Review: BCW Homecoming

Friday 29 August 2014

Travelling through to the West for shows on a Friday is a nightmare and this was no exception. The traffic was a nightmare from the start, with an accident and a breakdown on the Bypass then slow moving traffic on the M8 and frequent heavy downpours reducing visibility, it took forever to arrive in Kilmarnock.  We had front row seats booked which gave early entry to the venue at 5pm. We didn't actually arrive until 5.10pm but things were running a wee bit late and the doors opened a few minutes after we arrived and just before another heavy downpour!

Photo by David J Wilson

First up was a wee meet and greet with Drew Galloway (aka Drew McIntyre) who would be competing in his first match in Scotland since his release from WWE - the reason for the show being called Homecoming.  I think due to the slight delay and in order to keep the rest of the night on time, there was no "photo op using your own camera" at the meet and greet but there would be photos taken by David Wilson during the interval at a cost of £15.  Rob and I both had special event posters signed and also met Joel Redman from WWE NXT who signed Rob's book and had a pic taken with him.  We got our BCW shirts and Rob got a very nice Drew Galloway one.

After all the front and second row ticket holders were seated, there was a special pre-show bonus match featuring Tommy Marx and Aaron Echo against Lou King Sharp and Switch. I have to admit to being a little bit disappointed with this match - I am used to seeing Tommy Marx and Lou King Sharp flying around the ring and struggling to get pictures that are not blurred but the match seemed to lack energy.  This may have been due to the slower pace of Echo and Switch.  Marx and Echo took the win after Echo delivered a powerbomb on Sharp then scored the pin.  Although a decent warm-up match and good experience for the young guys, I feel that it would have been totally out of place as part of the main card.

The main show started with BCW owner Graham McKay coming out to the ring to announce that Kilmarnock Grand Hall had never sold out for a wrestling show, even back in the days of World of Sport, but that night, for the first time ever, BCW had done it - the Homecoming show was sold out!  He also announced that Galloway would be back for the annual No Blood,  No Sympathy double header on 5 and 6 December and that also appearing would be Chavo Guerrero, Hardcore Holly and Paul London - take my money now!!!!

The first match of the night was for the BCW Heavyweight title between champion Kid Fite and Davey Blaze.  This was a bit of a surprise as usually the title matches are the main event (or at least first half main event) and not show openers.  These guys faced each other in East Kilbride back in June and that match was an absolute belter....and this one was just as good.  With Blaze determined to take the gold and Fite just as determined to keep it, they both pulled out all the stops.  Fite took an early advantage but no matter what he threw at Blaze, Davey just kept coming back at him and the crowd let him hear their appreciation.  There were some cracking moves and a belter of a double clothesline that threatened to decapitate both men!  While Blaze did have a couple of pin attempts, it was not to be his night and eventually Fite hit the challenger with a DDT and took the win to stay champion.

Next up was Red Lightning v Joe Coffey.  I am really liking Joe Coffey more and more every time I see him and, as much as I love to hate Red Lightning, I really had to feel sorry for him - the amount of punishment he took was incredible.  He was suplexed, bulldogged, swung around several times before being put in a Boston crab, took two massive corner splashes which actually moved the ring a good couple of inches from the walkway - I have the photo to prove it!!  Even his attempt to block Coffey's discus clothesline by kicking his arm went against him, Coffey just spun round and used his other arm instead.  There was a small period where Lightning did get the upper hand but it didn't last very long and once Coffey gets the momentum going, he is exceptionally hard to beat and he proved it here once again - Coffey wins by pinfall.

The next match up pitted Jack Jester against Joel Redman.  With Redman waiting in the ring, Jester burst through the barriers into the crowd, terrorising the kids who had been standing against said barriers jeering him just seconds before.  Once back at ringside, Redman was quick to point out the large corkscrew in Jester's hand and demanded the referee take possession of the offending item before Jester entered the ring.  The match very quickly spilled out to ringside, with faces being smacked off the barriers before Jester pushed Redman into the ring then hit him with a legdrop on the apron right in front of me.  Back on his feet, Redman then grabbed Jester, who had climbed onto the apron to the front, and suplexed him into the ring.  This match went back and forth and with Angel Wings from Jester and superkicks from Redman both scoring near pins this could have been either man's match.  Finally, with Redman standing on the top rope, Jester pushed the referee into the ropes, Redman gets "crotched" and Jester finishes him off with the tombstone and takes the three count.  An absolute belter, this was a close contender for my match of the night.

The first half main event was a mixed tag team match with "Bad Boy" Liam Thomson & Carmel Jacob up against Grado & Kay Lee Ray.  As always, Grado received a rapturous welcome from the crowd which Thomson and Jacob did not appreciate.  With Grado pulling out his usual comedy antics, Thomson decided to get in on the act, attempting to pull off one of Grado's comic stunts of sitting on your opponents back and slapping their ass as if riding a horse.  Jacob was not impressed and got into the ring, screaming at her partner and asking what the hell he was doing.  Thomson's attempt to explain ended up with Jacob sitting on Grado, only for Grado to slide out, ending up with Grado astride Jacob and Ray astride Thomson.  Then followed another comedy skit where Grado and Ray are chasing their opponents around the ring only for Grado to tire out and end up being chased.  The match ended in a win for Grado and Ray when Grado hit Thomson with a "wee boot" and Ray followed up with a Swanton before they both piled onto Thomson for the three count.

As Grado and Kay Lee Ray are doing their celebratory dance in the ring, Johnny Moss appears, attacks Grado and holding Kay Lee Ray by the hair, demands to be given a decent match and who should appear to save Kay Lee - Drew Galloway!  After dealing with Mossy, Galloway grabs a microphone and challenges Moss to a match.  Moss demands that the match be for Galloway's Evolve Championship. Galloway agrees - main event set!!



The second half started with a Tag Team title match between champions Just Uz (BT Gunn & Stevie Xavier) and The Models (Joey Hayes & Danny Hope).  I have only ever seen Hayes in singles competition and never seen Hope before but I have to say they work really well as a team.  I make no secret of the fact that I think Just Uz are amazing as a tag team and really need more teams of a similar calibre to compete against.  The Models definitely fill this void (although I still think the Just Uz/Hubba Bubba Lucha match in April was the best tag match I have ever seen)  Anyway this match was non-stop from start to finish and looked like their may be new champions when The Models managed to isolate Xavier and give him a hell of a beating.  Xavier managed to tag BT Gunn and the match ended after Gunn hoisted Hayes onto his shoulders, Xavier launched from the top turnbuckle clean over his tag partner to take out Hope who was about to attack from behind, leaving Gunn to finish off Hayes and score the pinfall to retain the titles.

Next, another title on the line, this time the BCW Openweight Title with champion Noam Dar defending against Kenny Williams.  Williams just gets better every time I see him and this match was another stormer.  Dar took an early advantage, knocking Williams from the ring and into the barriers right in front of me.  Back in the ring he then hit Williams with the most stunning dropkick.  Williams never gives up and fought back and after trading blows, began to gain momentum, scoring a couple of near falls himself before Dar tried to use the referee as a shield.  As Williams continued his assault, Dar suddenly swept the leg and a couple of cracking kicks later, Williams is pinned for the three count.  Dar leaves the ring still champion but Williams won our hearts.

Finally, the main event and quite obviously Match of the Night, Drew Galloway faced Johnny Moss for the Evolve Championship. OMG - how on earth can I describe this match in any way that does it justice? Actually I can't! It was one of those matches you just had to see to believe.  I'd never seen Galloway in action before - I don't watch WWE - all I can say is WOW!!!!  After being clotheslined out of the ring, Mossy looked to be leaving, only for Galloway to catch up with him on the walkway for a slugfest before backdropping Mossy back into the ring.  Slamming Galloway into the turnbuckles, Moss takes the upper hand but Galloway keeps fighting.  He produced an amazing armdrag from the top rope on Moss and after several near pins from both, Galloway hits the Futureshock and scores the pinfall.  The crowd go wild!

With the match over and Galloway celebrating, Kid Fite appears and attacks him with a steel chair before grabbing the microphone to let the crowd know he is not happy at being moved from a main event slot to opening the show because Galloway has returned.  Next Charles Boddington, who is Kid Fite's manager in other promotions, arrives in the ring with his ever present briefcase....and decks Kid Fite!!  After telling of his happiness to have Drew back, he states that someone else wants to see him - the one and only Lionheart, the very man Galloway faced in his last match in BCW before leaving to join WWE.  And it looks like we will be seeing these guys face off in the ring at some point in 2015, once Lionheart is medically cleared to wrestle after his neck injury.

Finally, the entire roster came out to the ring with a case of beer and toasted the return of Galloway, with the obvious exception of  Mossy and Kid Fite, however one other member did not join in the celebrations, Jack Jester.  When he did finally come to ringside, he glared at the scene before him, before spitting in the face of Galloway and leaving again.  I foresee one hell of a match in the near future between these two!


We purchased a copy of the official programme and having a read through it, we noticed there had been a few changes to the original card.  Having originally advertised both Joel Redman and Martin Stone to appear, Stone was nowhere to be seen and his absence was not mentioned or explained.  This obviously led to the changes to the match-ups in the programme of Moss v Redman, Stone v Red Lightning and Coffey v Jester, however in my opinion, the changes worked out for the best and this show now ranks as Number 1 on my list of best shows attended, beating the amazing April show featuring Fergal Devitt.

BCW's next show is in East Kilbride on 20 September and tickets are on sale now.  We unfortunately will miss this show due to already having an event on the same date, but I am so looking forward to the No Blood, No Sympathy double header (tickets for these shows go on sale 1 October).

For information on BCW's future events and tickets, check out their Facebook page or website

Review: BCW Live in East Kilbride

Friday 27 June 2014

After the last BCW show in April, I didn't know how they could top it.  Well maybe this time they didn't but they came close...and the next show....well I will get to that at the end....

The first match of the night was Switch against Tommy Marx.  Switch managed to reduce a young girl at ringside to tears during his entrance when he suddenly turned to face her and shouted boo!  Tommy Marx got a great reception from the crowd throughout the match but it was Switch who dominated most of the match.  Despite pulling off some great moves, Marx was not able to overcome the size and strength advantage and underhand tactics from Switch, who eventually took the win.

Next up was Red Lightning v El Technico.  Red Lighting took the microphone and starting whinging about hurting his shoulder at the last event and that the crowd were unsympathetic before threatening to go “El Technico” on El Technico, whose mask still reminds me of the Predator movies.  Obviously the masked man did not take kindly to this and went straight for the shoulder of Lightning, before Lightning escaped to the ringside area to chants of “chicken”.  Once back in the ring, Lightning managed to gain some momentum and began working on the leg of El Technico in an attempt to keep the big guy grounded, but this was not successful and it was El Technico who scored the pinfall.

The next match was a very close contender for Match of the Night – “Bad Boy” Liam Thomson v Joe Coffey.  Coffey is becoming one of my favourite wrestlers and I have developed a grudging respect for Thomson after his recent match with Uhaa Nation at PWE and this match did not disappoint.  Their chops echoed around the hall, the slams into the corners moved the ring and neither man held back in their bid to win this match.  It was action packed from start to finish.  With the advantage going back and forth and both scoring near falls, it really was too close to call.  Both pulled out their usual finishing moves, but Coffey kicked out of the pin and Thomson got to the ropes breaking Coffey's Boston Crab hold.  Finally, Coffey delivered a devastating clothesline on Thomson and pinned him for the 3 count to the delight of the crowd.  This really was an amazing match and Rob even commented that he could not believe this was NOT the first half main event!! A video showing the climax of the match is on the Loudmouth Facebook page and is most definitely worth a wee look!

The first half main event pitted fan favourite Grado against Noam Dar for the Openweight Championship.  This match was hysterical from the start and I have to admit that I probably laughed more during this match than at most comedy movies!   It would appear that Grado has toned up recently and while still retaining his “Chubby Chancer” character, seems to be working on both his physique and his wrestling ability.  Anyway, rather than tell you about the match, why not watch the entire match for yourself!

First up after the interval was my favourite, Jack Jester against Kenny Williams.  Jester’s entrance included the BCW debut of his lizard, Gallus (there’s a wee video clip on the Loudmouth Facebook page) and now Rob is pestering me for a pet lizard!  With the majority of the crowd firmly on "Team Kenny", Jester took a lot of abuse from the kids in the audience and spent some time chasing a large group of kids from one side of the stage to the other and managing to reduce another child in the crowd to tears.  Once in the ring, Jester dominated Williams for much of the match, even dumping him in the laps of the ringside crowd before taking him over to introduce Williams face first to the merchandise table.  Back in the ring again, Jester continued his assault, including a legdrop on the ring apron and a suplex.  Williams seemed to gain a little momentum and scored a near pin but Jester caught him off the top turnbuckle, delivering a piledriver and scoring the win.

The next match was supposed to be a tag team title match between Damian O'Connor & T J Rage and Just Uz, however the team of Damo & Rage attacked Stevie Xavier with the belts before the bell had rung and it was declared a no contest with Just Uz still champions.  With Rage and Damo trying to claim the belts in the ring, BT Gunn then said if they wanted a tag match, they could have one as he would take them both on himself.  While Damo and Rage did work well together, they did not have the chemistry Damo shares with his "Britain's Most Wanted" tag team partner Scott Renwick.  The match itself was short but very, very sweet, with Gunn unloading on the two big guys and proving that he is a force to be reckoned with.  Despite the obvious disadvantage, Gunn took it to Rage initially before landing a dropkick on Damo.  He also landed a cracking suicide dive through the ropes onto both his opponents which almost had Damo landing on me!  Back in the ring, Gunn then took some punishment from both guys before finally landing a superkick to the head of Rage and scoring the pin to retain the titles.

Finally, the main event - Kid Fite v Davey Blaze for the BCW Heavyweight title – and this won Match of the Night for me.  This match started in the ring but spilled out into the ringside area, before heading off to the merchandise tables and back again and despite warning Fite that I didn't want him landing on me again, he very nearly did.  It was, in a word, brutal!  Within minutes of the match starting, Blaze was in the ringside area checking his nose wasn't broken, only for Fite to come out and slam him into the ring post.  Back in the ring, Fite kept the advantage, attempting to use a sleeper hold to defeat Blaze but Blaze rallied before his hand could fall for the third time.  The match then spilled out of the ring again and headed over the to the merchandise table, where Blaze had the advantage but Fite was not going down easily, regaining the advantage and driving Blaze into the chairs which had quickly been vacated by the crowd, before grabbing a hoodie from one of the chairs and using it to choke Blaze (upsetting the young owner of said hoodie and causing more tears!).  Back in the ring again, Fite kept the upper hand but it took several attempts before he was able to keep Blaze pinned for the 3 count.  Another fantastic match to end the night's entertainment.



Rob & Leah Owens

Rob & Kasey Owens

After the show, Jester and Grado signed posters in the foyer while Rob got photos taken with Leah and Kasey Owens and got up close and personal with Gallus!

This was a great evening's entertainment with a very noisy crowd, which meant I did not have to work to get them going.  In my opinion, BCW have definitely raised the bar as far as wrestling shows go.

As promised at the beginning of this blog, here is the scoop on the next BCW show - it will be held at Kilmarnock Grand Hall on 29 August and features the first Scottish appearance of Drew Galloway (aka Drew McIntyre) since his release from WWE.  Guaranteed to sell out, tickets go on sale on 10 July so check out BCW's Facebook page to keep up to date with all the information.