Riptide Wrestling - British Indy Wrestling Has A New Brighton Home

IMAGE VIA RIPTIDE WRESTLING/ HEAD DROP

In recent years, after years away, I’ve gotten back into wrestling obviously being WWE and then NXT, which was my first live wrestling show back in 2015 in London, but recently I’ve got into and following British Indy wrestling and the phenomenon it has become.

While I’d love to see a Progress show, travelling via Southern Rail to London and back again is a coin flip, so thank god there’s finally an Indy wrestling scene in Brighton!

IMAGE VIA RIPTIDE WRESTLING/ HEAD DROP

The company is called Riptide and while being a baby in this wonderful community it’s a beautiful baby that’s already had matches like multiple worldwide women’s champion Toni Strom fought Jimmy Havoc because of this last Friday (2nd March) I went to my first, of many, Riptide shows.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Toni Storm

Wonderful Intergender Match here, two badass Wrestler doing their best to take the other one down.@RIPTIDEwres https://t.co/OLTutWTBeb pic.twitter.com/kQB0u6Wpkp

— Pro Wrestling GIF Love (@loveheartcore) March 4, 2018

Mainly because THIS SHOW WAS SO INCREDIBLY FUCKING AWESOME! From the chants, heavy petting was a personal highlight, to seeing some of my new favourite wrestlers and watching Trent Seven and Tyler Bate perform their entrance music live.

Just another normal night at @RIPTIDEwres with @Tyler_Bate and @trentseven doing Sledgehammer live... #wrestling #wwe #nxt pic.twitter.com/2L1UXvgnPi

— Mark Packham (@mark_random) March 2, 2018

Riptide proved something to me that I didn’t even know that couldn’t feel more at home with random strangers getting shitfaced booing people who don’t drink and chanting “Tory wanker” and “fuck him up Simba, fuck him up.” Furthermore, it was great how everyone there was talking to each other and bravo to those who stood for at least three and a half hours.

Seriously, there’s something there (currently here?!) in Brighton. I can’t put it into words but there’s something growing and it’s very, very cool

— Matt Richards (@mrichardshost) March 3, 2018

Minus a few wrestlers, I didn’t know 70% of those who were taking part but I left loving basically everyone. The ones who stood out were David Starr with his lifeguard theme and his fight with Chuck Mambo was incredibly entertaining.

One of my personal highlights from @RIPTIDEwres Brighton Spirit. @TheProductDS @ChuckMambo pic.twitter.com/8L7pi8Y9m5

— Ben Hickman (@MaskedSkull_IV) March 4, 2018

I enjoyed the performance so much I bought his tee.

IMAGE VIA SHAUN WREN

Elsewhere, there was Chris Brookes vs Jonah Rock and the big Aussie/Samoan performed a frog splash that was both beautiful and utterly terrifying and with every couple of moves moved the ring!

IMAGE VIA RIPTIDE WRESTLING/ HEAD DROP

Then the main event triple threat tag match of Moustache Mountain vs South Pacific Power Trip vs Aussie Open, which was just superb with big moments and hard hitting from every team.

IMAGE VIA RIPTIDE WRESTLING/ HEAD DROP

I wish I had more money on me as I wanted to buy a Moustache Mountain and Aussie Open tee.

The only downside was the weather, it was freezing fucking cold, and the journey back, which normally takes less than 40 minutes, took me AN HOUR AND A HALF so Southern Rail can suck my balls.

IMAGE VIA RIPTIDE WRESTLING/ HEAD DROP

Finally, I’m looking forward to the three day weekend (Thursday 2nd – 4th August) to find out who will become the new Brighton Champion and moving forward I can’t see why Riptide Wrestling couldn’t partner up with The Great Escape Festival and put on an incredible show as music and wrestling go hand-in-hand.

Also to anyone reading this, is buying a subscription to Demand Progress worth it?