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Report by Jack Cooledge
On Saturday 25th November, Union Wrestling was back at Theatre John Ambrose for its monthly installment of the ‘Beat The Champion’ Tournament. Whilst we welcomed familiar faces to the squared circle of Ruthin, spectators were very excited to see fresh competition. As always, many thanks to our sponsors who were in attendance PINE & OAK DIRECT LTD, THE PARK PLACE and SP KELL ACCOUNTANTS LTD for their continued support of UNION WRESTLING.
Master of Ceremonies DAFYDD VAUGHAN welcomed the raucous crowd to the home of UNION WRESTLING at Theatre John Amrbose on Mold Road. The evening started by finding a willing spectator to pick out of a hat the challenger for the ‘Beat The Champion’ Tournament against "SLIM" JIM BRENNAN, as he looked to continue on his path to the £2000 grand prize. One of the youngest in attendance, but definitely the loudest was selected to draw “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN’s opponent and was gifted with a brand-new UNION WRESTLING t-shirt. JIMMY JACKSON was selected, a former EUROPEAN LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION, who would prove to be a very tough match up for the crowd favourite “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN.
All bouts on the evening were sanctioned and judged by 7-time Mid-Heavyweight World Champion and current European and British Wrestling Commissioner, MARTY JONES.
Our first bout of the evening welcomed back everyone’s favorite local Welshman, welterweight THOMAS WILLIAMS of Mold [5ft 11”, 70kg] who faced off against Heavyweight JOHNNY PALMER of Solihull [5ft 11”, 127kg] in a 6 round contest where two pin falls, two submissions or one knockout is required to decide the winner. Each round lasting 4 minutes if they go the distance. The opening round was back and forth, with no one taking a real advantage, THOMAS with the better shots but no front runner. In round 2, JOHNNY PALMER gained a pinfall against THOMAS halfway through the round after a bruising couple of minutes. 3rd round was edgy, with neither wrestler making any progress on the other. JOHNNY PALMER had seemingly taken hold of the match, looking like it maybe a routine win, before being issued with a yellow card for not releasing on the ropes (with 3 yellows equaling a red card), this break allowed for THOMAS WILLIAMS to regroup and hit JOHNNY PALMER with a flurry of body tackles and a devastating drop kick to the jaw proving one too many as JOHNNY PALMER could not beat the 10 count, giving THOMAS WILLIAMS the victory by way of KNOCKOUT.
Our next contest of the evening would bring back two familiar faces to the fans of Ruthin. Lightning Lightweight LEE DANIELS of Stockport [6ft, 66kg] would be up against the mauling monster Heavyweight JOSHUA KEMPER of Leeds [6ft 7”, 114kg], with the winner facing off against THOMAS WILLIAMS later in the evening.
KEMPER was chasing DANIELS in the 1st round, with DANIELS trying to find a chink in KEMPERS armour. A slow and frustrating opening round angered KEMPER as he took out his frustration on DANIELS in round 2, pinning him halfway through round 2, before quickly finishing the job in round 3 with a further pinfall 1 minute into round 3.
KEMPER would face THOMAS WILLIAMS later in the evening, with the victor having a chance to compete in the ‘Beat The Champion’ Tournament on our next event on Saturday December 30th.
The 3rd contest of the evening welcomed back Light Heavyweight CONNOR MAXSON of Penrith [5ft 10”, 86kg] who, last month, took “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN the distance in our main event in October. He would face off with debutant “JUMPING” JIMMY WRIGHT of Gloucester [6ft 4”, 104kg] in a 6-round contest, where again two pin falls, two submissions or one knockout is required to decide the winner, with each round lasting 3 minutes.
MAXSON keeping up appearances and not learning his lesson from last time was brandished a yellow card from referee THOMAS PHILLPOTTS for illegal use of ropes during the opening round. MAXSON concentrated his efforts on the knee of JIMMY WRIGHT who was in clear discomfort. MAXSON dominated the opening rounds of this contest and secured the pinfall 90 seconds into the 3rd round after a relentless onslaught. JIMMY WRIGHT responded in the 4th by living up to his reputable name of “JUMPING” JIMMY WRIGHT as he caught MAXSON off-guard and delivered a high cross body to secure his own pinfall 1 minute 38 seconds into the 4th. MAXSON furious with WRIGHT, focused his frustrations as he concentrated his efforts solely on the knee of WRIGHT, as MAXSON got the submission against WRIGHT 24 seconds into the 5th round through a perfectly executed figure 4 lock.
After a brief interval, the Ruthin crowd were eagerly awaiting the penultimate bout of the evening which would feature our 2 victors from earlier in the night, with the winner of this contest facing off against the winner of the main event of the evening at our next wrestling event on Saturday December 30th.
JOSHUA KEMPER, an immensely strong Heavyweight spent round 1 chasing down THOMAS WILLIAMS, who seemed to be following the same tactics of his friend LEE DANIELS in the earlier bout. KEMPER, however, levelled THOMAS WILLIAMS as soon as he was able to get a hold of him. KEMPER would smash his way to victory in painful fashion, choke slamming WILLIAMS for the first pinfall, 74 seconds into round 2. WILLIAMS clearly not fully recovered was man handled again as KEMPER finished WILLIAMS off with a 12-foot powerbomb in the 4th round for the second and winning pinfall at 29 seconds in.
Our main event of the evening featured the pundits and crowd favourite “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN of Manchester [6’1”, 87Kg], as he continued on his quest in the ‘BEAT THE CHAMPION’ Tournament and take another step towards winning the £2000 grand prize. In his way, a former European Lightweight Champion, JIMMY JACKSON of Bradford [6’0”, 84kg] who was accompanied to the ring by his security guard, JOEL COBURN [6ft 5”, 130kg]. Referee THOMAS PHILLPOTTS had his work cut out as regular interferences from JOEL COBURN allowed for JIMMY JACKSON to catch “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN in precarious positions, gaining an early advantage with the influence of COBURN. Early in the 2nd, JOEL COBURN was issued with a yellow card for match interference at the request of Judge MARTY JONES.
JACKSON inflicted further damage to the ‘NEWCOMER WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 2021’ “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN as the rounds progressed. JIMMY JACKSON secured a pinfall early in the 3rd round thanks again to the aid of JOEL COBURN. COBURN was finally ejected by referee THOMAS PHILPOTTS, again with thanks to MARTY JONES who demanded the referee take action against the unwanted influence.
“SLIM” quickly turned fortunes in his favour, submitting JACKSON midway through the 4th to even it up with a front face lock. BRENNAN continued his renewed vigour well into the 6th round with an incredible underhook butterfly suplex to JACKSON for the winning pinfall. BRENNAN now continues his journey in the ‘BEAT THE CHAMPION’ Tournament for the £2000 grand prize, with the 4th leg challenger, decided in the previous contest, as being JOSHUA KEMPER.
During “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN’s celebrations post-match, he was unfortunately attacked by his next challenger JOSHUA KEMPER. BRENNAN held up his own in the unsporting conflict and dealt as much as he took against the big man from Leeds. With all in attendance demanding the chaos to end, it took all wrestlers, cornermen and local men in the crowd to break the two fighters up. “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN standing strong after the skirmish welcomed KEMPER’s challenge, BRENNAN stating he seeks to prove his fighting ability on Saturday December 30th against the massive JOSHUA KEMPER.
This is the biggest challenge “SLIM” JIM BRENNAN has had to face to date! This match is not a match to be missed!
Tickets for this match can be purchased HERE
As always, thank you to all in attendance for the evening. Keep an eye out on our Union Wrestling Facebook and Instagram pages for up-to-date information and news; @UnionWrestling. Tickets are on sale and available through our website www.unionwrestling.co.uk