RIPTIDE RECAP: RIPTIDE RUMBLE

Hey everyone! First up SPOILER ALERT - if you are avoiding the results of the Riptide Rumble for any reason - do not read on!

I'll be revealing the outcome of every match followed by a few thoughts about each one in general, but I'll hold back on some of the details so that when you watch it on Riptide On Demand - you'll at least get some surprises!

MATCH 1: Candy Floss vs Chakara
RESULT: Candy Floss wins via Submission

• Was great to see Candy back from Japan, and looking like she has a real streak of ruthlessness now - which I'm definitely a fan of. Chants of "welcome home" broke out and I have to say she really does feel like one of our own at this point. 
• I think I pretty much understand what 'fleek' means, but 'ashy' I'm still not too sure about. Overall, I think Chakara and Candy were closer to the former rather than the latter on the night though.
• Much as Chakara gets booed, if they teamed her with Candy and made her the broody reluctant one, I'd buy her as a face. Liked or hated, she's certainly very talented.
• Cara Noir again appeared after the bell to interfere with Candy in his own special way, she got a few shots in this time, but the black swan certainly left his mark. I have absolutely no idea where this feud is going, but colour me very curious.

MATCH 2: Spike Trivet vs Mike Bird - BCT Qualifier
RESULT: Trivet wins via Pinfall

• Trivet and Bird was as vicious as expected, but their interplay throughout sold the match. Some great near falls and even though I think people expected Spike to win, even I was questioning that stance at certain points.
• Never did I expect to be encouraging a man to get his nipples out on a Friday night in Brighton - but it happened.
• Bird may be one of the most underrated wrestlers on the scene. He always seems to put on a barnstormer of a match whenever I've had the fortune to see him in action.
• Round of applause to Money vs Everybody who found a way to help Spike even though they had been banned from ringside. I like to think the crowd were compared to a spanner, but I think Spike was suggesting we were tools.
• The weird thing is everyone boos MvsE, and justifiably so as heels, but they're so damn funny sometimes you can't help but laugh - particularly in the case of Trivet. I have the same feelings about Gideon Grey too.
• So Spike made it through to the BCT, I think we all felt it coming, but now its happened I'm glad. He kinda sorta deserves it despite his underhand tactics. Let's just hope he draws Walter in the first round!

MATCH 3: Jack Sexsmith vs David Starr
RESULT: Starr wins via Pinfall

• This was was an absolute all out war. Not in the sense that there were weapons or blood, but more that they just gave everything they had to beat each other. Honestly, it might have overtaken Banks vs Bailey as my all-time favourite Riptide match.
• After slightly questioning where Jack was going with his character last time out, I think we saw more clearly at the Rumble. Yes, he's a good guy, but he wants to be more, he wants to be better. You can't do that being friends with everyone and he earned a ton of respect going toe-to-toe against Starr with that mindset last night.
• I've been a fan of Starr for a while, but more his character rather than his wrestling. Totally changed my mind last night, boy oh boy he put on a clinic. Changed my outlook on him completely and I'm very happy to have my view corrected.
• I honestly think Sexsmith might be one of the best sellers in the whole business right now. He makes you believe he is getting destroyed and you need that belief to fully embrace the eventual comeback. Playing with those emotions is what hooks you into a match and I was 100% line and sinker on this one.

MATCH 4: Team Whitewolf (Chase & A-Kid) vs GYV (Gibson & Drake) - Attack! Pro Tag Team Title Match
RESULT: Team Whitewolf retains via Pinfall

• Team Whitewolf are already solidifying their credentials on the British scene and this impressive performance was no exception. I feel like they just need something a little extra to put them into the real upper echelons of that division - whatever that something is, I'm confident it'll come sooner rather than later.
• GYV did what they do, put on a clinic of tag team wrestling and turned the heat up to 11. They do the little things so well, the psychological stuff, and it just makes them enjoyable to watch - watch them lose anyway!
• I've said it once, but I'll say it again, Gibson getting booed = wall of sound. 
• Fun fact, as you may have seen mentioned before, this is the first ever time a title of any kind has been on the line at a Riptide show. Definitely won't be the last though!

MATCH 5: Money vs Everybody (Moser & Ridgeway) vs M&M (Mills & Mayhew)
RESULT: Money vs Everybody wins via Pinfall

• The next match was the one slight blot on an otherwise spotless copybook, and it was mostly down to the second rope breaking about a minute or two into the action. 
• Although the crew tried to fix it, and the guys worked round it - it was a distraction to the crowd and I think somewhat of a distraction in the ring too.
• It was nobody's fault, and goodness knows in indie wrestling rings do break, but I guess amongst a series of great matches, it just stuck out as an okay one. My gut says in all honesty, that match again - with a working second rope and a crowd concentrating on the action - turns out way way better.
• Moser hit the 'Chair Thing' on Maverick again, second event in a row on him, and second time on the night on MvsE opponents. Am I the only one wondering if one of these attacks will ever get broken up before someone gets their ankle crushed?

MATCH 6: Jinny vs Jimmy Havoc - No DQ Match
RESULT: Jinny wins via Pinfall

• The battle of mentor against pupil absolutely delivered as promised. Jinny proved she could not only match up to Jimmy, but actually defeat him and Jimmy proved he's hard as absolute nails - which I think we already knew to be fair.
• Weapons used (from memory) included: Tables, Chairs, Thumb Tacks, Baking Trays, a Cheese Grater and a Staple Gun. Oh and they bit each other.
• The table broke this time - hooray!
• Even though this was a No DQ match, which effectively makes it 'hardcore' rules, the way it had been built up meant that it was so much more than just people bleeding and having their heads caved in with a chair. I congratulate both Jinny and Jimmy as well as Riptide for how this feud was constructed - because everyone there was enthralled by this match.
• After the bell Jimmy confessed that he does now respect Jinny and that the Riptide tag team division should watch out because these two are coming for them!
• Firstly, tag division, yes please. Secondly, tag division means tag titles at some point - definitely yes please!

MATCH 7: Riptide Rumble (Winner enters the BCT)
WINNER: Chuck Mambo

• This match was an absolute stroke of genius, so mega congrats Riptide I applaud you!
• The balance was just right, in a match this long you need all elements of wrestling to be present and they were - in just the right doses.
• In the realms of comedy we had the likes of a Too Cool tribute, Lord Gideon Grey attempting to take a nap, Lion Kid wreaking havoc with Simba, and Kip Sabian's "ring apron of invisibility".
• We had surprises, boy did we have them - Flash Morgan Webster assaulting Charlie Morgan and stealing her spot, two metre Peter putting in a cameo, an appearance by some overly aggressive Vegans, Los Federales Jr having fun, and several debuts including Shax, Pastor William Eaver and the rather awesome Viper (please come back).
• Although with space at a premium there wasn't a ton of actual grappling, it all worked very well. Most entrants got a spot or two in and there were some great near-eliminations that had you believing one of the favourites was going out.
• Two performances I'd like to highlight, Sierra Loxton and Fraser Thomas, both of whom were in the Rumble for a good amount of time, got stuck in, and really put in the work. I for one really appreciated their efforts.  
• I think in discussions with friends we felt like Mambo was the favourite to win, but it worked out great because at no point during the match did I feel anywhere near as confident as I had, but he did eventually win, so I was more than happy.
• I think like many people, when Eddie Dennis came out at to congratulate Chuck, I thought he was going to turn and beat our beach buddy down. I was rather relieved that he didn't, although the match he set up next month with Mambo's BCT spot on the line still sounds like risky business. 

Overall, in my humble opinion, this was the best event Riptide have put on to date and long may this run of awesome shows continue! Can't wait for International Waters!

That's all for this edition of the Riptide Recap, hopefully it has been worth reading, somewhat enjoyable, and created a few talking points. These are just my own opinions so it's fine to disagree!

If you haven't already, do check out our interviews with Rumble participants Kurtis Chapman and Rhia O'Reilly that we have published in recent weeks.

As always if you'd like to talk or debate any of the subjects mentioned, come find us on Twitter @RiptideWresFans