Last week, the final match was announced for Glasgow-based promotion Insane Championship Wrestling’s debut show in Newcastle.
The long-reigning champion, Jack Jester, is going face-to-face with the one and only Fergal Devitt, formally of New Japan and one of the pivotal members of the Bullet Club.
It had been announced in the run-up to the show that this would likely be Devitt’s farewell to the promotion before he eventually heads off to the biggest stage that a professional wrestler can walk on, which is, without a doubt, where his undoubted talent deserves the opportunity to shine and be admired by the greatest possible audience.
Jester has been the champion since October when he won the belt from Mikey Whiplash at Fear & Loathing. Jester’s seen off Wolfgang, Chris Renfrew, Kid Fite, James Scott & Joe Coffey in a triple-threat, Red Lightning and Jimmy Havoc thus far. Devitt was also defeated by Jester in a show-stealer at the Square Go in January, which I think was a lot of people’s match of the night (myself included).
So, in Devitt’s last announced date for ICW, he’s been granted a title shot against Jester in Newcastle.
Now, to most fans, the logic of what happens is that when we know it’s a guy’s last appearance in a promotion, he’ll take the fall and put over the guy who’s staying. It’s the tradition of pro-wrestling and an accepted part of the business. Can I say that without sounding like a dick? Screw it, I’m gonna say I’m quoting Vince “Bret Screwed Bret.”
However, to the fans in the crowd, the result is a foregone conclusion. Sure, they’ll go along with the match, but no-one really expects the guy leaving to win the match.
With that being said, massive kudos to ICW for announcing a contingency plan if Devitt wins.
ICW have announced that if Devitt wins the belt and doesn’t appear in ICW within 30 days, then the belt will be vacated and a tournament will be held to crown a new champion.
By adding this as a stipulation to the match, it adds detail and creates doubt in the outcome of the match, because is it really inconceivable for a tournament to be held?
Also, given that ICW has 6 shows after Newcastle to the end of August, there’s potentially time to create a storyline before Devitt is WWE-bound. Could Devitt challenge the winner of the tournament to a unification match at one of the Fringe shows?
Also, let us not forget that Chris Renfrew has a title match in the bank after his controversial win at the Square Go. Could this be the show where the leader of the NAK cashes in on the winner?
God is in the detail, and I take my hat off to ICW for creating some doubt in the victor, purely by addressing the notion that they could have a champion who does not hold the title. ICW have got people second-guessing the outcome. Create a little doubt, propose the notion of Devitt winning and you’ve started. The guys in the ring are way more than talented enough to do the rest.
As we’ve discussed, there are a variety of possibilities which could see Devitt getting his hand raised, none of which are really that outlandish.
All in all, this a highly intriguing main-event. I’d like to give massive praise to ICW for adding that stip to the show, for creating a smidgeon of doubt for a match, which, otherwise, could have been seen as a forgone conclusion. If I had the money, I’d be there in a heartbeat.
Regardless of my attendance however, it promises to be a fascinating show. And we’ve only discussed the main-event!
The rest of the card features Noam Dar v Darkside (aka James Scott), Kay Lee Ray & Stevie Boy v Liam Thomson & Carmel, BT Gunn v Wolfgang, Jackie Polo & Mark Coffey (Polo Promotions) v Grado & Johnny Moss, Damo v Joe Coffey and Chris Renfrew v Jimmy Havoc in a Geordie Rules Match.
For those unaware of what a Geordie Rules match is, here goes: there’s three five minute rounds, and between each round, each competitor must down a Jack Daniels & Coke, along with a shot of Sambuca.
I know we’ve focused on the main-event and the potential aftermath of a variety of outcomes, but this promises to be an absolute fucker of a show (sorry, I couldn’t find a better word to describe it). I don’t see any of the matches on this show failing to disappoint.
HERE WE…HERE WE…HERE WE FUCKIN GO!
– Michael Brown (@MichaelBrown_91)
[Image used courtesy of www.insanewrestling.co.uk]
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