by Craig Hermit
Christopher Saynt vs Ashley Reed
The opening match saw Christopher Saynt tackle Ashley Reed. Reed barely showed the crowd any respect throughout the bout and even less to his opponent. However, Saynt never let this phase him, as with the crowd willing him on managed to get the win in this technical yet physical match and keep Reed silent at least till the end of the event.
Result : Christopher Saynt pinning Ashley Reed via pinfall.
Joe Hendry vs Paul Ryker
Fan favourite Joe Hendry was ready to face the mighty Paul Ryker, the match was a back and forth encounter, for the early part the two not getting the better of each other. But the sheer power of Ryker was too much for the wrestling skills of Hendry as he fell victim to the Ryker Driver, and Ryker scored the pinfall leaving a dejected Hendry in the ring.
Result : Paul Ryker beat Joe Hendry by pinfall.
Jackie Polo vs Jonathan Windsor
The controversial Jackie Polo faced the equally outspoken Jonathan Windsor. The crowds were showing no respect to Windsor and when Polo arrived with an extended version of his usual entrance that had the crowd in raptures. Polo had the battle under his control despite Windsor trying to fight his way into the match, however as Polo threw Windsor into the turnbuckle, Windsor picked up an injury to his knee on the ropes, as the referee checked to make sure he was able to continue Lionheart jumped the railings and attacked Polo allowing Windsor to captialise and get the pin.
Result: Jonathan Windsor defeated Jackie Polo by pinfall.
Lewis Girvan vs Jonathan Gresham
The match of the night went to Lewis Girvan as he faced Jonathan Gresham, fans unaware of Gresham as a wrestler were soon to be surprised. As a Junior Heavyweight in America he
already wowed fans there and also in Tokyo throughout his career. Fan favourite Girvan wasn’t going to step back either, as fans seen him previously, his high-flying skills are fantastic but was he a threat for Gresham in this exhibition match? The two had a slow start to the match then both trading quick pinfall attempts with each another. The match from there took on another layer, as Gresham despite saying to the fans he is a good guy started to portray a darker side, he focused his assault on Girvan’s leg, viscous attack after attack on the leg, and then the figure-four submission was used to stop Girvan using his high-flying attack. But Girvan showed that he had more in his arsenal than that, he equalled Gresham in intensity and manoeuvres. As the match drew to a finish, Girvan missed the off the top turnbuckle flying elbow, and Gresham went for the figure-four again, except this time, Girvan reversed it and his opponent tapped. Despite Gresham’s plea’s that he didn’t tap, claiming he only slapped the ring in pain,this reason fell on deaf ears. But after the match, he shook the hand of Girvan and congratulated him on the win. The fans were in awe of the fantastic twenty minute match and shouts of ‘this is awesome’ was an understatement.
Result : Lewis Girvan beat Jonathan Gresham by submission.
Open Challenge: Mikey Whiplash vs Damian O’Connor
The open challenge from Heavyweight Champion, Mikey Whiplash was addressed in the ring, it seemed that no one would answer the challenge, even to the point that Whiplash made the referee count to ten and if no one showed then he would win the open challenge. As the count reached eight, music hit and the fans roared as they saw former SWE Champion, Damian O’Connor. Unprepared for such a force in a match tonight, Whiplash tried make his excuses and abandon O’Connors entry, but the match had begun and his fear was realised as his opponent dominated the match. It seemed that every time the Champion attempted to gain control, O’Connor would fight and overpower him, it became clear to Whiplash and the fans that he couldn’t beat this monster. Rolling out the ring Whiplash walked to the back taking the count-out defeat but still keeping the title.
Result : Damian O’Connor defeated Mikey Whiplash by count-out.
The Forgotten (Glen Dunbar & Alex Cavanagh) & Nikki Storm vs David Conrad, Ryan Griffin & Courtney
Next up was the SWA Tag Team Champions The Forgotten and Nikki Storm against three recent graduates from Source Wrestling School, Courtney, David Conrad and Ryan Griffin. The
match kicked off at a furious pace as the graduates took advantage of the overconfidence shown by the Forgotten and Storm. The graduates on numerous times shown that they could match strength and abilty with there opponents. Even when Courtney began absoring the punishment from Storm, rallied and fought back, then outsmarted the Forgotten when they planned a double attack, Conrad & Griffin demonstrated that they wouldnt be intimidated by there opponents as they executed hardhitting backbrakers and flying splashes leaving there opponents in disarray but over the course of the match, experience was beginning to show that on the side of the Tag Team Champions and Storm, using every trick in the book to bend the rules to gain the advantage and in the end managed to get the victory in an impressive six mixed tag team match.
It should be said that, if are these candidates are the example of the graduates that SWA are producing then the future of SWA is in safe hands, each one handled the crowd and the flow of the match with ease. Not at one point did they seem out of place and that is a credit to there opponents and themselves, they may have lost the match but they made an impact with the fans and certainly with the rest of the roster.
Result : The Forgotten and Nikki Storm defeated Courtney, David Conrad and Ryan Griffin via pinfall.
The Coffey Brothers vs The London Riots
We arrived at the main event seeing The Coffey Brothers versus the No.1 contenders to the IPW Tag Team Champions, The London Riots. It was announced prior on to the match that it would be a lumberjack match, meaning all of the IPW wrestlers in the side of The London Riots and SWA wrestlers with The Coffey Brothers. The battle was a hard hitting and explosive as expected, The Coffeys not giving an inch and the Riots not letting them get an advantage. But the Riots would take every chance they could as proven when Joe was thrown outside the IPW wrestlers attacked, but by the time the SWA wrestlers fought back it seemed the damage was done. Except showing the same determination that had got him to be No.1 contender to the Heavyweight title, he rallied and with his brother, Mark, seemed to get the victory on the Riots as they separately had there opponents in boston crabs, and when they were about to tap out the IPW wrestlers jumped in the ring but this time were met by the SWA wrestlers and chaos ensued, the aftermath saw the Riots suffer the double discus and then modified doomsday device. Leaving the fans and the wrestling world knwoing that The Coffey Brothers are one of the most deadly teams in the UK.
Result : The Coffey Brothers beat The London Riots by pinfall.
A great event had by all, and fans enjoyed every part of the action. On this night we saw two promotions combined to have one great event. It could have been easy for one of the promotions to let ego overshadow this event and ruin the chance of a show. But both gave an example of how when two companies join forces, the benefits of this is great wrestling.
SCOTTISH WRESTLING NETWORK | SWN 