malice, and Doug Handco.

Despite the sprinkling of offence from Doug Handco he was dispatched in the opening minute by Rhys Dawkins.

From that point it was your usual battle royal affair, with the new faces getting a bit more of a spotlight to couple with their showings at the Regal Rumble. Lord Mr Malice thought he managed to outwit Keison Howie in return for eliminating Malice at the Regal Rumble but once again it turned out that Malice was witless as Howie sent him packing.

James Taylor showed his cerebral tenacity, waiting for the right moment to take out Kai Orson and Travis Knox in one fell swoop. Beforehand, Orson and Knox had a nice exchange with Kai catching Travis from a crossbody and transferring Knox seamlessly into a Fireman’s Carry position, which ultimately led to them being close to the ropes for Taylor to strike.

It was soon down to two and after a back and forth battle Rhys Dawkins knocked Scotty off the apron to earn himself a future title opportunity, immediately marking his intention towards the Undisputed Championship.

Then with the losers let it sympathize,
For nothing can seem foul to those that win.

This served well as a student showcase along with adding further intrigue for the main card. Of my several predictions, many being incorrect, I put out the notion that IF either Swift or Dawkins won would they decide to cash in after the Tri-Counties Championship match. I won’t spoil too much here but that didn’t happen, a good theory though eh.

Better than the one when I’d convinced myself that Doug Handco would turn out to be Zach Dynamite.

There’s still time for that to come true if you believe, Dynamite has a knack for cosplay, I don’t forget Santa attacking Damien and neither should you.

WrestleZone Tag Team Championships – Four Way Ladder Match – Casino Brutale (Mikey Devine & RABU) defeated The Outfit (Ted O’Keefe, Dino, & Murphy), The Influence (Judas Grey, Ronan King, & Connor Molloy), and The Foundation of the Future (Bruiser Brad Evans & Ryan Riley), & Richard R. Russell to win the WrestleZone Tag Team Championships.

The main show started with the four way ladder match that was a highlight reel of mayhem. The Influence arrived dressed as Greek Gods and demons. In a mark of rare surface level anxiety Judas Grey didn’t have his usual swagger, even his launching of items to my face was softer… not that I’m inviting that to change in the future… it was like he had in mind what he was willing to do to put the titles back into The Influence camp.

It wasn’t long before the ringside area was a mass of bodies flying at each other with fists and torsos. Richard R. Russell tried to take advantage by retrieving a ladder but was soon stopped in his tracks. The Influence hit a triple dive from the corners to the outside to crash into their opponents below.

There was no stopping the action, The Outfit got their moment with Murphy powerbombing Connor Molloy into a propped ladder in the corner, but they weren’t immune to the steel as The Foundation of the Future sent O’Keefe flying into Dino who was propped against a ladder.

Casino Brutale tried a novel approach to try and reach the titles hanging above with some Chicken Jockey action, but was stopped by Bruiser Brad to send RABU and Mikey crashing to the mat. The thrills and spills continued to escalate. Connor once again shone in the ladder match environment, hitting Brad with a Sliced Bread, using a ladder that was squashed against Ryan Riley for the run up but he was soon feeling the pain thanks to a chokeslam from the ladder courtesy of Murphy.

The Foundation and Outfit feud resurfaced, Riley stopped Murphy with a throw from the second rope onto a ladder but his battle with Dino on the ladder was stopped by Casino Brutale. Judas Grey returned to take out both of the Brutale lads with a double sunset flip powerbomb from two ladders before his journey to the top was stopped by Ted O’Keefe that sent Grey falling backwards to the mat to fold him up. Ronan King came to his boy’s defence with a mad Spanish Fly from the ladder to O’Keefe.

Bruiser Brad juggernauted his way back into the ring and fought off The Influence by throwing Molloy overhead onto a ladder. After finally being overwhelmed by the numbers, Brad was left laying on the canvas as Judas scaled a ladder. He paused standing on the top before noticing the gaggle of combatants fighting on the floor, he turned his attention to that group and dove with a Swanton onto the flock. A wild moment.

Ronan went to try and launch himself from the ladder but was caught by Brad for a mega superplex from a great height to take out King and himself in the process. Among all the destruction, Richard R. Russell made his way back out to steal the titles but was put to a stop thanks to the team he put his hands on in January during their debut, Casino Brutale. Devine hoisted Russell onto his shoulders for a super Aces High to leave the master strategist trying to locate his liver, kidneys, and whatever other organs had been moved with the impact.

RABU pointed to the sky before throwing himself from the top turnbuckle to the sea of bodies that were recovering and congregating at ringside to allow Mikey Devine to scale the ladder and unclasped the title belts to hit the jackpot as the new WrestleZone Tag Team Champions.

Near 20 minutes of balls to the wall action, the team that walked in with the numbers against them defied the odds. The Influence decided that there was no tomorrow with the insane trauma to their bodies. It was up there as one of the best openers not just in Aberdeen Anarchy history but in WrestleZone, certainly from what I have attended and seen in my dozen years heading over to the Granite City.

I am glad that Casino Brutale won, for purely selfish reasons so that they have to come back up to Aberdeen with the gold. The WrestleZone crowd took to them straight away in January, and that support continued through each appearance. All four teams provided high impact sacrifices to put across how important the WrestleZone Tag Team Championships are as a prize.

WrestleZone Tri-Counties Championship – Scotty Swift and Rhys Dawkins are handcuffed together at ringside – TV’s Umar Mohammed w/Scotty Swift defeated Bryan Tucker w/Rhys Dawkins by submission to win the WrestleZone Tri-Counties Championship.

From impactful physicality, a emotional 9 minutes and 30 seconds followed.

For such a grand occasion, Bryan Tucker arrived with an old style Grandfather clock to note the 10 minute time limit. Such a distraction caused Rhys Dawkins to forget the smoke spooters that went off to make him “shatteth his breeches” as the “Wally” chants roared in the Rich Energy Arena.

In part due to the stipulation held of Scotty Swift and Rhys Dawkins handcuffed at ringside Tucker had to actually, y’know, do some wrestling for an extended period of time for the first time in a while. The open exchanges had Bryan on the offense for a long period, with little time wasting. It was like Tucker had maybe fooled as all to dismantle Umar within the 10 minutes and prove his dominance as WrestleZone Tri-Counties Champion. A Twist Of Fate couldn’t seal the deal as Mohammed held on for the culture.

Umar wasn’t to be denied, slipping out of some corner punches to march out with Bryan spread like a crucifix across his back like a Razor’s Edge, only for Mohammed to plant Tucker face first with a sweet Gory Bomb.

The pace continued to ramp up, Umar sent Tucker around the houses and upside down with a side armdrag, and taking him out with a springboard back elbow which was enough for Bryan to try and go back to the time wasting well but was confronted by Scotty Swift, and a dragged Rhys Dawkins. He was followed by Umar with a senton over the top rope onto the trio for a second Sabu tribute of the evening. Tucker was rolled back in for a Macho style elbow drop to put his championship reign in danger.

With 30 seconds left Bryan dodged a Thunder Gun Express, but Mohammed rebounded to dropkick Tucker into a previously exposed turnbuckle, doubling up the damage with a Thunder Gun Express, and locking in the Big Kachowski. Bryan tried to hold on, Rhys Dawkins jumped Scotty Swift to try and cause a distraction but nothing could stop the hand slap the mat three times to crown a brand new WrestleZone Tri-Counties Champion.

A terrific way for TV’s Umar Mohammed to win his first ever championship, a history making moment as the first Pakistani born champion in WrestleZone, and heartwarming to see the journey of The Asian Sensation reach a pinnacle he has more than deserved.

Since Umar made his return to WrestleZone at the end of 2021 there has been few that have walked in and have been embraced by the WrestleZone crowd so wholeheartedly and so quickly. He has made the most of every trip to the North East and the eruption of his family at ringside when the bell rang was incredible.

I think we can now put to rest the memories of Action Academy, because TV’s Umar Mohammed is the NEW WrestleZone Tri-Counties Champion.

Credit is due to Bryan Tucker for creating such a irritating villain. Months he has scraped by defences by time running out, using the clock to his advantage, using Rhys Dawkins to continue his reign, and the Grand Slam Daddeh has been delusional and smug to go with it, for it all to implode in front of a large crowd for the biggest reaction possible was great stuff.

Another of my wild theories of Rhys Dawkins sucking all of the joy out of the moment by cashing in his title opportunity against the winner of the match didn’t happen. I’ll keep an eye on it.

“Life”match – Lost Boy Aspen defeated Captain Alan Sterling w/Nurse Malice by pinfall.

And now for something completely different…

Lost Boy Aspen entered the match in black scrubs, looking like a long braided Abyss sans mask. It was a fitting and cool look. Captain Alan went the extra mile garbed in a hospital gown and accompanied by a nurse, with a familiar stoop that comes from being killed on multiple occasions in the past. Alan revealed a CHOOSE LIFE t-shirt, forgoing his usual All About Alan attire for evening.

What followed was something that can accurately be described as odd. It started with Alan producing a urine sample that was then forced down his gullet, but the Captain was prepared for such eventuality by spitting into the Lost Boys face.

The hospital related items were brought out, a plastic bedpan to the back echoed around the hall, a drip stand, crutches, rubber gloves, all manner of objects were used for punishment.

Captain Alan requested some pills from his nurse but they resulted in him losing the use of his legs. Aspen put him on a wheelchair for a back and forth slap fight that was ended when Aspen ran through a seated Alan with a crossbody. The nurse was back with two IV bags that Alan chugged down that revitalised him into a superhuman, he became untethered with hatless rage with a lariat to send Aspen spinning.

Both men obtained two green steel chairs with “+” written on them to qualify them for use. Some chair swinging followed with Sterling sent head first into one wedged in the corner. The chairs were set up across from the other as a makeshift table, Alan sent Aspen crashing headfirst into them with a DDT from the second rope.

The nurse tried to interfere but was dewigged and unmasked to reveal Lord Mr Malice! The shock! Malice covered his decency and ran away as Alan tried to take advantage of the distraction but ran into a chair being launched at his head for a third Sabu inspired moment of the evening, then was driven into the mat with a piledriver.

After a request from the fans, a second piledriver sunk the Captain to saw him leave in a stretcher covered in a foil sheet because he was cooked.

On paper this was a slam dunk but it took some time for the stipulation to be absorbed by the crowd that caused some tepid reactions early on. The bigger spills in the back end, and the introduction of the chairs, picked the crowd back up. It didn’t quite hit the heights hoped but had plenty of fun moments to enjoy.

During the interval we squeezed our way to getting a picture with the Casino Brutale lads, before I suddenly found myself in possession of two Lost Boy Aspen shirts and money leaving my bank account. Weird when that happens. In lieu of having a big sold out venue was that the space between people and the merch tables was very narrow for my chunky body with little room to manoeuvre which wasn’t ideal.

Nixon Newell defeated Lana Austin by pinfall.

Back from the interval it was time for the first women’s match in WrestleZone in about 7 years. Lana Austin walked out to ‘Simply The Best’ which immediately drew her the ire of the football fan contingent of the crowd which made the roar for Nixon all the louder.

Lana tried to admonish the crowd on the microphone but was drowned out by visceral booing, showing derision when a fan produced a red card for her in the front row. Newell basked in the love being shown for some yay-boo interaction that wasn’t even close to 50-50 in reaction with everyone in full support for Nixon.

Austin wasn’t going to be a pushover because a riotous reaction, planting her feet early doors, cutting off an early build of momentum by sparking Nixon out with a forearm on the apron to take control. She continued the beating around ringside and into the corner but a head smash into the turnbuckle was stopped by Nixon, who got back into the bout with clotheslines and a cannonball dive into the corner to send Austin reeling.

Nixon headed up to the second rope but Lana was able to thwart whatever she had planned, grabbing Newell for a hard powerbomb in the centre in the ring that was good for a near fall.

It looked like Lana was on a one track visit to win city but a surprise superkick dropped her to a knee to allow Nixon to crash the Shiniest Wizard into Austin’s face to make her WrestleZone debut a successful one.

When this match was originally announced to be Nixon Newell versus Emersyn Jayne I was hyped, moreso to see Emersyn back in a WrestleZone ring but seeing Nixon was a nice bonus on top. While I would’ve loved that match, it would’ve had a divide in the crowd in my opinion. The replacement with an also debuting Lana Austin felt like quite a leftfield choice that spun the dynamic totally, but it worked. It spoke to the aura that Lana exudes, thanks in part to the music choice to set the tone, and that she is able to play on that crowd reaction to maximise the villainy of situation so effortlessly is outstanding work.

There were some reports of some lecherous creeps in the crowd, but thankfully they were few and far between because neither wrestler was there to pull on that thread. This was a class wrestling match with two slick professional wrestlers. I hope it encourages more in the future because there are some fantastic characters that would fit into a WrestleZone aesthetic in Scotland alone with Moxie Malone, Daisy Jenkins, and Ellie Armstrong immediately coming to mind.

Oliver Green & Chris Archer defeated Evan Young & Mikkey Vago by pinfall.

In the penultimate match of the evening, Mikkey Vago and Evan Young entered in what looked like a Slipknot inspired combo of boiler suits and masks. A also newly attired Oliver Green celebrated Aber-Green Anarchy by outmuscling Evan with a shoulder block but was soon on the back foot with a clothesline in return.

Vago entered to taunt Chris Archer by using old Rejected tag team moves to rock The Outcast’s new protegee, before sending Archer over for a snap powerslam with his team firmly in charge. A stereo corner splash sent Green and Archer scrambling onto the middle rope prone for a further attack, Vago with the leg drop to Oli and Evan Young busted out a stunning 619 to Chris Archer that whipped around with such speed it sent Archer back to thinking he was in Revolution probably.

It was all Nu Metal as Mikkey had Archer primed for a Coast To Coast, Young double legged Green to rain punches to keep him neutralised, but a hooded figure ran out while Vago was getting steady to knock ‘The Heavy Metal Hooligan’ off balance and allow for a Chris Archer Pedigree to steal a win for his team.

This was a rapid fire match with Vago and Young almost running through the treacherous duo of Green and Archer before some timely interference arrived to cut the momentum dramatically short.

Of course I will throw out a theory on who that hooded figure was with all fingers pointing to Tommy Raiden and it tracks. At Aberdeen Anarchy last year Tommy was in a prominent match, teaming with Mikkey Vago as Speed Metal along with former WWE superstar Gangrel, having his hand raised by a legend. At Battle of the Nations, Tommy vanquished Judas Grey to move forward into the Tri-Counties Championship tournament and Mikkey Vago was unsuccessful in his Undisputed Championship endeavour, which would turn out to be his last in-ring appearance for months due to injury.

Tommy was on his own going forward, reaching the finals of the Tri-Counties tournament but falling to Bryan Tucker, a rematch didn’t provide fruitful which saw Mikkey sit in the crowd and watch it all unfold at Christmas Chaos. Raiden managed to pick up a big win over Lost Boy Aspen in January but floundered otherwise, finding himself in the pre-show at Aberdeen Anarchy this year while Vago triumphantly returned at number 30 in the Regal Rumble in March, getting to the final two, and marching onto the main card of Anarchy after finding himself drawn into the Green-Archer-Young feud. You could see where a resentment could build.

Going back further, it wasn’t like Mikkey Vago and Tommy Raiden were this naturally drawn together team. Mr P put Raiden into Vago’s mentorship, but in contrast to Young and Green being forced to go under the learning tree of Chris Archer, Raiden went in to learn and grow. Though Vago might not feel like he owes Raiden anything as Speed Metal wasn’t something that Mikkey had on the cards with solo aspirations still high, he had just dispatched Archer which came after coming off a reign as Tri-Counties Champion.

There is a lot to digest if the above is even partly true but certainly enough for intrigue to build until we find out the person behind the hood. I’ll put my tin foil hat down for the time being.

The raffle passed with no incidents along with Scotty 2 Hotty announced to be returning to WrestleZone in August for Battle of the Nations. The last time Scotty competed in a WrestleZone ring was 2014 against Grado in the Beach Ballroom at one of the best Aberdeen Anarchy’s in history. I can’t wait to see him return.

It was time for the main event.

WrestleZone Undisputed Championship – Special Referee: Shawn Johnson – Damien defeated Caleb Valhalla by pinfall to win the WrestleZone Undisputed Championship.

It was a big fight feel, Shawn Johnson strutted out in his referee shirt and making sure everyone saw that badge to confirm his official status, with the champion and challengers receiving sparkling pyrotechnics to herald their entrances. The grandeur was on the surface with Damien firing at a still cape adorned Caleb Valhalla while Martyn Clunes tried to make the championship introductions with the challenger having to be pulled away from atop the champion.

As the bell rung Caleb returned the favour, rampaging toward Damien, throwing clotheslines and fists in the corner before having to be pushed back by Shawn Johnson. Damien tried a sneaky punch during the distraction but Valhalla turned back just in time that caught both off guard.

The brawl headed to the outside, Damien dove off the apron with a senton to take down the viking, doubling up the high flying effort via a suicide dive. Valhalla came back with one of his own to level the playing field. Caleb drove through Damien with a spear but a slow count from Johnson started to show that something wasn’t quite as it seemed. The entailing disagreement between Johnson and Valhalla allowed Damien to ram Caleb shoulder first into the ring post, the injury that Shawn tried to exploit at the Regal Rumble.

Valhalla survived a jumping flatliner, coming back with a White Noise but his attempt to run a second spear through Damien was stopped when Shawn “accidently” stepped into his path. Johnson ended up bundled in the corner with Damien, who wisely moved to avoid a God-sized splashed but Shawn wasn’t so lucky.

It didn’t stop Johnson from pulling Caleb off the second rope to stop a superplex and pump knee Valhalla in the face which allowed Damien to hit a second rope codebreaker for a close count. Shawn removed his belt for Damien to employ but Valhalla kept fighting back. Johnson refused to make a further count unless he got an apology from Caleb, otherwise he would disqualify the champion for putting his hands on an official. A prideful Valhalla had had enough and dropped Johnson, avoiding a superkick and planting Damien with a Helride but senior referee Dennis Law couldn’t quite get out in time with Damien managing to get a foot on the bottom rope.

The tussle for control continued with both men showing remarkable fortitude to keep fighting. Caleb weathered a pinpoint running knee to the skull, Damien held on after a fireman’s carry spinebuster surely readjusted his spine. Just as it looked like Caleb Valhalla would retain, Shawn pulled Dennis out of the ring to interrupt the count. Johnson grabbed the Undisputed Championship and stalked the champion.

Mr P arrived to put a stop to the chaos, chewing out Shawn Johnson and taking the WrestleZone Undisputed Championship into his possession, before inviting Caleb to get his hands on Johnson, but as Valhalla stepped forward he was blasted on the side of the head with the championship by Mr P to the shock of everyone.

Time stood still, Mr P handed the title to Damien, with a little cajoling Paterson turned his back, Shawn turned around and covered his ears, Caleb got onto his knees and as their eyes met Damien silently rushed forward to put down the God with another belt shot between those eyes. Johnson counted the fall to end the reign of Caleb Valhalla and begin a new regime of terror. See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil.

While the details may be in a jumbled up order, the fact remains that one of the coldest moments in my time as a Scottish wrestling fan occured. Mr P, a fan favourite for over 10 years in WrestleZone, a man that was adored and supported when he stepped up from management against Johnny Lions to earn his spot on the WrestleZone active roster, when he won the WrestleZone Tag Team Championships with Kaden Garrick, when he won the WrestleZone Tri-Counties Championship, when he lifted his kilt to send opponents scurrying, that man was now against them. He wasn’t just embracing the chaos, he was now the chaos.

A soulless Damien held the Undisputed Championship aloft, a celebration unearned. What, on the surface, started as resentment for not having his time to revel in his Regal Rumble glory, lead to one of the biggest betrayals in WrestleZone history. It’s a wonder to how far this goes back, was it in mind when Mr P was confirmed to be the new management representative two years ago in Danestone when he said that he would be the judge, jury, and executioner in WrestleZone? When he and Shawn took their leave at the Christmas Chaos the year prior was the wheels turning for this very conclusion? When did Damien get drawn into the troupe, was it just all for the promises of glory after he fought for WrestleZone against The Foundation of the Future, when he had to revisit his past to bring back Sterling Oil, a faction he worked tirelessly to rid WrestleZone of once he saw that he was being considered as an afterthought. Was that the motive? Did he think he was being passed by because there may’ve been murmurs that he had had his time as Undisputed Champion and it was time for a new generation of WrestleZone star like Caleb Valhalla?

Was him confronting Caleb after he had just went to war with Monstrum at Christmas Chaos 2024 a decoy? The same night when Shawn returned and went on to attack Caleb to close the night. Did Damien put Rhys Dawkins in the guillotine hold at Granite City Showdown as a failsafe to allow Shawn free reign to take out Scotty Swift and become number one contender? A night that saw Johnson attack an injured Caleb Valhalla again when he step in between Shawn and Damien, and Damien just walked away. How far has this went back to get to this moment in time?

The emotions ran high in what I think was the longest main event in Aberdeen Anarchy history, maybe even the longest match in general but the minutes went by in a blur. It encapsulated what WrestleZone do so well, telling riveting stories. They grab your feelings, throw them around, and make you invest in the people that stand on that canvas creating art.

Wrestling in 2025 is still often seen as taboo for people to attach a piece of their soul to, but when you see and gravitate towards someone you believe in then there is no better feeling in the world to see them succeed. To see your heroes fail, to feel that despair when the bad guy stand tall, is something that is akin to comic books and movies, and here it is live in front of your very eyes.

A monumental night that has sent shockwaves through WrestleZone. A night that saw all the titles change hands in dramatic fashion. A night that gave every person in the ring an opportunity to create something magical, and a night for fans to consume a wondrous form of entertainment like no other.

To encapsulate the night in writing doesn’t do it justice, you need to be in the crowd and feel it.