Insane Championship Wrestling

Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) is a British wrestling promotion based in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Mark Dallas in 2006.^[1] The company began by organising small shows at Maryhill community centre in Glasgow. From there the company expanded to Glasgow city centre and beyond. After promoting shows in Edinburgh the company recently expanded UK wide, running shows in London and Newcastle with shows announced in Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham.^[2] The promotion has gained an enhanced reputation after being featured in a Vice Magazine documentary in 2012 and the subject of a BBC documentary in 2014.^[3][4] ICW records and releases the majority of their shows on limited edition DVD as well as producing series of their own YouTube show, ICW Worldwide.^[5] ICW formerly aired on cable television station MyChannel which aired across Europe. This deal was cut short when a scheduling error led to ICW programming being shown at an improper time, leading to the show being banned after an Ofcom investigation.^[6] The promotion mixes elements of traditional Sports Entertainment with Hardcore wrestling, thus attendances at events are restricted to those aged 18+. Some performers incorporate zany gimmicks and play up Scottish stereotypes such as references to Irn-Bru. The promotion was named UK Promotion of the Year by Fighting Spirit Magazine in 2012, 2013 and 2014.^[7][8] In 2015 ICW launched their On Demand service (ICW On Demand), which is available worldwide for $5.99, and has become the companies primary source of distribution of content, with both new shows and a vault of classics being available for streaming, similar to the WWE Network. The service launched with the release of Fear and Loathing VII, at the time the most attended show in the company's history.

History

2006–2012

The Barrowland Ballroom, venue of ICW Fear & Loathing VII^[9]

Mark Dallas, a lifeguard at Scotstoun Swimming Pool and fan of professional wrestling founded the promotion while living in relative poverty with his girlfriend in Glasgow's Red Road Flats in 2006.^[10] After attending training himself, to learn the business from the inside, he ran his first shows at Maryhill Community Centre. Future WWE Superstar, Drew Galloway was crowned the companies inaugural Heavyweight Champion on 15 October 2006 after defeating Darkside and Allan Grogan in a 3-way match at ICW: Fear & Loathing.^[11] Galloway held the title until 22 July 2007 when he was booked to defend his title against Sheamus O'Shaunessy however both faced travel issues with the latter not making the event.^[12] Darkside eventually won the title in a 5-way match which included the late arriving Galloway. This event would mark an almost 2-year hiatus for the organisation. On 9 May 2009, ICW returned with ICW: Fear & Loathing 2^[13] however after another brief hiatus, the company began running shows every other month beginning with ICW: Payback on 28 February 2010.^[14]

On 5 June 2010 ICW: Menace 2 Society marked a change for the company. A new ICW Heavyweight Champion was crowned for the first time in 1049 days as BT Gunn won the vacant title in a 4-way match against Wolfgang, Liam Thomson and Johnny Moss. The event also kicked off a tournament for a secondary title, the Zero-G Championship.^[15] Another title change occurred on 4 September 2010 at ICW: Dazed and Confused when moments after defeating Red Lightning, BT Gunn was challenged by James Scott, ditching his Darkside character, who demanded his rightful title shot after having been stripped of the title due to injury. James Scott won the match and joined the villainous Gold Label faction.^[16]

ICW: Fear & Loathing 3 signaled ICW's first venture into Glasgow City Center with the event taking place at Apollo 23 nightclub on 21 November 2010. The finals of the Zero-G Championship tournament took place with 17-year-old Noam Dar defeating Andy Wild, Falcon and Rob Cage in a 4-way elimination match. The main event also helped solidify the companies reputation as BT Gunn and Jack Jester took on James Scott and Wolfgang of the Gold Label faction in a Glasgow Street Fight.^[17] The Zero-G Championship was briefly dropped by Dar to Lionheart at ICW: Summerbam on 14 August 2011^[18] before winning the title back at ICW: Fear & Loathing 4 on 23 November.^[19]

2012–present

2012 saw the introduction of a new event on 22 January, ICW: 1st Annual Square Go! This event headlined by an over-the-top-rope battle royal granting the winner a shot at the ICW Heavyweight Championship at a time of their choosing. The match was won by Red Lightning. The event also saw BT Gunn win back the ICW Heavyweight Championship from James Scott.^[20] ICW's next event, ICW: Smells like Teen Spirit, took place in what would become their second home, The Garage.^[21] The beginning of the year saw ICW gain TV exposure through MyChannel although their tenure on the station was short-lived as they were removed from programming after one of their shows was shown at an inappropriate time. It was also around this time that the rise of Grado began. Red Lightning cashed in his title contract and won the ICW Heavyweight Championship from BT Gunn at ICW: In Yer Gaff thus beginning a 336-day title reign.^[22] Shortly after this, Andy Wild won the Zero-G Championship at ICW: Insane in the Membrane from Noam Dar in a 3-way match featuring Christopher.^[23] During the summer the ICW Tag Team Championships were introduced and after a series of elimination matches STI (Dickie Divers & William Grange) defeated The Bucky Boys (Davie Boy & Stevie Boy) for the titles at ICW: Hadouken!^[24]

After the airing of an in-house mockumentary and his prominent role in the Vice documentary, The British Wrestler, Grado became prominent in the promotion of ICW. At the 2nd Annual Square Go! Mikey Whiplash secured his opportunity at the Heavyweight Championship while ICW ventured out of Glasgow for the first time with a show at Studio 24 in Edinburgh.^[25] In Edinburgh at ICW: Tramspotting, Wolfgang defeated Andy Wild for the Zero-G Championship while qualifying matches began for the ICW: Fierce Females Championship.^[26] The Tag Team Championships saw their first change of hands with STI losing their titles to The Bucky Boys in a ladder match at ICW: Get To Da Choppa.^[27] ICW: Reservoir Dogs saw Red Lightning's Heavyweight Title reign, featuring the most successful defenses, come to an end at the hands of Square Go winner Mikey Whiplash. ICW announced that they were being filmed as the subject of a BBC documentary while also announcing their biggest show so far in Edinburgh's Picture House for ICW: Dave's Not Here Man.^[28]

Dave's Not Here Man saw international stars Colt Cabana and Sabu make their ICW debuts in front of an attendance of over 1000. The recently reformed New Age Kliq captured their first ICW Tag Team Championships in a 4-way match with The Bucky Boys, Fight Club and The Coffey Brothers, which signaled the beginning of their reign of terror over the ICW roster. That event also saw Mikey Whiplash add Wolfgang's Zero-G Championship to his Heavyweight Title.^[29] Whiplash lost the Zero-G Championship 13 days later to Mark Coffey at ICW: There's Something About Mary(hill)at ICW's return to Maryhill Community Centre.^[30] Whiplash then subsequently lost the ICW Heavyweight Championship to Jack Jester at ICW: Fear & Loathing VI – Welcome To Bat Country. This event was held at Glasgow's 02 ABC drawing over 1000 fans for the second time in 5 months.^[31]

At ICW: Show Me Your Lizard, Mark Coffey defeated title holder Fergal Devitt and Noam Dar in a three-way match for the ICW Zero Gravity Championship.^[32]

On 10 August 2014 Irn Jew defeated The New Age Kliq for the ICW Tag Team Championship at ICW: You Have The Right To Remain Dead.^[33] The New Age Kliq would go on to regain the championship from Irn Jew at ICW: Ice To See You.^[34]

On 7 February 2015 – the ICW Heavyweight Championship was renamed the ICW World Heavyweight Championship following title defenses in England, Denmark and the USA by Drew Galloway.^[35]

On November 15, 2015, Grado defeated Drew Galloway for the ICW World Championship at Fear & Loathing VIII. On January 24, 2016 Grado lost the title at the 5th Annual Square Go!, when he was defeated by Chris Renfrew.

On February 27, 2016, ICW had their first show in Ireland named The Big Elbowski, where Big Damo defeated Chris Renfrew for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship.

Events

The promotion currently books most of its events in Glasgow with occasional events in Edinburgh. As the company grows it has expanded to the rest of the UK having held events in London and Newcastle with shows in Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham booked in the future as part of a working relationship with O2 Academy venues. ICW run shows in Glasgow's The Garage and Studio 24 in Edinburgh as well as ABC Glasgow. For larger events the promotion announced the Barrowland Ballroom as the location for ICW: Fear & Loathing VII, their biggest show to date.^[36]

2006–2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Music

In addition to being a wrestling promotion, ICW actively promotes the music of local artists by use of their music in ICW events and by hosting live music events at Box in Glasgow. The theme song of the promotion is 'Crank' by Glasgow band, Psyko Dalek.^[37]

Authority Figures

ICW Owner

• Mark Dallas (2006 – present)
• Red Lightning (November 29, 2015 – November 20, 2016)^{[note 1][38][39]}

ICW General Manager

• Red Lightning (January 25, 2015 – November 17, 2015)^{[note 2][40]}
  • Lionheart – Acting General Manager (October 30, 2015)^{[41][note 3]}
  • Mick Foley – ICW Commissioner (November 15, 2015)^[42]

^{[note 4]}

• • Kenny Williams – "General Bollocks" (May 7, 2016 – present)

Current champions

Square Go! Briefcase Holders

In a unique mixing of WWE's Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank matches, the competitors will compete in a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal, the Square Go!, with the winner earning the Square Go Briefcase. This gives the holder an opportunity to cash-in the briefcase for an ICW World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of their choosing for up to one year.^[43]

Notable Roster Members (Past and Present)

The promotion uses local talent as well as established international workers.

ICW Fierce Females

Since September 2012, ICW have operated a sister promotion called Fierce Females. The promotion is dedicated to showcasing female wrestlers.^[44] As of 2014 the organisation is no longer under the ICW banner.

Notes

References

External links

• ICW Official Website
• ICW Twitter Account
• Owner Mark Dallas Twitter Account
• ICW YouTube Channel
• ICW on Facebook
• ICW on Google+

Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom
National promotions	All Star Wrestling Insane Championship Wrestling New Generation Wrestling Preston City Wrestling Progress Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling WhatCulture Pro Wrestling (WCPW)
Notable independent promotions	Dragon Gate UK Extreme World Wrestling Grand Pro Wrestling International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom LDN Wrestling Live Pro Wrestling Lucha Britannia Premier British Wrestling Pro-Wrestling: EVE Real Quality Wrestling Revolution British Wrestling Scottish Wrestling Alliance Welsh Wrestling XWA Other promotions
Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances	Allied Independent Wrestling Federations National Wrestling Alliance Pro Wrestling International Union of European Wrestling Alliances
Defunct Notable Promotions	British Wrestling Association British Wrestling Federation (1960s version) British Wrestling Federation (Orig Williams version) ChickFight Frontier Wrestling Alliance Joint Promotions NWA UK Hammerlock One Pro Wrestling Revolution British Wrestling
Defunct Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances	Wrestling Superstars Live