Someone is out for Mikey Whiplash. If you were at the Square Go or have watched it On Demand since, you'll see that one of the favorites to win the match in Whippy was eliminated after being distracted by a video playing a few seconds of his "Gradomania is Dead" promo. I won't lie, witnessing it first hand, I was feart. I think everyone in the room was feart. None more so, apparently, than Whiplash himself, who was distracted enough to allow Lewis Girvan to dump him over the top rope. As you might have gathered from the very well thought out title, I'm going to be running down some of the guys who I think were behind playing that video, and who Mikey Whiplash may need to be taking on somewhere down the line. Since his epic return at Fear & Loathing 7, joining the Sumerian Death Squad to form the group known as Legion, Whiplash has been on a roll. Picking up wins over Darkside and 2015 SQUARE GO WINNER DICKIE DIVERS, as well as the NAK as a whole on the night of that return. He's been a new prospect, he's in the wrestling and physical shape of his career, and was looking to get back into the Heavyweight Title picture. Already, this has got the ICW fans intrigued, and why shouldn't it? Here's but a few of the possible people who may be baying for the blood of Whiplash... Including prices, because I love writing up odds for stuff.
Jack Jester
I thought it best to start off with one of the more obvious options. We haven't seen the former ICW Heavyweight Champion since he lost the title to Drew Galloway at the Barrowlands last November, and it's left the fans wondering what the next move will be from ICW's own Hardcore Icon. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that Jester has relocated his killer instinct, and what better way to place himself firmly back on the map than by going after one of his most bitter rivals from the past? After all, it was Whiplash who he beat for the title back at Fear & Loathing 6. They have history, and Jester must have a point to prove. I have Jack Jester as the favorite, the heavy favorite.
Odds - 8/13 F
Jam O'Malley
It seems odd, but maybe sometimes the answer to the question is staring us right in the face. In the aforementioned video, Jam was in the background as one of Mikey Whiplash's followers at the time. That would be the reason more than the fact he was in the video itself. Whiplash used to be Jam's master of sorts, and Jam used to be a loyal servant to his master. Maybe he's picked and chosen his moment. Maybe it's time for the Sideshow to become the star of the show by playing mind games with one of the all time great ring psychologists. If it were to be the case, I'd be heavily into it. Also, taking the history between the two out of the equation - O'Malley is as mad as a brush in any case, and that alone gives him reason enough to be on this list.
Odds - 4/1
Sabu
His return to ICW is imminent. We know he makes his official return in London on the upcoming UK tour, but what's to stop one of the most maniacal fuckers to ever enter a wrestling ring making a new enemy before he's even stepped foot back in the country? When he turned on Jester during his last visit, he made his intentions clear that he wanted to be the Heavyweight champion. That was a while ago though, and there's not much better way to place himself in the title picture by picking a fight with and then beating a former champion. A match between these two would be off the scales insane, so the prospect of a full on bitter rivalry between them is spine-tingling. The person behind this clearly wants Whiplash dead, and he literally has the word "suicidal" in his nickname. That's as good a reason as any.
Odds - 6/1
Sumerian Death Squad
Think back to before Fear & Loathing here. When Tommy End and Michael Dante were set to take on the NAK, they released a video depicting them capturing and slitting the throat of someone who would be used as a sacrifice. They needed strength in numbers at the time, and brought back Whiplash from a long exile from ICW as backup. Together, they form Legion... but does the Death Squad need him anymore? After all, it was hinted in that video they released that the person being held had somehow had a past with End and Dante, as the former queried "were you just gonna run forever?", and that he had "turned his back on the order". Perhaps the time has come for the SDS to put aside their personal feelings, the NAK are dealt with after all... and perhaps their superiors have given them a new contract to fulfill.
Odds - 10/1
Grado
The history between the two speaks for itself really, doesn't it? Whiplash made a point of humiliating Grado for a long time in ICW, until they appeared to put their differences aside and find a level of respect for each other. The rivalry was built on blatant disrespect from Whiplash towards Grado, saying that he would be the death of professional wrestling. Grado wanted nothing more than the respect of Whiplash, and he got it in the end. That's not to say that Grado doesn't hold a degree of resentment against Whippy. Granted, this is a massive long shot as it would require a Grado heel turn. Is that going to happen? Probably not. I'm nothing if not thorough, however, and for that reason I add Grado into the mix.
Odds - 100/1
Eddie Sideburns
I did say I was thorough. Never forget the moment that Whiplash kicked a rope into Eddie's baws and tried to powerbomb him through the railing that almost ended Whiplash's career. That was at the Square Go last year, when Whiplash set out to hurt those who didn't believe he could finish the match against Grado, where a piece of the guard rail spiked his inner thigh. He called Eddie out and thanked him for his actions, before mercilessly attacking him, prompting Grado and David Devlin to make the save. There is literally no chance of this happening, but Eddie gets a shout because he's good at the refereeing, and the idea of him counting the finish during one of Whippy's matches, only stopping before the three, hitting Whippy with a Killswitch and walking out makes me a wee bit happy.
Odds - 1000/1
So aye, there's my thoughts on who's behind the mystery video directed at Mikey Whiplash at the Square Go. Who do you think is responsible? More importantly, should Whippy be worried about what the future holds? Let me know what you think, and also, let me know if these "odds" posts make decent reading. I've had a bit of fun doing this and the one for the Square Go match, but tell me if it's something you'd like to see more often. There's a new interview coming up soon, and a few other things in the works, so watch this space.
Full credit to David J. Wilson for all of the above photos.