Archived review: Garage Pro Wrestling - Livin' on the Edge 2009

Grand Pro Wrestling - Livin on the Edge 2009 poster
Garage Pro Wrestling – Livin’ on the Edge
March 20th, 2009
Monaco Ballroom, Hindley
, Wigan

*This is an archived review which I originally wrote in 2009 for The LINC, a magazine/website based in Wigan. GPW have since renamed themselves Grand Pro Wrestling*

The stars of Garage Pro Wrestling were living on the edge at Hindley’s Monaco Ballroom as they delivered a top-notch night of action which saw bitter rivalries continue and, of course, some great work between the ropes.

GPW have carved a niche for themselves as one of the premier grap groups on the British wrestling circuit, and at Livin on the Edge, it wasn’t hard to see why.

With a commendable attention to detail (right down to such subtle aspects as flagging up each bout’s time-limit on their graphic displays) and superior production values to many of their rivals, the company really seem to go out of their way to deliver.

And boy did they deliver.

Getting things underway, Ricky J. McKenzie took on The Juice in a British Title Warm Up match.   Both men worked the crowd well in the early going, with The Juice particularly effective in retaliating to the crowds enthused chants of you’re a muppet!

After as entertaining an opening match as you could want, ‘Juice walked away with the win.

Taking a change of pace, Jak Dominotrescu and his Eastern Block stable made their way to the ring to call out Si Valour and, apparently, challenge hi to a karaoke contest.

What followed was one of those moments in wrestling that is far more hilarious than it really has any right to be, as Dominotrescu put his own comical take on The Pussycat Dolls. Though before Valour really had chance to find his grove in retaliating with a tune of his own, he was cut short by the Eastern Block and what seemed like an impromptu match was underway, with Valour getting the three-count.

Another British Title Warm Up bout followed, with reigning champion, Sam Bailey facing relative newcomer, William Gaylord.

With last month’s debut behind him, Gaylord already appeared to be a natural in his role as the archetypal British Snob, with his traditional European style working well against the flash and panache of Super Sam Bailey.

And despite number one contender to the British strap, The Juice, scoping him out from the entrance way, Bailey managed to keep his focus in another entertaining bout and pick up a victory.

A four corners tag team elimination bout came next to determine the number one contenders to The Young Offender’s tag team trophy.

The Gentlemen’s Club, Lethal Dose and the newly formed team of The Mystics were already set for battle, though before they could they waited anxiously along with the GPW faithful to find out who Heresy had chosen to tag with him.

Making his way on to the entrance, the man from Sin city delivered a superb verbal performance on the microphone as he introduced his new tag-partner, Kastor LeVay.

LeVay proceeded to go on a unhinged rampage and, along with Heresey, dominated proceedings to earn the final elimination and the number one contenders spot.

Returning from the break, things looked set to heat up as former Milan-Field Connection partners, Danny Hope and Jiggy Walker were about to collide in a much-anticipated grudge match.

However, things didn’t quite pan-out that way.

In true heel fashion, Walker delivered another strong piece of mic work almost on par with Hersey’s earlier performance; claiming to have pulled a hamstring whilst warming up which had rendered him unable to compete.

Instead, an enjoyable bout between Hope and Walker’s replacement, The Model followed, with Hope picking up the three count.

Somewhat predictably, Walker revealed his injury to have been a rouse in the post-match shenanigans; attacking his former partner and finally agreeing to a match of Hope’s choosing at the next show. Once again, Walker delivered the goods here and his natural ability to get the crowds riled up was one of the more subtle highlights of the evening.

Speaking of highlights, there was nothing subtle about the next bout as Hindley resident, Martin Kirby went one-on-one with long-time GWP favourite, Joey Heyes.

Prior to the bout, Kirby thanked his adopted hometown crowd for the support they’ve shown him since his GPW debut earlier this year and proceeded to put Heyes over as one of his wrestling heroes.

The two then went on to have arguably the best match of the night; a fast-paced affair building from a sold foundation of chain wrestling to a gipping crescendo, with Heyes bagging the three-count thanks to a nice cross-body from the top.

But Heyes’ night didn’t end there, as he and Kirby were promptly attacked by Hersey and his masked partner. A number of faces tried their best to intervene but swiftly had theirs handed to them before Joeys’ Young Offenders partner, Dangerous Damon Leigh appeared from nowhere to make the save.

Finally, the night’s action concluded with a gripping tag team bout pitting Heavyweight Champion, Bubblegum and El Ligero against the team of Dirk Feelgood and the imposing Juggernaut.

As Juggernaut’s manager, Alan A.A Tasker worked the crowd with aplomb at ringside, the four combatants put on a text book display of tag team wrestling, as the heels quickly cut the ring in half and isolated Ligero from an anxious and infuriated Bubblegum.

The inevitable comeback came, but with Ligero going over the ropes in what looked like a nasty fashion, it was up to the champion to try and overthrow Feelgood and Juggernaut single-handidly.

Yet after as strong an effort as he could muster, even the unwavering support of the crowd couldn’t help Bubblegum defeat two men, and it was Dirk Feelgood and Juggernaut who took the pin.

Over all, a good show from all concerned.  They say you can’t please all the people all the time, but that didn’t stop GPW from trying, and succeeding, with their third show of the year.


With a mix of comedy and drama to appeal to the younger fans and families and some impressive in-ring work to appeal to hardened wrestling fans, Livin’ on the Edge delivered on almost every level.

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