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So I've seen a couple of threads and references to a Scottish wrestler who goes by the name of "Grado" around here, and watching a couple of videos, he seems to be one of the funniest acts that I've come across on the UK scene at the moment.

 

I'm guessing that his gimmick is based around being a bit slack, as he seemed to be trying to pass off chocolate milkshake and pies as a protein shake and carbs in one video and then screaming to be let down when another guy put him in a fireman's carry.

 

Can anyone explain more about him, this amusing fellow who lives with his "mam"?

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I could explain, but the best thing to do would be to watch a documentary by Vice magazine called "The British Wrestler", that's pretty much where his fame/infamy began:

 

[video=youtube;9mKGXs1BGvY]

 

Have a watch of that and it'll explain where Grado started, then we can probably elaborate a bit better from there.

I wasn't watching ICW when his story started, but I think (and peeps will correct me if I'm wrong) he started out as a superfan kind of guy, trying to get booked - worked, obviously - and then the fans bought into it and it went from there. His match with Cabana at Dave's Not Here Man is probably the most pitch perfect comedy match I've ever seen. It's a thing of beauty.

 

:: EDIT ::

 

Oh, and watch this as a follow up - a BBC documentary on the ICW promotion, featuring a lot of Grado action. Grado phones 118 to ask about hair dye and ends up at Nicky Clark? Genius.

 

[video=youtube;FA-Rj_saAB4]

Yep, he started out as a "fanboy" looking to get booked, and it just captured the imagination of the fans. Then the Vice documentary (which was about to be about British Wrestling in general, but got a little sidetracked) came out, and it made him pretty well known to wrestling fans and hipsters alike.

 

The videos he did leading up to the match with Colt Cabana are well worth a watch too. Especially the first one where Grado goes to the airport to pick Colt up. Just great, great stuff.

I think it may have been the first time Colt was genuinely speechless, ever :D

Because we're nothing if not helpful around here, I'll just leave this video here to save you all going to the hassle of finding it yourselves:

 

[video=youtube;mQT8mSTKO1I]

 

The links to the rest should be in your recommended vids on the youtube sidebar, or once the first video finishes.

 

Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen them yet. Probably worth another watch if you have already seen them. :D

Oh, and watch this as a follow up - a BBC documentary on the ICW promotion, featuring a lot of Grado action. Grado phones 118 to ask about hair dye and ends up at Nicky Clark? Genius.

 

[video=youtube;FA-Rj_saAB4]

And once you're done with that, you might want to catch this.

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/s685tc.jpg

Chris and Inno have pretty much said/linked all that really needs to be on him in terms of where he came from, so all I'll add is that if you ever get the chance to see him live, absolutely do it.

 

He just has an absolute nack for the getting the fans onside side of wrestling. His ability to get hundreds and thousands of people chanting things like Madonna and "roll 'n' slice" is just phenomenal. The absolute poster child for the idea that you don't need to be technically gifted in the ring to get over and be successful in wrestling, as long as the fans can connect with you. He just gets his gimmick perfectly, he knows what the fans like about him and he's able to showcase that brilliantly.

Wow, that's not only answered my questions about Grado, but it's also nicely served up all of the UK wrestling related videos that I've been itching to watch for a while now, so I can watch them when the boss is out of the office and I fancy a nice bit of a skive tomorrow.

 

Watching ICW, it just makes me think that I need to befriend someone in the Scottish fraternity of superfans to see one of their shows and then scab a night on a sofa afterwards.

I'm going to all four in Edinburgh over August with Colt Cabana, can't wait!

 

The brilliant thing about ICW, and I've said it more than once actually, is that you'll go to a show and watch an amazing Colt Cabana vs Grado comedy match that only the most souless of the srz bizniz guys could have a bad word to say about it. And then the next match on the card will be a weapons filled, bloody deathmatch between someone like Jack Jester and Jimmy Havoc. And then after that there will be a brilliant tag team match between teams who actually have gimmicks, and double teams moves and a reason for being together and a mouthpiece. They cover the whole range of the wrestling spectrum so that there will always be something you like.

The best match at Dave's Not Here Man for me was the Last Woman Standing Match with Carmel and Kay Lee Ray, it's absolutely brutal, an incredible match; not just "for women" but in general.
Goodness me, the folks behind ICW do seem to have a fondness for the booze, don't they!

Scottish, man.

 

Also, the TV doesn't do Chris Renfrew's drinking ability justice, I've never seen anyone down pints like this guy.

Scottish, man.

 

Also, the TV doesn't do Chris Renfrew's drinking ability justice, I've never seen anyone down pints like this guy.

 

I did note a slight Glasgow twang about some of the accents, I have to admit!

 

Just didn't want to be the one to mention the stereotype, which I must say is not exclusive by any means, as the accents could easily have been changed to those of my fellow Sheffielders and no one would have noticed a thing different.

 

Nice to see that there's an element of metal/goth fandom running through certain elements of the promotion and its fan-base, another thing that makes me think I could get on with ICW very well indeed.

Some of the matches include rules such as 3 x 5 minute rounds, pint and a JD & Coke must be downed between rounds :)

Just didn't want to be the one to mention the stereotype, which I must say is not exclusive by any means, as the accents could easily have been changed to those of my fellow Sheffielders and no one would have noticed a thing different.

 

I wouldn't worry about it, having drank with them I can assure you the ICW guys don't make any qualms about how much they like the sauce :lol

Oh, and there was this little hidden gem: Rab Florence and Grado and Adam Shame ripping off Robin Thicke:

 

[video=youtube;ZjCZ92Zn7As]

I wouldn't worry about it, having drank with them I can assure you the ICW guys don't make any qualms about how much they like the sauce :lol

 

I don't know about the EBW guys themselves, but a lot of the fans (myself included) like a good amount of raising of the wrist during an event.

There was a Grado sign at the flippin' commonwealth games....

 

BtVP5G7CQAAkWyO.jpg:large

 

not to mention the one at 'mania...

 

http://omg.wthax.org/4C37Jc.png

 

This guy is over as anything on any UK show he goes on. You should see him and Mad Man Manson together...they got a conga line going once at a show

There was an "It's Yersel!" sign during the Marathon at the Commonwealth Games too:

 

http://i.imgur.com/LvnTGFY.jpg

This guy is over as anything on any UK show he goes on. You should see him and Mad Man Manson together...they got a conga line going once at a show

 

Weird, there was a member of the EBW crew wearing a t-shirt with "It's Yersel!" plastered across it at the show on Sunday, and then mid-way through the 30 man rumble, the entire thing turned into a conga line that went up one aisle, into the front of house and then back to the stage via the other aisle, with three bemused-looking heels in the middle of the ring whilst it was going on.

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