ICW set for Bank Holiday Hawners tournament

People in Glasgow will be very familiar with the term ‘Hawners’.

It’s what you’d shout as a kid when you were getting jumped by a group of bullies and needed your mates to come help you out.

This coming Sunday, our own Insane Championship Wrestling look set to take Hawners to the next stage.

The Scottish wrestling promotion will host their first ever King of Hawners tournament this coming Bank holiday weekend. It will see eight teams of three take part in a single elimination knockout to determine who is the best group in wrestling today.

Here, our own Steven Wilson takes a look at the teams involved and give our predictions on how has the best Hawners.

Bad Company

One of ICW’s most established factions, the group of BT Gunn, Stevie James and Krobar should be considered one of the standouts of the field.

However, it is fair to say that the luck of the draw isn’t with them as they are scheduled to face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

Both groups have squared off regularly over the past few months so should be no stranger to each other.

However, given the Mavericks status as the go-to team of company owner Mark Dallas, expect Bad Company to fall foul of under handed tactics to go home early in this one.

Prediction – First Round

Anti Fun Police

These three really are a bad fit for our lovely city. Totally against having any fun what so ever.

Despite this, the team of the Anti Fun Police have impressed the ICW fan base since making their debut with the company at the start of 2019.

They have primarily seen themselves up against Jack Jester and Sha Samuels in that time, and the Hawners tournament is no different.

Their first round opponents are none other than the Sinky Party – Jester, Samuels and Liam Thomson – who many think are the favourites to go all the way.

It is for this reason that, despite probably having the ability to put on a solid showing, the Anti Fun Police won’t be having a great time by the time Sunday comes around.

Prediction – First Round

Power Forward

The mysterious trio of masked men known as Power Forward have been a thorn in the side of the roster since their arrival this year.

After weeks of sneak attacks on a number of wrestlers, they finally shown where their alligences lay at the Square Go. That night they sided themselves with NXT UK star Mark Coffey.

Their opponents in the first round are The Wild Boys, another one of the tournament front runners. Power Forward are huge outsiders over the two nights, given the aspect of the unknown with them that we haven’t seen much of them in action in ICW. That and the fact we still aren’t certain who is behind the masks.

The three vigilantes will most likely be more focused in their efforts to aid Coffey. This would mean that this tournament will likely be an after thought to them.

Prediction – First Round

Kings of the North

Many will be familiar with Adam Maxted – Love Island fans especially. His partners in the Kings of the North however are a fairly unknown entity.

The hard hitting duo have made waves over in their native Ireland as one of the best tag teams in Over The Top Wrestling.

Add in Maxted, who has became a solid competitor in the last 12 months across the UK, creates a fairly formidable trio.

Their match with More Than Hype is a matchout that can go either way. Despite both being very good teams, the experience that MTH have as a trio over KON will probably see them shade this one.

Prediction – First Round

Sinky Party

You couldn’t have a tag team related tournament in ICW without including Jack Jester and Sha Samuels.

The beer drinking duo have been the foundation of the company’s tag team division since 2018.

They recruited the Bad Boy Liam Thomson as their back up for this one. Liam himself is having a purple patch in the sport. His battle over his sink last year was a company highlight in recent times.

Sinky Party will no doubt be the sentimental favourites amongst the fans, but will that be enough?

Their potential semi final opponents are the Mavericks, who will likely prove far too underhanded.

Prediction – Semi Finals

Wild Boys

Kieran Kelly and Andy Wild have presented themselves as the anti authority voices of the company in 2019.

They have recently been joined by Aaron Echo, leading to the establishment of The Wild Boys.

This interesting mix of youth and experience should make the trio very exciting to watch.

Their quarter final match up with Power Forward has the potential to be the pick of the first round matches. Whilst I expect them to win that match, don’t be surprise to see the masked men or someone else on the roster play a part in Wild and Co missing out on a place in the final.

Prediction – Semi Final

More Than Hype

Despite being a self confessed ‘wrestling nut’, this writer hasn’t seen an awful lot of More Than Hype.

However, based on what I’ve heard, they are an exciting group who just seem to get better and better with every match.

The announcement of their ICW debut was met with great hype (pardon the pun) by a big section of the fan base.

Whilst some might not give them much of a chance as an outside trio, I think that them getting a run to the final. It will help give the tournament a sense of unpredictability, whilst also establishing the group as a team that ICW can call on time and time again.

Prediction – Final

Dallas Mavericks

Being the chosen trio of Mark Dallas, it’s fair to say that odds are firmly stacked in the favour of Joe Hendry, Ravie Davie and Kez Evans.

To some, it’s only a matter of time before the Prestigious One Hendry becomes the top man in the company. He was heavily favoured to win February’s Square Go match but ultimately came up just short.

The inaugural King of Hawners tournament presents the next chance for him to make his name in ICW. And it’s almost certain that Hendry and his team will do whatever it takes to come out victorious.

A potential spanner in the works might be the other Maverick in Leyton Buzzard. The Prestigious Intern has shouldered the blame for the groups recent failings. So much so that he has been benched for this tournament.

However, it’s much more likely that he will make his presence felt after the night is over.

Prediction – Winner

ICW: King of Hawners takes place May 26^th and 27^th at Glasgow’s Garage Nightclub. Tickets for both nights are available from Ticketmaster.

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