So a trip to Dundee involving Dr Noodles for lunch, some shopping and Rob getting his lip pierced was topped off with a wrestling show!
My first visit to Scottish Wrestling Entertainment was Hell For Lycra 10 last year and I admit to not being all that impressed. The PA system was awful and there were a lot of really botched moves and I didn't think I would go back....except that they had Bret Hart visiting in October and I HAD to go, even if the show was awful it would be worth it for Bret.....but the show was brilliant and we were hooked! We now travel up to Dundee for the monthly Uprising shows and this one was a belter!
First up was a video introduction and the big reveal for the WWE Hall of Fame legend who would be attending Hell For Lycra 11 in August....none other than Terry Funk!
The first match was LJT against "The Butcher" Scott Renwick. Renwick was brutal from the start and although LJT tried hard and got a few high flying moves in, the match was pretty much all Renwick. Eventually Renwick went for the pin but decided to pull LJT up on the two count - a move he was quick to regret as LJT managed to reverse a move and roll Renwick up for the 1-2-3.
Bryan Douglas entered the ring to introduce Bravehart's security team, The Trident, one of whom was to face Steven Magners. While Douglas tried to get answers from The Trident regarding their recent attacks on wrestlers, they refused to talk and began to surround him in a threatening manner. Enter Steven Magners to make the save. The referee suddenly appeared and the match was on, but it was a bit of a non-match. With a member on each of three sides of the ring and Magners in the ring, it was just a matter of time before one would distract while another would sneak into the ring behind him and roll him up for the pin. What happened next caused some controversy - Chaz Phoenix entered the ring behind Magners, pulled a plastic bag from his tights and put it over Magners head. Security had to get involved to remove Chaz and help Magners backstage, however there was a large number of children present and I, and several other people, felt that Chaz's actions were a step too far.
Next was a Sirens match with Debbie Sharpe against Kirsty Love. This was the first time I had seen Kirsty and was really glad to see a new face as there are only so many times you can watch Debbie fight Sammii Jayne. Most of the crowd were firmly behind Debbie but Kirsty Love was quite impressive. A back and forward match which ended in a victory for Kirsty Love when she rammed Debbie into the ringpost and slid under the ropes back into the ring just as the referee was about to count both girls out. This pic shows Debbie launching from the ring onto Kirsty outside of the ring - its blurry but the faces of Randy Valentine, Bryan Douglas and Calum McMinn are class!!
Next was a tag team match with Claymore and Scotty Riccio facing heels Jackie Polo and Christopher Saynt. The heels entrance was hysterical which Polo singing along to his backing track and Saynt camping it up in silver trunks and a sailor hat. Normally I would cheer against the heels but I am actually starting to like Jackie Polo and thats why Rob and I kept a "Jackie" "Polo" chant going throughout much of the match. The heels pretty much punished Scotty Riccio for much of the match and while the ref continued to stop Claymore from entering to make the save, the heels were free to double team Riccio. Eventually Riccio managed to tag in Claymore and the tables turned. Claymore threw Riccio over the top rope onto Jackie Polo and then Riccio was lifted from the ringpost onto Claymore's shoulders to give extra height to his splash onto Saynt. Claymore and Riccio scored the win.
First match of the second half was Jam O'Malley against Chaz Phoenix. This became another non-match as Steven Magners ran into the ring to get revenge for Chaz's earlier attack. After beating him in the ring, he lifted the mats at ringside to slam Phoenix onto the floor twice. Again security were brought in....and Chaz was given the win against O'Malley as a result of a disqualification.
As MC Calum McMinn was in the ring to announce the next match, the video screen sprang to life and Chris Duke appeared, taunting McMinn and announcing the arrival of Glen Dunbar who was facing Kevin Williams, a former heel and Syndicate member who has turned face using a gamer gimmick. I am not entirely convinced by this new persona - I think Williams is a better heel than a face! The match was not bad but I find the whole gamer gimmick a bit stupid...Kev battering buttons on an old Nintendo 64 controller while he had Dunbar in a leglock made no sense. It got worse when he brought out his little box made to look like the powerup box from Super Mario Bros and opened it to produce a plushie windup bomb toy. McMinn jumped up onto the ring apron saying Williams couldn't bring a bomb into the building, then he, Williams and Dunbar played a game of donkey with the plushie while the crowd counted down from 10 - sorry but I am just not buying it! Williams finally rolled Dunbar up to score the pin, leaving Dunbar stunned.
When McMinn asked the crowd to give it up for the loser, Dunbar went for McMinn, who then whacked Dunbar. Enter Bravehart and The Trident! Bravehart told Dunbar to leave the ring and I noticed Dunbar had a bleeding ear but I am not sure if this happened during the match with Williams or during the altercation with McMinn. Braveheart then turned his attention to McMinn and his feud with Chris Duke, announcing that each of them would be given the opportunity to prove they were the man for the job at the next two shows, Chris Duke at Kirkton Community Centre on 18 April and Calum McMinn at Menzieshill Community Centre on 25 April.
Next up was the SWE Heavyweight Championship match with Ian Ambrose defending his belt against Joe Hendry. Ambrose entered the ring from the crowd behind Joe Hendry, who was watching the entrance. Ambrose's girl (and true winner of the SWE belt) Sammii Jayne was nowhere to be seen during the match. Ambrose started well but as the match progressed Joe Hendry was getting the upper hand. Fearful of losing his title, he picked up the belt and while the ref was distracted he threw it to Joe Hendry and threw himself down on the canvas. Turning, the ref immediately called for the bell and announced the winner of the match as a result of DQ to be Ambrose. The scumbag strikes again!!
Once again Bryan Douglas entered the ring and announced the entrance of Bravehart, who was accompanied as always by the Trident. This was supposed to be when the applicants for the position of Bravehart's assistant would enter the ring for a debate on who was the best candidate. Bravehart, who is currently playing heel brilliantly, got right into Douglas's face asking him why he was called out, then proceeded to berate the 5 applicants, Esther Robbins, Amy Anderson, Tam Malone, Billy Strachan and Stevie Simmons. He then refused to allow them into the ring and instead told them they would each have an opportunity to prove themselves by actually being the assistant for the upcoming shows - Esther and Tam would each take a half show on 18 April, Amy would run the show on 25 April and Billy and Stevie would be responsible for the next Uprising show on 26 April.
Finally it was time for the main event, a triple threat match to determine the No 1 contender for the SWE Heavyweight Championship between Damian O'Connor, Martyn Stallyon and "The Jackal" Jay Costello. The match started with Damo and Stallyon in the ring and Costello grabbing their legs from outside, so they banded together to deal with the "potato". This was an incredible match with constant action. The crowd cheers were split between Damo and Stallyon. Damo missed his move outside the ring where he does a flying somersault into his opponent against the barriers when Costello managed to move out of the way, however he did manage to get both men on his shoulders before dropping them both!
Costello, who has a feud going with Randy Valentine, pushed Randy off his chair and took it into the ring to try to nail Damo with it. Randy wasn't about to let that happen and jumped on the ring apron to take back the chair. Costello pulled it away and turned, straight into the boot of Damo who then scored the pin to become No 1 Contender.
After the show I spoke to SWE owner Bravehart about my concerns regarding Chaz Phoenix and the plastic bag and the fact that at no time did anyone address the issue in the ring. I told him that I felt that it was a step too far when there are so many kids in the audience and that someone should have made the point that this was extremely dangerous and that the kids should not attempt to copy it. He understood my point completely and hopefully there will be no issues in the future.
With tickets for the Uprising shows priced at just £7 for adults and £4 for kids, it really is good value. SWE has quickly become one of our favourite promotions and Rob and I have made quite a few friends within the "Dundee Ringside Posse" - looking forward to Rob being old enough so we can join you in Kage after the shows!!
Check out SWE on Facebook for details of their upcoming shows.
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