Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) has had a brilliant 2022. Selling out Fight Club tapings every fortnight throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, having quality pay-per-view events at fantastic locations, while developing homegrown stars and allowing them to showcase their work.
This year, the likes of Daz Black, KOE and Leyton Buzzard built on their quality and work ethic as they each won titles. All of these acts have honed their crafts within ICW and are proving themselves week in and week out as the future stars of British wrestling.
This got me thinking about the future of ICW, and who could make a name for themselves in 2023. With such a talented roster, it was very difficult to narrow this list down and a lot of stars were unlucky not to make this list. Below are a few honourable mentions, who all could easily have been on the list:
- The Young Team (Logan Smith and Jimmy Pierce) – undoubtedly future tag champions within the company, excellent stars with all the talent in the world. Putting on great matches with the likes of KOE in Iron Girders Pro Wrestling as well as The Manifesto in ICW, I have no doubt that these two young men will succeed and have a great 2023.
- Che Monet – a breath of fresh air within the British scene, Monet has created a fascinating gimmick which is something rarely seen these days. His determination to represent the LGBTQ community is fantastic to see and he has put on stellar matches, including the ladder match at Fear & Loathing XIV. Keep your eyes on Monet, I have just the booking scenario for “Mother” in the future…
- Daz Black – I felt it was cheating to put Daz Black on this list. He is easily one of the hottest prospects and I can see him having a fantastic future. In my eyes, he is a future ICW World Champion for sure. The only reason he is an honourable mention is that he has already been one of the biggest stars of 2022, winning the Zero G title twice.
Now we have got the honourable mentions out of the way, here are my choices to be the breakout stars of 2023.
- Levi
Levi is a phenomenal star. At such a young age (23), he has built up a reputation within the Scottish Independent scene as a work horse and someone who will give 110% no matter what he’s tasked with.
His knowledge of the business is something to be admired along with his willingness to improve. At recent Fight Club tapings, Levi took on Kenny Williams in an incredible match against one of the best to ever come from the British scene, which will be worth viewing when it becomes available on the WWE Network.
Recently, he became Iron Girders Pro Wrestling’s inaugural champion as well, the first of many championships I see on the road for Levi. He was my pick to win the Fear & Loathing XIV ladder match – which guaranteed a Zero G title opportunity at the 11th annual Square Go! in Febuary – and whilst he didn’t, I have no doubt that Levi will make 2023 his because as he says: Levi doesn’t die.
- Dylan Thorn
Dylan Thorn is an excellent professional wrestler. His work in 2022 was incredible, going from a member of The Manifesto and Alexander Darwin Macallan (ADM)’s puppet while holding the Zero G title, to breaking out of them shackles leading to a massive victory over his former mentor in a last man standing match.
That’s just the start of it for Dylan Thorn. His charisma, likability with the crowd and talent within the squared circle shows to me just how far he can go in 2023. I once again predict Thorn to win the Zero G title in 2023, hold it for much longer and cement himself as one of ICW’s best – this time as a solo act without the need for a mouthpiece.
I would love for him to drop the belt after a solid reign (perhaps to Levi in what would be a stormer of a match) and challenge for the world title. Keep your eye on Dylan Thorn, he’s a star.
- Jason Reed
Jason Reed has got it all. He has the look; he has the promo skills; and he has the talent.
“The Staunch Superstar” has had some stormers in ICW thus far and I don’t expect that to slow down. His partnership with Coach Tripp is incredible and the pairing go together fantastically. Having been privileged enough to have a one on one interview with Reed, he told me he might have title aspirations going forward, and that is something I can back to the fullest.
Having won big matches throughout the year, recently beating Andy Wild at Fear & Loathing XIV in a fantastic match, there is no doubt in my mind that 2023 is the year of “The Staunch Superstar.”
We joked that if he won a belt he would have to be called the ”We are the People’s champ” in a play on his catchphrase – and that is a vision I can see happening. Momentum keeps building for Reed, and I seriously make him a title contender for Leyton Buzzard’s World Championship. Perhaps Reed can even take it off him and fulfil his destiny as the “We are the People’s Champ” in 2023.
I cannot wait to see how 2023 goes for ICW. There are far too many potential classics, and with Square Go season approaching, anything can happen within the walls of Insane Championship Wrestling.
