Mick Foley Discusses the ICW Experience: Fear and Loathing VIII, Grado and More

In November, 4,000 fans filed into the SECC in Glasgow for a night of pro wrestling—an attendance figure quite out of the ordinary for most homegrown promotions. In fact, the crowd was the biggest for a British wrestling brand for more than three decades.

Over the past 10 years, Insane Championship Wrestling has built a passionate following across the United Kingdom and further afield. National television coverage from the BBC and a multitude of clips shared online have exposed the masses to the promotion, as demonstrated by the groundbreaking attendance figures from November.

However, for the eighth annual Fear and Loathing show—the biggest of the year for ICW—the company needed some extra star power. To fill this role, bona fide legend Mick Foley was called upon to act as the promotion's commissioner for one night only.

"I knew the crowd would be super excited, and I knew it had the potential to be a landmark event," said Foley when asked for his thoughts on ICW before appearing on the show. "But I didn't realize that production values would be so high or how well-rounded the card would be."

Credit: David J. Wilson

A six-man "Hell on Earth" match contested within a steel cage and the coronation of the promotion's inaugural women's champion were among the bouts Foley noted as standouts. "I don't like to exclude anyone," Foley continued. "I spent most of my time watching the monitor asking questions."

That being said, the main event of Fear and Loathing VIII was the top priority for many of those in attendance, as fan favourite Grado challenged WWE alumnus Drew Galloway for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship. Heading into the bout as an underdog, Grado walked out as the new champion.

"When I hugged Grado at the end of the show, I felt like he was a mate that I had known for 10 years," Foley told me. The reigning champion left the arena after his win wearing Foley's trademark plaid shirt.

The first exposure many fans in the UK had to Grado came in the form of The British Wrestler, a documentary produced by Vice. Back then, it was an accomplishment in itself for Stevenson's favourite son to get on the card. The Get Grado Booked campaign changed all that.

Grado was something of a comedy act when he first began making appearances for ICW. He was a childhood fan of wrestling attempting to live his dream, and his antics soon gained him acting roles on British television's River City and Scot Squad.

As Grado's legend grew, fans and competitors alike began to take him more seriously. Comedy remains a huge part of his act. As does his hard-earned underdog status. But as he made his entrance to the strains of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" at Fear and Loathing VIII, he stepped into the ring as a viable contender.

It's no easy feat to progress from comic relief to world champion in the world of wrestling. As Grado kicked out of everything Galloway could throw at him in their title match, it was clear he had accomplished what many might have thought impossible.

"Drew vs. Grado left people inflated," Foley said when asked about the match. "Too often people leave shows deflated."

Given his recent comments regarding WWE, you might consider this a jab at his former employer, but that clearly isn't the case. In fact, he compared the crowd's response to the main event of Fear and Loathing VIII to the aftermath of Sasha Banks vs. Bayley from NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

"I think it's the healthiest possible atmosphere," Foley continued, referencing the relationship between WWE and the many other promotions active worldwide. "I don't worry about it negatively affecting WWE in any way because those guys benefit from it."

Ahead of signing with WWE, current NXT champion Finn Balor made several appearances for ICW. With the company's roster arguably far stronger today than it was back then, future stars of NXT and WWE could well be perfecting their craft in Scotland as we speak.

Credit: David J. Wilson

"It's good for everyone," said Foley, explaining his allegiances are no longer to any one company or promotion. "A lot of my loyalty is to the wrestlers—the guys who put their heart and health on the line."

All quotes obtained firsthand.