Archived Writing: GPW Slam Jam 2009 Preview

April 18^th 2009,
Monaco Ballroom, Hindley

Garage Pro Wrestling return to the Monaco Ballroom later this month for their first Saturday show in nearly four years. Featuring a packed card with all three of the company’s titles on the line, here’s a run down of what you can expect at GPW Slam Jam.

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

Miss North West Invitational 4-Way

Si Valour vs. ?? vs. ?? vs. ??

The reigning Miss Northwest, and current Miss England semi-finalist, Rebecca Billinge, announced at Livin’ On The Edge that there will the first ever GPW Miss North West Invitational Match at GPW: "Saturday Night SlamJam" and here it is.

The rules are simple. The match is open to any 4 wrestlers to battle it out in a 4-way rules match, the winner of which will gain the managerial and valeting services of Miss Northwest. The first person to put his name down for the 4-way is Si Valour.

Having been much the forgotten man so far this year, Valour has had to force his way onto shows in order to get noticed. Making the save for Bubblegum in January, making an impromptu No.1 Contenders challenge to Juice in February during the British Title contract signing and at Livin On The Edge it was Valour who again found himself in an impromptu match against Jak Domitrescu.

It was in February that Valour vowed to make 2009 the year he puts GPW gold around his waist for the first time. Winning this 4-Way and acquiring Rebecca as a valet and manager could be just what he needs to further his career, and get the gold he desires.

But with three other names still to be announced, how much chance does Valour stand in this intriguing match up? And who else may think a beauty Queen would look good on their arm? More names to follow in the coming weeks!

GPW Tag Team Trophy Main Event

The Young Offenders © vs. Paradise Lost

GPW Tag Team Champions, The Young Offenders found out at Livin On The Edge just who their closest competitors for the trophy are. Heresy unveiled who "he" was as he introduced his mystery tag team partner be the masked monster Kastor LeVay. The newly formed team of Heresy and LeVay, (Paradise Lost) destroyed all competition to earn a No.1 Contenders spot against Damon Leigh and Joey Hayes, and wasted no time cashing their spot in.

The title match has been signed in a huge Saturday night main event. Heresy blames both Leigh and Hayes for the loss of his titles, the break up of his SIN faction and everything else that had gone wrong in his life, and as a result he wanted to eliminate them forever to finally give people the chance to look up and beLIEve in something better.

He claims "the time for questions is over and that the time for answers is now" as he brings in Kastor LeVay to help him rid GPW of the Young Offenders forever. With a well documented and deep seeded heated rivalry already between Hayes, DDL and Heresy this takes on a new direction with LeVay involved. Can Paradise Lost end The Young Offenders honeymoon with the trophy, or can good overcome evil in this gripping main event?

GPW Heavyweight Title Match

Bubblegum © vs. Juggernaut w/ Alan A.A Tasker

Fresh from a truly superb series of matches with arch nemesis, Dirk Feelgood, Bubblegum now enters his ninth month as Heavyweight Champion, but there is no rest for the immensely popular crowd favourite as he prepares to face arguably his biggest challenge as champion yet. Since defeating Johnny Moss in a huge heavyweight clash in October last year, Juggernaut has waited in the wings for his time to strike.

After putting El Ligero on the injured list twice in 3 months, he now has the reigning GPW Heavyweight Champion isolated and in his sights. Gaining the all important pinfall over the Heavyweight Champion, Bubblegum in the main event tag team match at Livin On The Edge, Juggernaut's Attorney & Law, Alan Alan Alan Tasker has brokered a first ever title shot at SlamJam for his former Nigerian prison monster.


The GPW Heavyweight Title is on the line, the last time Juggernaut challenged for a title - he won. Bubblegum has defended the title with some of the best matches in GPW history and deservedly takes his spot as the most popular man on the roster.

Giving up a lot of size to the monster Juggernaut can Bubblegum extend his impressive reign as champ? He has taken on all opposition and never shown signs of ever giving up, and has given fans everything he has, but this time he is faced with the strength and size of the Juggernaut along with the brains and smarts of his Attorney & Law, Alan A.A Tasker.

Will it be Bubblegum entering a 10th month as champion, or will Juggernaut be lifting his first GPW Heavyweight Championship and consigning Bubblegum to the injured list to join El Ligero? This is set to be a battle for the ages, don't miss this!

6-Man Showcase

The Mystics & Chris Echo vs. Lethal Dose & William Gáylord

No GPW supershow would be complete without one of the matches that has been the foundation of every supershow we've done in the past - the 6 man tag!

Two of the teams who battled it out in the 4-Way No.1 Contenders Match at "Livin On The Edge" once again face off. Both Lethal Dose & The Mystics have both been allowed to select partner of their choosing.

The Mystics have chosen to bring back fan favourite Chris Echo to complete their threesome and Lethal Dose have recruited GPW training school graduate - William Gáylord. The Mystics have had two unsuccessful outings so far, having been stopped in their tracks both times by Heresy and Echo was last seen on the roster in a loss to Heresy in January.

So the three join forces and look to get back to winning ways in this intriguing 6-man clash. Gáylord debuted in winning fashion against fellow training school graduate Ricky J. McKenzie. His debut caught the eye of many and he gained much acclaim but has since suffered a loss to Sam Bailey. Lethal Dose, who are themselves looking for their first win of 2009 hope the Gáylord's winning touch will rub off.

This 6-man throws up some interesting scenarios and some first time ever clashes, but who will leave with their hands raised? Can the team of The Mystics and Echo get their first win of the year? Or will it be Lethal Dose celebrating their first win of 2009?

GPW British Title Match

"Super" Sam Bailey © vs. The Juice

With the ink on the contract dry and the warm up matches done, both The Juice and Sam Bailey prepare to finally square off one on one for the British Title. Juice earned himself a No.1 Contenders spot back in December at Christmas Crunch in a 4-Way against Dylan Roberts, Chris Echo and Harry Doogle. He then went onto successfully defended his spot against Dylan Roberts in a one on one match in January at Back With A Bang.

In preparation for his title shot, Juice has surrounded himself with his carefully selected personal "Fight Team", consisting of dietitions, nutritionalists, personal trainers, and trained fighters.

The suspense is nearly over in this wonderfully captivating feud as two of the most gifted athletes in the UK do battle over the coveted GPW British Championship. Can Bailey hold on to the title he won back in December? Or can Juice add to his CC-08 title with more gold? Don't miss the conclusion to this at SlamJam!

Street Fight

Danny Hope vs. Jiggy Walker

There really is no other type of match these two could settle their differences in. The former tag team champions finally square off in a match where anything goes, no rules apply, and anything is legal - a Street Fight.

Together, Walker and Hope held the GPW Tag Team Trophy for a record 18 months as the Mil-Anfield Connection, however cracks in the team were for all to see as they disintegrated at Back With A Bang 2009.

The loss to the Young Offenders in the 2/3 Falls Title Match saw them lose the trophy that had defined them for so long, and proved to be the undoing of the duo. Since the split, it has been Hope who has been welcomed with open arms by fans and Walker who has mocked and attacked his former partner from behind. The two were separated by members of the GPW roster and GPW officials in February at "Carpe Diem" and at "Livin On The Edge" Walker blind sided Hope after claiming an "injury" meant he couldn't compete in a signed one on one match.

There will be no running, no hiding and no excuses as these two finally clash in what will be a brutal, unforgiving Street Fight not for the weak at heart. Mil-Anfield will always be remembered as the most successful tag team in GPW history, but who is the better man?

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Find out on April 18th as one of the most personal rivalries in GPW history finally comes to a head!

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

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.

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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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