On Friday, April 17th last the Irish Whip Wrestlers arrived in style at the Walter Raleigh Hotel to strut their stuff to their local fans, who were queueing up outside the hotel long before the doors opened at 7pm. Report: Denise Fitzgerald -  Photo: Denise Fitzgerald/Michael Hussey(YoughalOnline.com)

East Cork Journal went along to see what it was all about. The first surprise was the long line of people waiting to go in which included all ages from about four years up to very senior fans. The fans were mostly male, but there were several female fans here and there and believe it or not, they were every bit as vocal (if not more so) than the guys. Excitement was wild, even in the queues, and anticipation very high. When the doors opened, the surge into the room was incredible and it wasn’t long before the first, magnificent wrestler appeared into the ring. Screams of excitement greeted him, as loud from the older fans as it was from the younger. Hands waved in the air, feet stamped the ground and the noise level was unbelievable. No fewer than eight Wrestlers from as far apart as Ireland, England, Scotland and America were competing on the night, and they included Aongus Retunda, Big Vito (W.W.E. Champion), Mandrake (I.W.W. Champion), and Captain Rooney. Referee on the night was Simon Rochford.

The entertainment was hard to describe. There was full audience participation, and conversation between the wrestlers and their fans was continuous and ongoing. Repartee was a big part of the entertainment, with 100% involvement between the very young fans and the Wrestlers. The fans were on their feet for most of the evening waving, shouting commands, congratulating the winning wrestler, commiserating with the loser and generally doing everything except climb into the ring.

Entertainment of this nature is very hard to find. Most ‘shows’ take place on a stage or on a screen and the audience sit quietly and watch. Not so with Irish Whip Wrestling. The camaraderie, involvement and excitement of the fans is incredible and this, in itself, makes its own entertainment. The ballroom of Walter Raleigh was filled to capacity and the show which was put on by the Irish Whip Wrestlers was absolutely fantastic. It was entertaining, amusing, ‘frightening’, exciting, incredible – and the fans soaked it all up. This was a night to be remembered and, as a group of fans told East Cork Journal, “We want more of it – we don’t get half enough”.

So please come back soon, Aongus, Big Vito, Mandrake, Captain Rooney and of course, Simon Rochford who will try once again to keep order in the mayhem.
Irish Whip Wrestling burst onto the European wrestling scene as far back as 2002 with three huge shows which were greeted with delight by Irish wrestling fans, and IwW presented some of the best wrestling talent from the European and UK independent scene. Irish Whip Wrestling is partially named in tribute to an old Cork Wrestler from Ballydehob named Dan O’Mahony who was the world’s first unified Wrestling Champion in 1935.
Becky Grice
Editor
East Cork Journal

Tel. (021) 4638 022
Fax. (021) 4638 927
Email: editor@eastcorkjournal.ie