CRITIC - Wrestling Show

Tidal Championship Wrestling - I Want The Moon

Leeds City Museum, Saturday 26th March 2022

After frequenting TCW for a couple of years, this was my first show back following the birth of my son in November 2021. The venue is in the centre of Leeds, easily accessible by bus and train, and with parking nearby. There is a lift and baby changing facilities, and the show was for all ages.

The first match was advertised as a womens match between Ivy and Natalie Sykes. Nat came out first to cheers, limping, and informed the crowd that she'd picked up a knee injury at a show the night before. Ivy appears from the back and said if Nat could beat her by pinfall today, Nat could be added to Ivy's TCW womens title match against Rhio at Catch (another wrestling promotion).

Nat accepts the match, which was competitive with Ivy targetting Nat's knee throughout. Ivy gets Nat in a kneebar - Nat gets to the bottom rope, causing Ivy to release her. Ivy turns around and gets her baseball bat, beating Nat with it causing the referree to give the DQ win to Nat. Ivy continues the assault, until Tom Thelwell comes from the back to help Nat.

The next match was for the TCW championship; Brady Phillips, the champ, taking on TCW regular, Dara Diablo. Very heavy hitting match with lots of big moves from and attempted roll ups from both men. Dara targetting Brady's arm, rough chops for both men!

Both hit rough power bombs with nearfalls. Brady won with a punch to the face and retained the title.

Triple threat with three non-regulars; Joe Hesler, Big Guns Joe, and Keinen. Really fun fast paced match with Hesler pinning Keinen for the win.

The first half main event was a tag team title match between the champions Jet Martial and BA Rose, and the previous champs, Reece and Rogan. As expected, this was a very hard hitting match, with the brute force fo R&R and Rose. Martial was speedy, managing to evade a lot of the violence initially before taking a beating. Despite this onslaught, the champions retained.

During the interval, there was the opportunity to buy merchandise from the wrestlers, and the museum cafe was open for alcohol, soft drinks, and snacks. 

First match after the break was two debutants, and two relative unknowns from the East Riding - Hard Man Dan and Jack Maxwell. Jack refusing to wrestle or fist bump Dan. The match eventually starts but Jack keeps evading Dan's offence, until Jack gets the upper hand. Jack dramatically puts his gloves on and taps Dan out. 

After the match, Reece and Rogan attack both guys, resulting in Dan and Jack shaking hands, seemingly forming a tag team! "Please come back" chants from the crowd, really impressive debuts.

Tom Thelwell and Chris Egan were up next and Thelwell was accompanied by Danny. Cheap shots on Egan before the bell. Crowd well and truly behind Egan! Danny kept interfering behind the referee's back before Thelwell wins with a gross finisher leaving Egan dazed.

Main event time for the open championship with champion Joe Wade take on fellow high flyer Calum Newman. Wade sitting in the ring initially which got the crowd hyped up, then it progressed into a really fast paced rally as was expected from these two.

Early moonsault from Wade hit Newman in the face, but he seemed okay if not a little shaken! Great sequence with both men getting off kicks to the face ending in a straight jacket German suplex on Newman with both men down.

Both get up and have a slapping match. Piledrivers from both guys, dives ouside the ring, then Wade won with a swanton bomb.

Overall, this was a really fun show. Great storytelling throughout, setting up future feuds. My favourite matches were the TCW title match for pure wrestling, the debutants match for the crowd reaction for the new guys, and the main event for all the crazy, high flying action. 

Solid 4/5* show. Can't wait for their next show at the Parish in Huddersfield on 1st May 2022.