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

Review: SWE Seasons Beatings

Saturday 13 December 2014

After several changes to the travel arrangements, it ended up with Rob travelling to Dundee with the boys from Reckless and I made the journey up later with my good friend Janet, stopping off on the way to introduce her to the delights of Dr Noodles!

Once again, there was early entry and a bonus match for advance ticket holders.  This time we had a handicap match with Saint-George and Darren Blair from The Trident against Felix Fortune.  There appeared to be some friction between the two Trident members at the start of the match, with both wanting first crack at Fortune.  The match was completely one-sided with the Trident boys pretty much taking turns to inflict as much punishment on Fortune as possible.  Saint-George got the pinfall, however Blair was not happy about this and it looked once again as though the two would come to blows.  Blair instead powerbombed the beaten Fortune and peace was restored within The Trident, however I am not sure just how long this alliance will stay together.

In true festive spirit, the main show started with the arrival of the commentary team, Chris Duke appeared dressed as Santa and Doctor Grue wore a very fetching Christmas jumper.  We also had Wee Jimmy dressed as an elf and someone in an Olaf from Frozen costume wandering around.  It was announced that the main event for the evening would feature the winners of each match in a 'Sole Survivor' elimination match.

The first match of the main show was Rawlins v LJT.  I have to admit that I love watching Rawlins play heel and he did a great job of that here.  While the majority of the crowd were firmly behind LJT, Rawlins did have a small group of supporters chanting for him too.  Both these guys just go for it and don't hold back anything, giving the fans plenty to cheer about.  There was a cracking move where LJT dropkicked the legs of Rawlins as he stood on the ring apron, sending him to the floor.  After a short battle outside the ring, Rawlins returned to the ring in order to suicide dive LJT!  This was a cracking match up and it looked like Rawlins would take the win with his crossface submission move, but LJT doesn't know how to quit and made it to the ropes to break the hold, before scoring the pinfall himself.

Next Bravehart appeared with Jam O'Malley and The Trident.  As all match winners would be going into the final elimination match, Bravehart decided that Jam O'Malley would have a match and called for a referee.  Edith Summers answered the call and after assuring Bravehart that O'Malley would be eligible for the match if he scored a pinfall, Bravehart lay down and let Jam pin him.  After Edith had reluctantly counted the pinfall, it appeared that all five men were about to attack her as payback for events at Hell For Lycra.  Nikki Storm then made her entrance and berated the men for ganging up on a woman...before turning and attacking Summers herself.  LJT came out to the ring, sending Storm and the men scattering, before helping the injured Summers backstage.

The final match of the first half saw Venym take on SWE Champion Ian Ambrose in a non-title match.  I really enjoyed this match.  Venym put on a great show against the champion, swinging him around the ring, clotheslining him over the top rope then dropkicking him off the apron and had a couple of near pins.  Ambrose had his moments too, including his double foot stomp from the top turnbuckle and a cracking dropkick.  After they took each other down with a double clothesline, Venym appeared to have the advantage but it was not to be his night and the match ended with Ambrose rolling up Venym and grabbing a handful of tights as leverage to score the three count.

The first match of the second half saw Jackie Grady face off against Joe Hendry.  This was thankfully a short match.  I say thankfully as I found it really hard to watch as it appeared that Hendry went all out to destroy and humiliate his younger, lighter opponent and Grady never really stood a chance.  Despite the crowd trying to rally Grady, it was Hendry's match from start to finish.

Next saw Jay the Jackal challenge Scotty Riccio for the Future Division title.  This was marred slightly by the fact that a regular attendee had been banned due to issues between himself and The Jackal and a group of people who were unhappy with this decision decided to leave the hall during this match in support of this fan. The match itself was good with the Jackal being his usual horrible self and Riccio pulling of some delightful aerial moves.  The match ended in a win for The Jackal after the action spilled outside of the ring and Riccio somehow ended up with his foot caught in the barriers, causing him to be counted out.  The Jackal was elated until it was pointed out that the title could only change hands by pinfall or submission and therefore Riccio retained the title.  Once the irate Jackal had left the ring, Riccio then called three fans into the ring to present them with birthday cards and gifts.

Finally it was time for the main event - the Sole Survivor elimination match.  Announced as the sole member of his team was LJT.  Next Bravehart appeared with Nikki Storm, Jam O'Malley and the Trident and already it looked like the odds were firmly stacked against fan favourite LJT.  Suddenly Olaf from Frozen appeared at ringside and unmasked to reveal none other than Chaz Phoenix.  As the other members of Bravehart's team, Jay the Jackal, Joe Hendry and Ian Ambrose appeared, it was now a 7 on 1 battle, but Phoenix announced there would be two men to join LJT's team, Mikey and "The Beast from Belfast" Damian O'Connor.  This was an absolute belter but I am not even going to try to describe this match.....instead I suggest you check it out for yourself by clicking here!

During the interval I had spoken to a young lad called Edward who I had noticed at the previous show as he had dressed as his favourite wrestler Ian Ambrose, complete with the white coat although his stated "Ambrose is God" on it.  I told him I would see if it was possible to have Ian Ambrose to come out after the show to meet him and maybe get a photo.  Sure enough, Ian Ambrose agreed to do so and made that young lads night - not a total #scumbag after all!

SWE's next event is Uprising on 31 January.  Tickets are on sale now and advance ticket holders will get early entry and a pre-show bonus match.  Check them out on Facebook for information on events and tickets.