Video Friday - New Recruit

Disclaimer: So last week we saw Wolfgang try to find a new character for himself. But have you ever wondered what he would be like portraying a completely new character? In this week's video we see Wolfgang stretch his acting chops, in a video featuring a previous Video Friday featured wrestler Grado.

Video Friday: Finding Wolfgang

Disclaimer: Last week, we saw Wolfgang have a bit of a laugh, a song and a dance, for the camera. But was that the real Wolfgang? This week, Video Friday looks set to delve deep as we go Finding Wolfgang.

As raved about last week, K2FilmsScotland have many great videos worth checking out. My favourites however are the "Finding Wolfgang" series. These 6-7 minute shorts featured hyper-reality as Wolfie and his pals sit around first a pub, then a kerb and finally a tree, discussing the wrestler and a potential character-shift. What follows are some surreal imaginings of what a new Wolfie would look like.

Video Friday: Wolfgang

Disclaimer: The last three VFs focused on Grado - his tussle with Jackie Polo, the mockumentary that brought him to the attention of ICW fans, and finally the Vice documentary "The British Wrestler" that brought him to mainstream attention and is surely the spiritual precursor the the wildly successful "Insane Fight Club" pair of documentaries on the BBC.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Grado is the only wrestler to have displayed his comedic chops in such a fashion, but indeed one unsung hero of ICW has also had a fair few videos appear online to shed a different light on his personality. That man, is Wolfgang.

Video Friday: The British Wrestler

Disclaimer: After "Response to Jackie Polo" and "Trials & Tribulations", this is what I call the finale of the "Grado Trilogy". The British Wrestler was a documentary made by VICE back in 2012 and shone a huge light on the British wrestling scene in general, specifically ICW and Grado.

Video Friday: Trials & Tribulations of Grado

Disclaimer: Following on from last week's look at Grado's response to Jackie Polo, we fast forward one short month to the first video truly looking at Grado under a larger microscope.

Video Friday: Grado response to Jackie Polo

Disclaimer: The start of a new series, every Friday I will be posting up a video relating to Scottish wrestling and giving a wee bit about its background and context. First up, the one that in my opinion started the ball really rolling on Gradomania, "Grado response to Jackie Polo". Keep an eye on the link and expect a new video every Friday for the forseeable future.

Free Event: FF - Mad Maxine

Disclaimer: Watch this two hour free event and enjoy. Then check out Fierce Females future and past shows. Skip past the part where Saraya kisses me but, and nobody tell my burd!

Fierce Females - Website | Facebook | Twitter

Click below to watch the show.

AWBA: Supermen - British Wrestling documentary

Disclaimer: Just a short post here, randomly came across this documentary and found it really intriguing. Would appreciate hearing your opinion on the "old school" mentality (do as little as possible for as much heat as possible) vs the perceived "new school" mentality (it's all a big dance to provide as much entertainment as possible) at either AWBAblog@gmail.com or @AWBAblog

If you enjoyed the free 55 minute documentary up there, pop over to http://www.supermenfilm.co.uk/ where the makers are offering a variety of extras and stuff for donations, starting with an additional 30 minutes of footage for any donation.

AWBA: Progress - Chapter 13 "Unbelievable Jeff" - Full Event

Disclaimer: This is one of the greatest UK wrestling cards, nay worldwide wrestling cards, of 2014 and it is all free.

Before we get to the show, a quick rundown of events. Progress Wrestling (http://www.progresswrestling.com/ or @ThisIs_Progress) hosted an event on 18th May at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, but it was plagued with some technical issues. Rather than try to sell the show on DVD or online, the company made the decision to host it free of charge on YouTube.

Crazy.

The quality of this video can only be described as high. There is no hard camera, but I didn't feel the ringside cameras missed anything. There was only a couple of "footage interrupted" parts and hardly any of the audio problems they mentioned. The commentary was very good in my opinion, sparse but insightful. I honestly felt it was still heads and shoulders above a lot of Indy products.

As for the matches their selves, from the opening bout of Rampage Brown v Darrell Allen to the main event of Jimmy Havoc (c) v Mark Andrews for the PROGRESS title, there was not a dull moment. Taking in both amazing comedy and mat wrestling in Michael Gilbert v Eddie Dennis, a 4-way Tag match, El Ligero v Tommy End and Zack Sabre Jr v Prince Devitt, and even more, this was a 2 hours+ stacked card showing the very very best of European wrestling.

I'll stop talking now and let you enjoy the footage.

AWBA: FF & ICW updates

Disclaimer: I've updated a few of my more recent articles with extra info, breaking news and some media. Rather than link to all of them individually, I've made this handy wee jump-off page for y'all.

Fierce Females
Mad Maxine preview
Has been updated with the latest announced match - Penelope v Debbie Sharp! Give the preview a read and please remember if you are interested tickets are still on sale for £10 and the show is this Sunday, 20th July 2014 at Walkabout in Glasgow!

UPDATE to the update - Fierce Females have literally the moment I published this announced yet another match for Sunday. Click the link above to find out who (and hear some words of warning from one of the competitors).


ICW - What's Your Boggle?
Live Results article
The live results have been updated with some photos and a fan-captured video showing the entire NAK attack on Wolfgang!!  Major thanks to Graeme Burley for that one. Additionally, the results have been re-posted to PWPonderings in a slightly different format. Feel free to read them both and feedback on the comparisons would be much appreciated.


Fierce Females
Coming Of Age and Return Of The Queen Of Hardcore - full events
Fierce Females have handily made both the Coming Of Age and Queen Of Hardcore events available free via YouTube. Have updated with all the videos and urge you to give them a watch. In case it isn't clear yet - get your ass to Mad Maxine!

Insane Championship Wrestling
Shug's Hoose Party preview
The week after Mad Maxine comes Shug's Hoose Party. I have updated the preview with the two title matches having been recently announced - Mark Coffey v Solar for the Zero-G Championship, and Jack Jester v Martin Stone for the ICW Heavyweight Championship. Get it read and start scouring Facebook hoping someone is selling their ticket - this show is SOLD OUT and takes place on Sunday, 27th July at The Garage in Glasgow.

Enjoy, and if you attend either Mad Maxine or Shug's Hoose Party, give me a wave ;)

AWBA: ICW - What's Your Boggle? preview

Disclaimer: I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter.....

Insane Championship Wrestling - What's Your Boggle?
Sunday 13th July
o2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, Islington, London, England, N1 0PS

Tickets available via Ticket Master
ICW Online - Facebook // Twitter // InsaneWrestling.co.uk


I am not bitter. Not bitter at all. No sirree, I have not been spending the last several weeks staring dead-eyed at my girlfriend as she discusses such trivialities as doing the housework or buying a new car. Nope, I have not fashioned a voodoo doll out of chest hair stolen from my buddy Shug, as the two of them make plans to book a bus, hotel and buy tickets to this event. I'm not concentrating all my mental powers at wishing my cousin Martin deep debt following one round too many. I don't hate each and every person who is going to attend this show, and I'm not going to distract you with an advert while I wipe away my tears and compose myself:

Okay, so maybe I am a little bitter that I was out of the country the first time ICW visited London, and maybe I am somewhat ticked off that I can't make this one either. Despite all that, I am a professional and will preview this show to the best of my anger-filled typing abilities. What will I be missing you be seeing on Sunday?

Grado v Sha Samuels
Ah, Grado. It's Yersel! The fun-loving wrestling fan turned national icon. Maybe you can dilute some of the rage sweat currently seeping out my pores.

If you don't know Grado by now, you're probably American. Luckily for you, Insane Fight Club, a documentary on ICW and the best thing the BBC has done since ever, is now available on Netflix, so get it seen. It looks like this:

Suffice to say, he's a highly entertaining wrestler who has the spirit and gumption to back it up. Thinking about him wrestle, even if I'm missing it, was making me smile - until I remembered his opponent is Sha Samuels, an absolute brute of a man who has over 200 matches under his belt and several titles in both the Heavyweight and Tag divisions. Although Samuels was on the losing end of a six-man tag match at the last London show, on a level playing field I fear for Grado's life. Grado was on the winning team at that event, but has since gone on to taste defeat at the hands of Liam Thomson, following that up with a tag team victory which unfortunately ended with his tag partner Johnny Moss turning on him. Not the greatest streak since their last meeting.
Prediction: Sha Samuels wins via destroying Grado and crushing what little happiness I have left.

BT Gunn v Wolfgang
I've touched on it before, and I plan to delve into it in more detail, but these two men don't like each other. They were cousins and best friends in 'real' life long before Gunn became the nefarious NAK villain he is today. Wolfgang seemed content to let his relation remain relatively alone until BT Gunn took a certain attack too personally, cutting at the symbolic locks of Wolfgang's hair. Since then, the men have prowled each other's matches, culminating in Wolfgang launching BT Gunn from atop a balcony back at Still Smoking, which led to a match at Jimmy Nail's Revenge, ICW's last foray into England. Rather than talk a lot of vague nonsense, I'll show you that match, which should set the scene for this second round. Having wrestled to an inconclusive finish, Wolfgang will be hoping the rest of the NAK keep away from his revenge. Luckily for him, they are involved in plenty of brutal matches of their own on Sunday. Anyway, here's the match:

Damo v Darkside
Remember when I said the NAK were otherwise engaged? Here's one of the three reasons why - Damo.

Damo is a physical specimen to say the least. He is also an incredibly accomplished wrestler, and with those two attributes combined it was bizarre to see on paper that the much smaller Darkside managed to get the win, choking Damo out in the process. However, upon closer inspection that victory came via NAK distractions. The NAK. If there is anything I hate more than missing a show in London, it's the NAK. Thankfully for Damo there will be no NAK tonight.

That's not to say Darkside on his own won't be a challenge. Far from it. A former two-time ICW Heavyweight Champion and a man who has stood toe-to-toe and traded victories with the Iron Man Joe Coffey on many occasion, Darkside has the skills and strength to overcome even man mountains like Damo. The question is - will he be able to do it on his own?
Prediction: Without the usual distractions, I see Damo taking this one.

Joe Coffey v Noam Dar
I was feeling a wee bit better about myself there. My Predictions were keeping me going, making me feel as though I was going to be part of the action along with you all. Seeing this poster has brought all my emotions crashing back down as I realise I won't get to see my favourite two pure wrestlers grapple each other in person and will instead have to rely on the patchy signal and patchy sobriety of my girlfriend's txt-by-txt commentary.

Woe is me, and woe is you if you live anywhere in England (anywhere in England is close to London, right?) and don't yet have a ticket for this. Noam Dar. Joe Coffey. The former is currently rebuilding his image and has a burning point to prove that he is the future of ICW, that he has the dedication to put on an A class wrestling performance each and every show, that he has more to offer than backstage interviews and cheeky wee videos about his dug.

The latter is the Iron Man. He is the one who currently carries the SWA Scottish Heavyweight belt. He is the one who has emerged from a series of wars with James "Darkside" Scott and may have been the catalyst to him joining the NAK. He is the one who came out of that series as the Iron Man. If Noam Dar is the future of ICW, it will be said that Joe Coffey is the future of all wrestling. This isn't hyperbole or hype, this is pure fact.

This will be an amazing pure wrestling showcase from two future stars for whom the ceiling can be as high as they want it to be. I predict great things from this, at the very least an enthralling story told by grappling and suplexing. I hate each and every one of you for being able to see this live.
Prediction: Joe Coffey has beef with the NAK. If there is one place those fuckers might interfere, it could be here. If they don't, I predict Joe getting the win, but Dar will surely put up an equal fight and earn himself higher still rankings at ICW.

ICW Tag Team Championship Match
The Bucky Boys Stevie Boy (c) & Greg Burridge v The London Riots
A tag title match with only one of the champions present?! An English stand-in for the none-more-Scottish Bucky Boy, Davey Boy?! Unfortunately it is true, as Davey's recent and serious leg injury has necessitated Stevie seeking out a replacement partner in order to defend the belts.

Apparently Greg is another cousin of the cousins Bucky, so hope remains that the two will gel. They had better, for their opponents are The London Riots, a cohesive unit that succeeded in dismantling the Coffey brothers, Joe the Iron Man and Mark the Zero-G Champion, at the last London show. A team that have battled through many a championship match, often coming out victorious.

Stevie Boy should not be discounted on his lonesome. He is singularly one of the greatest talents in ICW. His Canadian Destroyer is a move of beauty. He has no qualms about putting his body on the line to defend his title, a title he and Davey have defended through thick and thin. But it's one thing defending as a unit, and another defending with a distant relative who may not have wrestled in several months. Time, and you, will see if Stevie can do it on his own. I won't, because I'll be at home trying to practice the Canadian Destroyer on my couch and probably breaking my own neck in the process.
Prediction: The London Riots emerge victorious, keeping their ICW streak alive.

ICW Zero-G Championship 
Mark Coffey (c) v Kenny Williams
WAS ONE COFFEY NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?! YOU HAD TO HAVE TWO, DIDN'T YOU?!

(I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter).

Since winning the Zero-G Title from Mikey Whiplash away back in September 2013, Mark has been proclaiming himself the "real" ICW Champion. You see, Mikey Whiplash at the time was also the ICW Heavyweight Champion, but that belt was not up for grabs on the night. Rather than whine about this fact, Mark Coffey has let his actions speak louder than his words, defending his title against all comers including Lionheart, Liam Thomson and Solar. Mark did briefly relinquish his title, but considering that was to one of the best in the world in Fergal Devitt, and considering he then won it back versus both Devitt and Noam Dar, it can be forgiven.

Kenny Williams has also been making a huge name for himself since that September show in Maryhill. It was on that night that the ICW faithful began to see through the horrible people Kenny had found himself in bed with in the forms of Christopher and James R Kennedy, and instead see the talent shining through. Since that time, Christopher has left, Joe Hendry has arrived, and the crowd have began chanting Kenny Is The Bollocks, because he is. Supremely talented, Kenny is more likely to fling himself around the ring than his opponent. The champion will need to work hard to keep the challenger grounded.
Prediction: As the man himself is about to tell you, Kenny will win, simply because he is the bollocks.

UPDATE: James R Kennedy is not happy at all with Kenny's action. This title match has NOT been sanctioned per the terms of Kenny's contract. What will this mean if indeed Kenny wins the belt?!

Falls Count Anywhere Match
Jimmy Havoc & Jack Jester v Chris Renfrew & Dickie Divers (The NAK)

Two title matches, but what of the ICW Heavyweight belt? Well I don't know how to break it to you, but it won't be getting defended, at least not in the traditional sense. This might seem like madness, but bear with me before you join in my delirious ranting and raving at the wall in petulant fury. At least you are getting to see this amazing match featuring the ICW Heavyweight Champion, Jack Jester.

A quick history lesson. The NAK had spent much of 2013 and 2014 tearing up the ICW Tag Team division. The team of BT Gunn and Chris Renfrew took out Team CK (Christopher & Kenny) then defeated Fight Club, The Bucky Boys and The Coffey Brothers in a four way match to win the belts. Gunn and Renfrew then defeated Team CK in their first defense, but unfortunately the team of Renfrew and Dickie Divers fought to a double-pin with The Bucky Boys, which ICW boss Mark Dallas took as an opportunity to vacate the titles.

Since then, neither BT Gunn and Dickie Divers nor the new combination of Darkside and Dickie Divers have been able to regain the belts. Despite this common link, Chris Renfrew insists he can trust Divers like a brother and has nothing but utter confidence that the duo will reign supreme in London:

On top of this bond of brotherhood, Chris Renfrew also has his Square Go championship shot. At any time, Chris Renfrew can decide to challenge Jack Jester for the latter's ICW Heavyweight title belt. Who said there wouldn't be a title match on Sunday?

Jack Jester is not a champion who will readily give up his belt. Since gaining the title at Fear & Loathing VI back in October following a bloody battle with Mikey Whiplash (footage of which you can view on the Insane Fight Club documentary on Netflix), Jester has engaged in some horrendous wars. Battles with Chris Renfrew, Wolfgang and Kid Fite, defeating Fergal Devitt (twice!), defeating the iron men Joe Coffey and James Scott in the same match, even surviving (barely, mind you) a four-way battle between himself, Renfrew, Wolfgang and Sabu that ended with Sabu draining so much blood from Jester's body. Many have come, Renfrew himself twice, but none have managed to snatch the belt away.

One of those barbaric defenses came at the last London show against Jester's tag partner of the night, Jimmy Havoc. Havoc is a UK king of hardcore, having much history with both Chris Renfrew and Jack Jester. You can explore the matches for yourself if you have a bloodlust, but the three way dance between Jack Jester, Jimmy Havoc and Crazy Mary Dobson was an instant classic, and the World Of Sport (with an alcoholic twist) matches with Chris Renfrew in both 2014 and 2012 are insane spectacles.

There had been deep-seated rumours of a heel-turn from Jimmy Havoc stretching back months. There are many factors to why this rumour has come about - Havoc's actions in other promotions, his growing ire within ICW, the fact that the NAK had been hinting at a 4th member for a long time. The turn of Darkside seemed to quell those rumours, along with the respect shown between Jester and Havoc during their matches, but it is always something simmering under the surface.

So many factors at play here - Chris Renfrew's title shot, Jack Jester's title and paranoia at who he can trust, unknown factors as to who the real Jimmy Havoc is, and Dickie Divers' track record, all coming together in what could be, and should be, a perfect storm. Again and again, all four of these men have shown their willingness to put their very life on the line in the name of enacting furthermore violence on their opponent at any cost. This will be a bloodbath.
Prediction: The streets of London will line with ambulances. I wouldn't be surprised if this gets taken to the streets. I genuinely believe Havoc and Renfrew and see no-one turning on anyone in this match. Whether Jester will have the strength to meet this match and a potential cash-in remains to be seen, but I've seen that man come through so much during his title reign I wouldn't be surprised. A winner? I'm not choosing, all four scare the hell out of me.


Summation:

If you're going, I hate you. If you can't make it, I feel your pain. If you can go and you haven't bought a ticket yet, click this link right now and go, or I'll hate you the most.

AWBA: FF - Return Of The Queen Of Hardcore - Full Event

Disclaimer: I recommend reading this review of the live show in conjunction with watching these matches, and tell me all about the mistakes I made at @AWBAblog or AWBAblog@gmail.com

Yesterday I brought you Fierce Females full "Coming Of Age" show. To promote Mad Maxine on July 20th, the Fierce Females promotion has released some full matches from the follow up show, "Return Of The Queen Of Hardcore" which was hosted on June 8th, 2014 again from the Source Wrestling School in Glasgow, Scotland.

Uploaded so far from the event are the following matches, spoilers after the videos:

UPDATE
Fierce Females has now made the full show available for your viewing pleasure!



Nikki Storm v Bete Noire - Semi-Final of #1 Contender Tournament



Courtney v Debbie Sharp - Semi-Final of #1 Contender Tournament



Viper v Fiona Fraser



Nikki Storm v Debbie Sharp - Final of #1 Contender Tournament



Carmel & Sara v Leah Owens & Viper


Kay Lee Ray (c) v Sammi Jayne - Title Match for the Fierce Females title



These should hopefully give you some background to Nikki Storm v Kay Lee Ray fight for the latter's Fierce Females title at Mad Maxine. If any more matches become available from Return Of The Queen Of Hardcore, I shall let you all know.

AWBA: FF - Coming Of Age - Full Event

Disclaimer: This is not intended as a pure replacement for my shambolic first attempt at a review, but I may now be able to go back and rectify that at some point in the future. Enjoy.

Fierce Females had a relaunch event of sorts called "Coming Of Age", held on Sunday, April 13th 2014 emanating from the Source Wrestling School, 22 Cogan St, Glasgow, Scotland, G43 1AP.

The full event has been uploaded for free viewing on the Fierce Females Youtube channel. The six matches are as follows:


Viper v Debbie Sharpe - Tournament Semi-Final for #1 Contender Spot



Bete Noire v Sammi Jayne - Tournament Semi-Final for #1 Contender Spot



Leah Owens v Sara



Kasey Owens v Carmel Jacob



Fiona Fraser v Courtney



??? v ??? * - Tournament Final for #1 Contender Spot




If you enjoyed the above, I urge you to check out Mad Maxine on July 20th, or any future Fierce Females show.