We made it to June on the last episode with Dundee & Angus Pro Wrestling at The Queen’s Hotel in Dundee. It was a return to form with a good crowd on hand to elevate the matches with a vocal investment into the action.

Hailee Swift & Moxie Malone defeated Tara Lenny & Nicole Jasmin by pinfall.

Tara Lenny tried to control Hailee Swift from the bell but was quickly countered and sent onto her back over and over by a fired up Swift. Hailee tagged in Moxie Malone with Lenny making a quick exit from the ring, only re-entering to tag in Nicole Jasmin. Moxie wasn’t phased and isolated Jasmin, tagging in Hailee to continue who got caught napping from a Tara distraction for Nicole to chop block Swift to the canvas to swing the momentum back to her team. Lenny was ruthless in bullying Hailee Swift from corner to corner, Swift managed to deliver a jawbreaker to create space and, after a scrap at ringside, a stereo clothesline reset the match.

Hailee got a well rested Moxie in to charge through Tara, a near fall had Lenny scrambling to rake the eyes of Malone. Nicole Jasmin tried to take advantage and found herself taking a rope walk DDT that didn’t quite land. A Helluva Kick from Moxie ended the night for Nicole while Hailee Swift charged into Tara Lenny to stop any further involvement from the FCW Women’s Champion.

Lenny put the boots to Nicole Jasmin by the entrance as Moxie grabbed a microphone and told Tara that she would be her opponent for No Sleep ‘Til Ardler.

The match was fine, I’ve made comments of some finesse just needed to make a flow before but to head in with some positives, Tara Lenny has charisma in spades, you can tell that she relishes in being a vindictive horror who doesn’t care if you’re a fan favourite or a villain, if you fail her she will claw your eyes out. That characteristic is very reminiscent of a past Misfit Moxie Malone who can be a merciless feral animal when she wants to be. Tara staying away from Moxie near the start threaded nicely into Malone putting her name forward as Lenny’s next title challenger, I’m looking forward to seeing that one in the coming weeks.

A very well edited promo from Tommy Cross played that set up the main event for the episode, it captured the Red Gate vibe with the creepy cuts and spookiness.

DAPW Championship – Tommy Cross defeated Sam McMillan by pinfall to retain.

Sam didn’t waste a second in throwing forearms as the first ding of the bell rung before Tommy could even remove his entrance mask. McMillan was hitting fast and a stunning dropkick had Tommy Cross rattled but a meaty lariat from Cross had that flurry ended in a hurry. Tommy slowed the pace down, picking his spots to make Sam squirm in pain, and throwing The Pretty Boy around with ease. McMillan got a lifeless shoulder to keep his hopes alive.

Cross chucked Sam over the ropes to the apron, McMillan perked up with a kick to bring the fight to the floor. Sam dived off the apron with a senton only to be caught and hoisted into a powerbomb position. Tommy rammed the spine of McMillan against the ring post and against the apron. Cross followed up with a release back suplex to the apron to keep the pressure on the back of the challenger. A spirited Sam McMillan rolled through a pop up powerbomb set up as he fought with all he had and got a two count for his efforts. A slingshot lung blower earned Sam another near fall with Tommy Cross retaliating with a TKO for a two count of his own. Cross lawn darted McMillan into the turnbuckle head first and a lariat still couldn’t keep Sam down.

A last ditch step over curb stomp and a hidden blade from McMillan wasn’t enough thanks to a timely foot on the bottom rope from Tommy Cross. Sam stalked Tommy but was lifted up for a pop up powerbomb, transitioned into another powerbomb, and the final nail in the coffin was a cribbie cruncher for The Devil of Red Gate to retain the DAPW Championship.

After a brief interlude of Retro Randy being angry about Sebastian Asher in various places like a Doctor Seuss story, we returned to William McLeod getting Sam motivated for his upcoming match against Ben Rodgers in the Clan Wrestling Clan Chief Tournament match to take place at No Sleep ‘Til Ardler to close the episode.

It’s been a good year for Sam McMillan and this was a match that felt like it was the one that solidified his status as a champion in waiting. He showed fire, and it translated into a sincere crowd reaction to will him on against the big bad Tommy Cross, who got to be a brute and was allowed to manhandle his foe to show how dangerous he can be. It was received well.

A solid episode with story implications integrated to move forward. Sam McMillan’s arc is moving along nicely with some interesting happenings in the women’s division on the road to ArdlerMania.

The show is available on YouTube: