By @specficluchador

Follow @KayfabeToday for extensive coverage of ICW’s Road to Fear and Loathing.

ICW returned to their home from home, Newcastle, on the 9th October promising a night full of main events: The Zero G, Tag Team and ICW World Heavyweight Championships would all be on the line in front of a sold out O2 Academy packed full of rabid ICW fans anticipating a great show that delivered in most parts.



Joe Hendry vs Stevie Boy

Zero G Championship Match

In the first match of the night, Global Hero, Joe Hendry, emerged from the curtain as Newcaste indulged in their first sing along of the night with a drunken rendition of I C Double me and You. Conversely, Stevie Boy received a frosty reception despite the few NAK fans in attendance who I’m pretty sure attend every show.

After flashing his dick at the crowd (yep, that’s right), Stevie Boy was immediately on the defensive as Joe Hendry worked a purposefully slow pace to negate Stevie Boy’s aerial offence. Following being on the receiving end of a suspended vertical suplex, Stevie Boy headed to the outside to regain his composure.

A ddt earned Joe Hendry a near fall before Stevie Boy reversed an attempted fall away slam into a crucifix pin whilst grabbing a handful of tights to retain the Zero G Title.

This was a little disappointing considering both Stevie Boy and Joe Hendry’s credentials: sure, I understand that Stevie Boy can’t be the exciting high flier he once was now he is in the NAK but this match should have been better. It wasn’t a bad match by any means, it was just underwhelming.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: **

Kenny Williams/ Noam Dar vs Polo Promotions

ICW Tag Team Championship Match

The previous night in Dundee, Polo Promotions, the longest reigning Tag Team champions in ICW, defeated Black Label, composed of former ICW Heavyweight Champion Jack Jester and current ICW World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway, with the assistance of Grado to score the first pinfall on Galloway since his return to ICW last year.

At One fall Brawl, Polo Promotions were faced with a very different proposition: the team of Kenny Williams and Noam Dar, robbed of their opportunity a few months back due to Red Lightning’s nepotism, received their opportunity at the gold in Newcastle.

The crowd let Jackie Polo how they feel about his facial hair before the match got underway: following a stalemate between Dar and Coffey, Kenny Williams tagged in before getting worked over by Polo Promotions with frequent tags. Williams reversed a Polo-plex into a small package as Williams and Dar proceeded to work over Jackie Polo’s arm before, following a scoop slam, Polo Promotion regained the momentum to work over Dar.

A hot tag to Williams shifted the momentum once again as Williams delivered a flurry of high paced offence: Dar and Williams delivered tandem tope suicidas before Jackie Polo sent Williams to the outside. Polo Promotions delivered the Old Man of Hoy to secure the win in an entertaining match.

Noam Dar is one of the best technicians in the UK today: a little part of me feels saddened he is usually consigned to multi man or tag matches. Dar deserves a high profile singles match at Fear and Loathing, perhaps against the permanent thorn in his side, Red Lightning. However, I do enjoy seeing Dar team with Kenny Williams and they put on another good performance here. Polo Promotions, as ever, were hugely entertaining here.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: ***

Sha Samuels vs Damo

Last time ICW was in Newcastle, the 55 as we know it today formed.The 55 stand stronger than ever heading into Fear and Loathing with internationally recognised talents such as Bram and Magnus amongst their ranks. Damo received a great reception as he returned to ICW following excellent high profile matches with Nakamura and Tanahashi to continue the best year of his career thus far.

Damo immediately delivered a dropkick to send Samuels to the outside: a distraction by James R Kennedy allowed Samuels to take advantage. Back in the ring, Samuels choked Damo with his scarf which only appeared to piss off Damo. A flurry of forearms was punctuated by the Belfast drop before Damo missed a brogue kick following another distraction from Kennedy.

Samuels missed with a chair shot before eating a brogue kick for a near fall: Damo followed up with a michinoku driver before landing an inverted ddt to secure the victory.

Damo is a fantastic talent although that may not have been on show here: few in the business possess Damo’s size and agility. Still, Damo secured another win on his way to meeting Jack Jester at Fear and Loathing.

If you aren’t familiar with Damo’s work, I encourage you to watch his match vs Nakamura a couple of weeks back.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: **

BT Gunn vs Johnny Moss

Johnny Moss, easily confused with Bill Goldberg at a glance, made his return to ICW at One Fall Brawl following a long absence from the promotion. His opponent, BT Gunn, is another member of the ICW roster who has had a fantastic year, putting on excellent hardcore matches up and down the country.

BT Gunn flipped Moss off before fleeing to the outside: Moss gained the advantage early on to deliver three rolling german suplexes before Gunn landed two superkicks that barely impacted Moss. Chris Renfrew interrupted the match before Mikey Whiplash made the save, challenging the NAK to a tag match.

A four man brawl broke out before the NAK were sent to the outside: a virgin suicide dive grounded both Gunn and Renfrew before Moss and Renfrew brawled around the ring while Whiplash and Gunn traded strikes in the ring. Gunn missed a moonsault (he really should consider retiring the move, he never hits it) as Whiplash applied the triangle sleeper: Renfrew broke the hold before Moss delivered a double german suplex to both NAK members.

Interference from Stevie Boy allowed Gunn to roll up Whiplash following an attempted doomsday device as the NAK continued to get the better of Mikey Whiplash heading into Fear and Loathing.

The NAK are despicable: despite having a vocal minority of people supporting them, who they like to shit on frequently, they always generate considerable heat particularly Renfrew. Now, I don’t know if Renfrew is a legitimately angry person or is just incredibly good at his job: I shall presume the latter, but that doesn’t alter how good the NAK are at what they do.

Grado vs Jack Jester

Continuing to take a page out of Tetsuya Naito’s heelbook, Jester sauntered on to the ring, visibly pissed off at last night’s antics. Grado, as ever, arrived to a sing along of Madonna’s like a prayer.

Following the comedy schtick he has been pulling since the get go, Grado worked the crowd into a frenzy before the match got underway. ICW’s king of hardcore, Jack Jester, gained the advantage by luring Grado to the outside before greeting him with a series of fierce chops before rolling the Ayrshire Dream back into the ring.

An attempted tombstone was reversed before Grado delivered the R Gra Do before landing the Ayrshire Dream elbows for a near fall. Grado delivered a rock bottom before the roll n slice was met with a big boot by Jester, who proceeded to deliver a tombstone piledriver to secure the win.

Post-match, Jester took a chair to Grado before calling for Galloway. The Black Label proceeded to deliver the beat down which culminated in Jester delivering a cannonball to Grado who was positioned under a steel barricade.

At least we didn’t see the can’t lift german spot this time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Grado: his match with Galloway last year was excellent and one of the best to come out of the UK in 2014. However, he was serious-something we have yet to really see on this tour as of yet. I thought the dive from the balcony and Colt Cabana walking out on him were two turning points but he still remains the joker determined to have fun unconcerned about winning matches. Again, I hope we see a more serious Grado-if possible- over the next few shows.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: **1/2

Kid Fite vs DCT

Kid Fite, accompanied by Martin Kirby and James R Kennedy, made his way to the ring before DCT, accompanied by Coach Trip along with chants of oh oh oh, joined him.

Kid Fite gained the initial advantage through duplicitous means before DCT delivered a knee to the groin before gyrating. A distraction allowed Fite to take advantage, tossing DCT to the outside allowing Kirby to deliver a series of cheap shots before rolling DCT back in the ring.

Another distraction from James R Kennedy and Martin Kirby allowed Kid Fite to land the DOA for a near fall before a double clothesline sent both men to the mat. Coach Trip delivered a low blow to James R Kennedy, who once again had been trying to cause a distraction, before Kirby delivered one to Coach Trip. Continuing the theme, DCT delivered one to Kirby before receiving one courtesy of Kid Fite.

Kid Fite delivered Danger Zone ddt to secure the victory as the numbers caught up with DCT.

This wasn’t particularly my cup of tea: DCT and Kid Fite are both tremendously talented but this match relied far too heavily on outside interference. I know that is always going to be the case with the 55 but this was just one interference after another with very little wrestling in-between.

El Specifico’s Match Rating: **

Wolfgang vs Joe Coffey

ICW’s resident big game hunter and NAK member, Wolfgang, made his way to the ring to face a man that improves upon every appearance. Channelling his inner Maori warrior, Joe Coffey made his way to the ring accompanied by Black Sabbath’s Iron Man chant before performing a brief haka.

Following some fierce striking early on, Coffey grounded Wolfgang with a shoulder block before connecting with a bulldog from the top rope: following a missed discus clothesline, Wolfgang began work on the arm to negate Coffey’s lariats.

Following extensive work on his arm,a lariat allowed Coffey the opportunity to land some blows although visibly weakened by Wolfgang’s offence: a pouncing cross body was followed by a series of forearms with the other arm before the hogbuster/powerslam combination.

Wolfgang regained he advantage with a pop up powerbomb before applying the boston crab before Coffey reached the ropes. A second pop up powerbomb was reversed into a hurrianrana followed by a dead lift german bought a new fall: Wolfgang reached for the brass knucks before blocking a lariat attempt with a shot to the arm only to receive a lariat with the other arm to allow Coffey to secure the win.

This was an excellent match and easily the best of the night thus far: Joe Coffey is a huge talent who I feel is being incredibly misused in a nothing match with Rhyno at Fear and Loathing.

Post match, Davey Boy delivered a spear to Wolfgang before landing the Bucky Death drop as the fellow NAK members come to make the save.

The wee man, part of the former Bucky Boy faction, informed the NAK that Davey Boy was going to kill them all.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: ***1/2

Drew Galloway vs Rampage Brown

Rampage Brown made his return to ICW to be greeted by a raucous ovation before demanding Galloway put the championship on the line. Galloway, still furious about his first defeat in ICW since returning, at first refused the challenge. Eventually, following pressure from the crowd and Rampage Brown, Galloway acceded as the match got underway.

After telling the crowd to fuck off, Galloway gained an initial advantage before Rampage Brown delivered a beautiful dropkick followed by a vertical suplex. Galloway, taking umbrage, headed to the back before Rampage Brown hunted him down as a brawl throughout the crowd ensued.

Behind the bar, Galloway delivered a series of chops before the brawl headed out into the streets: Rampage Brown gained the advantage after tossing Galloway into a brick wall. Back in the arena, Rampage Brown delivered a vertical suplex onto the floor before Galloway regained the advantage back in the ring.

Rampage Brown fought back with a diving elbow followed by a samoan drop before Galloway reversed a diving crossbody into a powerslam. Galloway delivered a yakuza kick before a Future Shock ddt was blocked before Brown delivered a piledriver: Jack Jester pulled the referee out of the ring to ensure the title stayed in the Black Label before Galloway delivered a low blow followed by the Future Shock to retain the ICW World Heavyweight Championship.

Galloway is an exceptional talent and I hope Vince McMahon weeps into his pillow at night having let him go. Every time I have seen Galloway, he delivers a show stealing performance usually featuring a brawl around the arena inevitably featuring several big bumps. He is the modern day Flair, putting his heart, body and soul on the line to entertain fans worldwide and he deserves all the credit he receives.

El Specifico’s Star Rating: ***1/2

Final Word: These final two matches really raised the show to another level. The Galloway/Rampage Brown match and the Coffey/Wolfgang matches were both very good, particularly the Wolfgang/Coffey match. Sure, ICW can’t have exceptional shows each time but that is what they have conditioned the fans into expecting due to their excellent recent shows. I’m still very unsure about Grado being in the main event at Fear and Loathing but I’m open to him convincing me otherwise: as he has previously demonstrated, he can go when required.

As Fear and Loathing looms on the horizon, it will be interesting to see what route ICW take with Grado: keep the comedy stuff that has created him or set that aside to adopt a more serious outlook heading into one of the biggest wrestling events in British history.

It is about finding a balance and if any one can do it Mark Dallas can.