It is that time of year again for Irish Wrestling fans as we approach Scrappermania 4 the biggest date in the Irish wrestling calendar. Last year saw the debut of the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) as well as the “Six Star Man” Kenny Omega. How has OTT followed that up? By bringing one of the most stacked cards you will see anywhere in the world as we have Keith Lee, Minoru Suzuki, Tomohiro Ishii and Will Ospreay to name a few. Scrappermania 4 is sure to be a must-see show for any wrestling fan and another great night for Irish wrestling fans.
Golden Contract Match: Scotty Davis, Tyler Bate & Mark Haskins vs LJ Cleary, Shane Strickland & David Starr
This starts off as a six-man tag where the winning team will IMMEDIATELY go at it in a triple threat match to earn a world title opportunity. There are some interesting dynamics in play with Davis and Haskins having some bad blood, after Haskins blatantly disrespected him after their match at Martina’s Gaff Party. There’s also how Bate settles in with two men he has never teamed with. And on the other side, we have an extremely random team with Gender Neutral Champion LJ Cleary, “The King of Swerve” Strickland and the man of too many nicknames to type David Starr. This match is pure craziness but it’s all the better for it. There are some amazing wrestlers involved and a lot of pedigree. The first ever WWE United Kingdom Champion, a former NLW and PROGRESS champion, the current Best Of The Best winner and the Gender neutral champion are all in this match and no matter which team wins the subsequent triple threat will rule.
Match 2: Kings Of The North ( Bonesaw, Damian Corvin & Dunkan Disorderly) vs Adam Brookes & Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
The Kings Of The North are FINE. Ever since losing their tag team titles things have not gone well for them. With the tag duo of Bonesaw and Corvin losing to Aussie Open and Angel Cruzers and Disorderly losing to Brookes at Gaff Party thanks to a low blow. The tension is high among the trio as Corvin and Bonesaw are at each other’s throat and the wheels are seemingly coming off for the once unstoppable Kings. Corvin’s comments in a recent promo seem to indicate that a loss here could spell the end for the Kings. If their career really is on the line they picked stiff opposition to put it on the line against. Aussie Open already holds a win over the Kings becoming the first tag team to actually beat the KOTN in a 2 vs 2 scenario since The Gymnasties in May 2016. Adam Brookes is talented in his own regard and will do anything to get a win, as proven by his previous behaviour. This 6 man will be hectic and emotional as fans may see the end of one of Ireland’s greatest tag teams.
OTT Tag Team Championship Match: The Rapture (Charlie Sterling & Zack Gibson) (c) vs Angel Cruzers (B. Cool & Angel Cruz) w/ Team P. Rick
A tale as old as wrestling. The hated “foreign” heels vs the beloved local babyfaces. The Rapture captured the titles at Homecoming in February dethroning the dominant Kings of The North and shocking everyone in attendance. Gibson and Sterling are truly despised in Dublin and the crowd would love nothing more than seeing them lose to the Cruzers. For the Cruzers this would culminate an emotional period for the team as they have finally gotten back on the same page after months of arguing. What’s more is how much this means to the two individuals. Cruz has cycled through tag partners in an effort to finally win these tag belts, has he finally found the perfect partner? For Cool this is a chance to heal the scars of the Gymnasties breakup and win the titles again.
OTT Women’s Championship Match: Sammii Jayne (c) vs Valkyrie
“Sammii 5-Belts” makes the first defence of her newly won OTT Women’s championship. Her shock title win at Defiant left many in the crowd confused but she managed to get over as a heel throughout the night and her win was met with the desired reaction. Katie Harvey was originally meant to be the Number 1 contender but the Queen of Irish wrestling admitted that Valkrie had kicked out in their match at Defiant and that she should not have won the match. Because of this, she has given Valkyrie her shot. Valkyrie is one of the most talented wrestlers in Ireland regardless of gender. Be it at Fight Factory or OTT she has put on killer matches while also making a name for herself elsewhere in Europe. The talented young prospect will give anything to be OTT women’s champion and she will bring her A game. A potential show stealer is just what the Women’s division needs to prove Defiant wasn’t a flash in the pan and with the two women involved this has all the makings of a classic.
Match 5: Matt Riddle vs Will Ospreay
These two met recently at the WWN Supershow and put on the best non-WWE match of the entire weekend. Two of the best independent wrestlers in the world meeting in a ring is always guaranteed to deliver especially when it’s these two. Riddle and Ospreay are known for wrestling at 100% in every match whether there is five fans or 5,000. What makes the match so interesting is the styles clash. Riddle is the MMA influenced powerhouse that likes to trade stiff shots and overpower his opponents. Ospreay is the athletic Junior who uses his incredible speed and agility to take down his opponents. The names involved alone should have any fan excited and with such a big crowd this could end up being better than their WWN match.
Match 6: Jeff Cobb vs Tomohiro Ishii
The Stone Pitbull Tomohiro Ishii makes his OTT debut and what a match they have for him. These two met at the Wrestlecon Supershow this year in a match that received positive reviews from most people. Ishii is the perfect opponent for someone like Cobb. His underdog charisma and fighting style lend themselves to seeing him get manhandled by Mr Athletic. If these two go out there and have a beefy match full of forearm exchanges and german suplexes there will be no complaints from anyone in the live audience.
Match 7: Keith Lee vs Minoru Suzuki
Look at the two names involved. Simply look at the names. This is a dream match that any promotion in the world would kill to have on their card and judging by the fact Lee is WWE bound this may be the only time we see this match happen. Any match between two extremely charismatic individuals will never fail to impress. Beyond that you have two exceptional workers- Lee is a powerhouse that could lift up Braun Strowman with ease and also do a flawless Tope Con Giro. Across from him is the baddest man in wrestling Minoru Suzuki. He has a very strong shoot-style influence that he incorporates seamlessly with strong style. What is so good is these two are tough SOB’s and the striking exchanges are going to be sick. The thoughts of Lee hitting a spirit bomb on Suzuki or trying to pounce him should fill any fan with glee. There is no better way to sell this match than looking at the two names involved
OTT World Heavyweight Championship: Jordan Devlin (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr.
The Import Killer will attempt to kill one of the most talented imports out there. For anyone that doesn’t know ZSJ is the best technical wrestler in the world. The amount of ways he can tie an opponent into knots is astounding and his physicality is something else! His uppercuts are jaw breaking and his Penalty Kick has slain many a foe. Jordan Devlin is more than up for the challenge. A very good technician in his own right he won’t be afraid to take ZSJ’s best shots and return them in kind. Devlin’s reign faces it’s toughest test as one of the world’s best knocks on the door. But this is the National Stadium and Devlin will have 2000+ rabid Irish wrestling fans behind him as he goes to war with the Submission Master Zack Sabre Junior.
