By @specficluchador

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ICW debuted at a sold out O2 Academy in Manchester as the Road to Fear and Loathing VIII tour approached its conclusion: a stacked card featuring a rematch between Jack Gallagher & Mikey Whiplash, an intriguing tag match between the 55 & Joe Coffey/Grado and a mouth-watering main event featuring Tommy End, Jimmy Havoc, Drew Galloway & Jack Jester promised an excellent show that delivered and then some.

NAK (BT Gunn, Chris Renfrew & Kay Lee Ray) vs Polo Promotions & Nikki Storm

Originally scheduled for the tag team championships, Kay Lee Ray interfered in the match leading to a three on three inter-gender tag match. The NAK worked over Jackie Polo with frequent tags and a series of double team manouevers before Polo was able to make the hot tag to Mark Coffey, who landed a several lariats to the NAK before a bridging saito suplex.

The match descended into a wild brawl ringside between the men, allowing for a short preview of the ICW’s Womens Title match at Fear and Loathing: Storm and Kay Lee Ray traded offence before Nikki Storm secured the victory with a roll up.

This was a solid opener between two of the best tag teams in the UK: the women played a secondary role here but, at Fear and Loathing, I’m certain Storm and Kay Lee Ray, the two best female workers in the UK, will deliver an excellent match.

Noam Dar vs Liam Thompson

Noam Dar gained the advantage early on, working over Thomson’s arm as an arena wide rendition of Oasis’ Wonderwall broke out. Dar cut off Thompson’s momentum every time he gained the advantage.

Through duplicitous means, Thompson gained the advantage and began working over the lower back of Dar with a modified camel clutch followed by several hard irish whips into the turnbuckle. Thompson lost focus as he lambasted a member of the crowd: Dar took advantage of the opportunity, applying the Champagne Super-Knee Bar to little success before Thompson reneged to illicit tactics to secure the victory. Thompson delivered a low blow before using the ropes to assist his pin.

Noam Dar is fantastic: this match only confirms that. Dar managed to get the best match out of Thompson I have seen for years. Dar is a great worker, one of the best in the UK: it is a real shame that he wont be featured in singles competition at Fear and Loathing: sure, he will prominently feature in the multi-man tag match but he deserved a singles match.

Jack Gallagher vs Mikey Whiplash

In a rematch of from The Flying Circus tour, Jack Gallagher faced Mikey Whiplash in a match that would not have been incongruous on World of Sports.

Both men shuffled out of various holds following an excellent grappling exchange before Gallagher altered the tone of the match with an accidental low blow: Gallagher and Whiplash traded uppercuts before Gallagher caught one to transition into an arm bar. Whiplash clutched his hands together, powering out to deliver a powerbomb into the turnbuckle followed by a diving uppercut as a this is wrestling chant broke out.

Impressively, Gallagher held the 230 pound Mikey Whiplash in a suspended vertical suplex for thirty seconds before applying a guillotine choke to secure a somewhat surprise victory after forcing Whiplash to ass out.

This was an excellent throwback match: synonymous for his hardcore matches, Whiplash worked a completely different style here testifying to his diverse ability as a performer. Both Gallagher and Whiplash were fantastic here. This is a must watch.

The 55 (Kid Fite & Sha Samuels) vs Grado & Joe Coffey

The number one contenders for the ICW Tag Team Titles, the 55, faced the number one contender to the ICW World Heavyweight Championhip, Grado, and Joe Coffey at Live Forever.

Grado had the better of the early stages, delivering an F5 to Kid Fite before Sha Samuels halted his momentum. Frequent tags allowed the 55 to work over Grado before Grado regressed to belly antics to shift the momentum. Following a successful tag, Coffey delivered a series of hogbusters punctuated by a bulldog. Again, Sha Samuels broke up a pin attempt before proceeding to work over Coffey.

The rabid Manchester fans demanded Grado and, eventually, Coffey obliged as Grado ran wild on the 55: following consecutive Roll n Slices to both members of the 55 by Grado, Joe Coffey swung the 55 around before Grado hit the wee boot on Kid Fite. An R-Gra-Do on Sha Samuels allowed Grado to hit a splash from the top rope to secure the win.

Following the match, Joe Coffey claimed Grado had got more serious and now stands a chance at Fear and Loathing before Grado emphatically announced he was coming for Galloway.

I’m not so sure how Grado has become more serious: this match, Grado still relied on several comedy spots to get the match over. Sure, the antics weren’t as heavy as usual but they still remained. Undeniably, Grado should be in the main event of Fear and Loathing: he is arguably ICW’s biggest draw. However, that does not mean he should win.

Similarly to Dar, it’s a little disappointing Joe Coffey won’t be featuring in a high profile match at Fear and Loathing: instead, he faces Rhyno in the definition of a throw away match.

Wolfgang vs Damo vs Trent Seven

Trent Seven entered the ring to express his disappointment at not being booked for the show as the scheduled one on one contest was altered into a triple threat: following a three man brawl around the ring, Wolfgang powerbombed Seven on the ring apron before Damo delivered the Belfast drop in the ring.

Damo gained control with a german suplex to Wolfgang before an attempted michinoku driver was blocked with a brass knuckle shot to the head. Wolfgang secured the victory flowing a shot to Seven’s head with the brass knuckles before landing a powerbomb.

Damo, Wolfgang and Seven are three sizeable men and they worked a blistering pace here: this is exactly the high impact, high velocity match ICW has become synonymous with over the past few years.

Stevie Boy (C) vs Lionheart

Zero G Championship Match

Originally scheduled for a singles match, the interim ICW General Manager, Lionheart, stipulated that the match would now be for Stevie Boy’s Zero G Title, informing Stevie Boy that if the NAK interfered, he would strip Stevie Boy of the championship.

Following a cheapshot, Lionheart worked a more aggressive style early on before Stevie Boy gained the advantage with a dropkick followed by a running shooting star press. Lionheart shifted the momentum as he caught Stevie Boy with an ace crusher: Lionheart reversed an attempted Canadian Destroyer into a Styles Clash, the move that broke his neck, before Stevie Boy reversed Stevie landed and enziguri followed by a swinging neckbreaker.

Stevie Boy and Lionheart traded offence before Lionheart attempted a Rock Bottom, Stevie Boy reversed into a victory roll to secure the victory and retain his Zero G Championship.

Since feigning a aggregation of a neck injury, Lionheart has been outstanding and, even though a little short, this was his best match in ICW since his return. Stevie Boy and Lionheart have excellent chemistry as the high-paced finishing sequence demonstrated: this was a great match that unequivocally proved Lionheart can still go.

Jimmy Havoc & Tommy End vs The Black Label (Jack Jester & Drew Galloway)

This match, pitting four of the best workers in the UK together, promised violence and oh boy did it deliver. This was Jimmy Havoc’s return to an ICW ring following several surprise run ins on the Fear and Loathing Tour.

Immediately, the match descended into an arena wide brawl: Jester scoopslammed Havoc on the ramp as Galloway and End fought through the crowd.

Meanwhile, Havoc began bleeding profusely following several shots to the head: back in the ring, the Black Label inflicted several chair shots to Havoc while keeping End out of the ring, cutting him off with chair shots. Eventually, End penetrated the ring, delivering several knees and kicks: Havoc landed a death alley driver on Jack Jester before delivering an acid rainmaker to his partner, Tommy End, before walking off.

During the two on one beatdown, Whiplash attempted to make the save but was closely pursued by Havoc, who delivered a chair shot from behind. The Black Label secured the win following a tombstone piledriver by Jester.

Havoc, seemingly without any purpose but destruction, continues to work his way through the ICW locker room, adding Legion to the list of names he has taken out. As always, ICW continues to hit a different level when Galloway, and Jester to a lesser extent, is in the ring: although short, this was a brutal, intense match which the crowd got really into.

When placed in the context of the main event of Fear and Loathing VIII, surely there must be concerns as to whether Grado will be able to continue to bring such levels of intensity to ICW if he is successful at the SECC.

Final Word: This was an excellent, well paced card that built to the main event: Live Forever challenges Barely Legal Tender, London, for the most impressive show on the Road to Fear and Loathing. Stand out performances from Noam Dar, Jack Gallagher, Lionheart and Stevie Boy once again proved that ICW delivers from top to bottom of the card.

Available to watch here.

What are your thoughts on ICW’s Road to Fear and Loathing? Can Grado continue the phenomenal work Drew Galloway has been doing?