Review: SWE Uprising

Satuday 30 May 2015


As always, the last Saturday of the month is SWE Uprising so a wee trip to Dundee was required.  This time I decided to sit on the other side of the hall to see if I got better photos....the answer was not really so in June I will be back in my usual spot!!

Since I am a bit behind with my blogs (getting to be the usual these days) I am going to cop out once again and not get into too much detail but as SWE have made this entire event available for free on YouTube, why not click here and check it out for yourself!

After the usual welcome from regular MC and ring announcer, Chris Duke, the show kicked off with the entrance music of Ian Ambrose playing, which caused a stir as Ambrose had announced just after the European Tournament that he was stepping away from wrestling to dedicate more time to his young son.  Instead, The Jackal and his "Associate" appear, laughing at the fans who were hoping to see Ambrose.  The Jackal then offered a "special opportunity" and issued an open challenge for the SWE Future Division Championship to anyone except Scotty Riccio.....

...which was answered by MDK, who came to the ring accompanied by Chaz Phoenix.  This match was virtually non-existent...but ended up entertaining for all the wrong reasons.  The match ended in a disqualification after just a few minutes when the "Associate" got involved, costing The Jackal the match but saving the title which can only change hands by pinfall or submission.  As Phoenix made his way into the ring, he threw in a chair, which accidentally hit the referee.  The Jackal and his "Associate" made their escape as Phoenix announce that the fans had been robbed of a decent match and required compensation...and that would be in the form of a tag match later that evening with MDK and Chaz Phoenix facing "The Jackal and Lurch" (Chaz's words!!) which was met with a resounding cheer from the fans.

Next out to the ring was SWE co-owner Bravehart, who addressed the fact that "one of his favourites" Ian Ambrose had left and put the blame on LJT for this before giving LJT a message "if you have any sense, you will leave this company".  Of course he also took the opportunity to have a dig at the accidental chair shot in the previous match and said that Phoenix should be sanctioned in the same way he was after he hit a referee.  After having a go at Chris Duke, he then announced that he was declaring himself fit to wrestle and that he would be back in action later that night.

Next was tag team action with Conor Frost teaming with Trident member Darren Blair to face The ComixZone, with Rawlins as Batman and Venym as Superman.  The Dundee crowd love The ComixZone and they had plenty to cheer for as Rawlins and Venym worked well together to take the upper hand.  Unfortunately Blair broke the pin attempt and left Venym out of action at ringside, allowing the heels to punish Rawlins in the ring.  Eventually Venym was able to get back onto the ring to make the tag and things were looking up for the ComixZone until once again Blair broke a pin attempt, this time sending Rawlins into the barriers before double teaming Venym and scoring the win.  Despite the result, I really enjoyed this match.

It was then time for a triple threat match - Felix Fortune v Mikey v Jackie Grady.  As Fortune and Mikey waited in the ring, Grady was announced several times, before finally appearing from the crowd with a towel round his head, claiming he had been in the shower.  Fortune and Grady initially worked together against Mikey until Fortune tried to roll up Grady.  It was very telling that the crowd were still chanting for Mikey while Grady and Fortune battled in the ring and they were rewarded as Mikey took the win, pinning Grady after delivering a boot to the head of Fortune, knocking him from the ring apron.

I mentioned in my European Tournament blog that I was looking forward to seeing both Kenny Kyd and JD Wilde facing other members of the SWE roster.  In the final match of the first half, Kenny Kyd faced Trident member Steven "Air" Myles.  While the crowd didn't seem to get involved, this turned out to be a really nice match.  Kyd took the victory after blocking Myles attempt at the 450 splash and then hitting him with a knee to the face before rolling him for the pinfall and, in a very surprising turn of events, Myles proved himself not all bad and shook his hand....could Bravehart's influence be wavering and the Trident be falling apart??

The second half of the show began with LJT taking the microphone to address recent events and his upcoming match at Hell For Lycra against Joe Hendry for the Heavyweight Title.  With Bravehart saying he would not be wrestling that night, LJT issued a challenge to Hendry to a match for the title then and there, starting a chant of "Joe Hendry" to the tune of 2 Unlimited's No Limits.  The wrestler who appeared was not Hendry but JD Wilde, who had a few words to say himself before attacking LJT when his back was turned.  He then demanded that the referee ring the bell to start the match, then proceeded to remove the pad from the top turnbuckle.  This was a great match which received a "This is Awesome" chant from the crowd and scored my vote as Match of the Night.  Wilde looked to have the match won after he hit LJT with a flying elbow, knocking him into the exposed turnbuckle, but instead of going for the pin he picked up LJT's baseball bat and was disqualified after hitting LJT in the gut with it.  Wilde then used the bat to choke LJT and appeared to be about to smack him in the head when Steven "Air" Myles came out to make the save - another sign that The Trident is falling apart!

Next up saw Euan Mackie face Joe Hendry.  If ever there was a mis-match, this was it.  Hendry used his size and strength advantage to dominate Mackie but this is one guy who never gives up.  Although he fought back as best he could and made some lovely moves to stun the Champion, Mackie was unable to overcome the odds and Hendry took the win.  After the bell, Hendry executed his finishing move again before dumping Mackie through the ropes and onto the floor outside.  As he celebrated, LJT appeared and after hitting Hendry with a cracking kick to the head after springing off the ropes, Hendry decided that he didn't want any part of LJT that night, climbing the barriers into the crowd in order to avoid LJT.

The penultimate match of the night saw Scotty Riccio facing Bravehart.  It had been announced that if Riccio lost the match, he would not be on the card for Hell For Lycra but if he won, he would not only be on the card but he could pick his opponent.  Bravehart started by giving the referee £10, telling him to make the three count.  Thinking he had the ref in his pocket, Bravehart tried to cheat his way to the victory but Riccio was smart, letting Bravehart be his own worst enemy until Riccio was able to make the pinfall.  Bravehart then grabbed the ref demanding to know what had happened to be told that he had done as he was asked and made the three count, Bravehart had to specifically said it was to be in his favour!  Riccio now gets to pick his opponent for Hell For Lycra....and I think if The Jackal still has the Future Division belt at that time, it won't be difficult to guess who he will choose.

For the final match, Chris Duke invited the loudest fan to be the guest ring announcer....and I wonder if it is just coincidence that the wee lass he picked was standing right next to me???

The final match saw The Jackal & The Associate (who I have named Team Jack-Ass) against MDK & Chaz Phoenix.  The Jackal demanded that Phoenix get in the ring first but showed himself as a coward by tagging his Associate as soon as Phoenix set foot in the ring.  A slow but steady match where Team Jack-Ass cheated their way to the win when the Associate pulled MDK from the ring apron as Phoenix looked to make the tag.  A tired Phoenix tried to hit The Jackal with a piledriver but The Jackal managed to fight his way out, grabbing the leg of Phoenix and rolling him up, using the tights as leverage, for the three count.

Things are definitely getting heated in the run up to Hell For Lycra on 29 August but there are still two Uprising shows in June and July which should not be missed.

For information and tickets for upcoming shows, check  out SWE on Facebook