Insane Championship Wrestling: A New Era of Insanity
In January 2024 Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) announced that founder and owner Mark Dallas had decided to step away from the company and as a result a new chapter was forced upon ICW.
For those unaware of what ICW is think of it as Scotland’s answer to WWE. The company exploded in the late 2010s. They signed partnership deal with WWE and sold out shows at the Hydro. However, COVID snatched the companies momentum. Their partnership with WWE ended in 2023, and Dallas followed a year later. So, how has the self-proclaimed ‘New Era’ of ICW gone?
For so long ICW and Mark Dallas were synonymous with one another but the decision for him to step away from the company was not one that surprised Barry Strachan, the owner of the Scottish Wrestling Network. He stated this about how Dallas was towards the end of his tenure at ICW
“his name was on the door but he wasn’t answering it”
It was not just the loss of Dallas that has altered the company but also the ending of their WWE collaboration. Partnerships with WWE are extremely controversial in the world of professional wrestling. They are the biggest player in the game and by partnering with these companies and somewhat influencing them it feels like the business is being monopolised. Often companies lose their charm. Strachan stated this regarding the two companies partnership,
“it had name value but may have diluted the product somewhat.”
With WWE and Dallas gone ICW changed approach. Their weekly show ‘Fight Club’ came to an end and the company moved in the direction of less events but more substance. Strachan felt this has paid off, stating that the company was,
“a premier place for wrestling once again”
And that,
“the last year they have been firing on all cylinders”
The change in event formatting is not the companies only manoeuvre in this new era. After WWE ‘dilution’ there has been a slow, reintroduction of the beloved violence that helped make the company what it was.
Strachan helped explain how the company had changed their in ring approach,
“last year they ground down to where they were as far as in ring content goes with a variety of wrestling and added violence”
The new era requires new stars. ICW has been a company who could pride themselves on elevating talent to the next level beyond just wrestling. They helped foster stars such as Grado, who has since gone onto mainstream fame with television and radio shows. Similarly former star Jack Jester has gone onto to work in the entertainment industry with the BBC. Their biggest star was once Drew McIntyre who is now one of WWE’s biggest stars. This has left enormous shoes to fill.
The company has opted for a blended approach, mixing both veteran talent with youth to grow the rosters talent pool. Their led by former WWE wrestler Kenny Williams, who is their World Champion but it is their young stars who are the most eye catching. Landon Riley, Colton Davis and Ben Rodgers are all highly visible in the companies shows and storylines. However, it’s their social media where they are most visible. Social media has become a real valuable tool for the new ICW, with their quick and frequent social media content. Strachan shared how he felt this was a positive considering the modern direction of wrestling,
“social media is probably the most important thing in wrestling nowadays”
Their Instagram is home to over 46,000 followers and is now a place for stories to develop alongside modern, online fans.
The most important element of the new era is the fans. ICW is notorious for its loyal and passionate fan community who the company has grown alongside. So how has the fans supported this new chapter in the company’s history? Strachan was able to provide some insight stating,
“It’s evolved to a point where because you can watch it online, its grown worldwide it might not be as loud, passionate in the building as it once was”
Change in management and business partnerships has meant ICW has been forced to adapt. The company has had to head in a new direction. However, with the help of young stars and social media they are beginning to fuse the old and new ICW into something that is once again cementing ICW at the forefront of independent wrestling in the UK and Scotland.
Deep down they will never lose the essence of Dallas and why should they?
“We will take you on a rollercoaster ride, allow you to forget about the trials and tribulations of day to day life, escape reality, get drunk with your pals and shout at the people you hate and love.” – Mark Dallas, 2017
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