I was going to do this week's article on someone over in WWE who became a new champion at Summerslam (3 new champs, have a guess ;)). However, as I was flicking through the Daily Record yesterday, I came across something that I had suspected was probably going to happen, but found myself aw happy when I saw his big handsome mush looking back at me. This week's wrestler of the week is a Scottish guy who everyone knows by now. The man who most would say was the star of Insane Fight Club on BBC 1. The man who was this week selected to appear on TNA's British Bootcamp 2, and who is probably the best entertainer in Britain today... GRRRRRRADOOOO!
There isn't much of a proper introduction needed for the man. He's probably the most recognizable person in the UK wrestling scene today, and despite the fact we all want him to do well at British Bootcamp, do we really want to see him leave home? Nah. I don't know, is that being selfish? Of course though, it'll be a fantastic story if Grado was to earn himself a TNA contract. For someone who's spent most of his adolescent and adult life trying to perfect what he does, realizing that even if he isn't the strongest wrestler, he'll certainly have the strongest personality, to achieve the opportunity to do what he does on a full time basis for one of the most established wrestling companies on the planet. It's been said a thousand times, but what Grado does when he steps in that ring is he tells the perfect story. From thinking he had won the ICW title from Red Lightning, only to be stripped immediately on a technicality, to putting on absolute classics with Mikey Whiplash, to finally getting another chance at the ICW Championship after winning the Square Go, only for Chris Renfrew to rip the heart out of every person in the Garage, stealing the win from him. The one story in particular that's had me gripped on Grado recently, however, is the one between himself and a certain well known American...
Last year, Grado got the chance to wrestle his hero, Colt Cabana at Dave's Not Here Man in Edinburgh. Fast forward one year, and ICW have 4 Sunday's in August booked for Studio 24 to coincide with the Fringe Festival, and Colt was booked for every single one of them. In the first week, it was the long awaited rematch between Grado and Colt. However, after the match, both men were assaulted by the ICW Tag Team Champions, the New Age Kliq, who won the titles from the Bucky Boys at Shug's House Party. The match was made for the second week, the NAK would defend their tag team titles against the team of Grado and Colt Cabana... IRN JEW! I didn't reckon it would happen, but with the help of the returning Wolfgang, they overcame the odds and became the new ICW Tag Team champions. This past Sunday, the third Fringe show, saw Irn Jew successfully defend the gold against Polo Promotions, and it's just a shame that they'll inevitably have to drop the belts either tomorrow or at 1.21 Gigawatts next Sunday, seeing as Colt will have to head back home. It'd be nice to see him stick around longer (or forever) because the chemistry these two have together is incredible. Imagine them just being tag champs for eternity, sharing a bunk-bed in Grado's maw's house and cracking the best a jokes everyday. Aye, that'd be nice. Moral of the story here is that Grado is a belter, and he more than deserves to have a shiny belt around his waist and more than deserves a shot in TNA.
If he proceeds even further in British Bootcamp, we can only wish him the very best of luck and hope that he helps put Scottish wrestling even further on the map. It's red hot right now, and all we need is the right catalyst or two to really make this motherfucker explode. I have no doubt in my mind that Grado will be one of those catalysts, and that is why he's my wrestler of the week.
I guess I'll need to add a compulsory...
... IT'S YERSELLLLLLLL!