Fight Factory Wrestling left fans with a show to remember with their return to The Drill on April 5.
Taking place on Easter Sunday, a sold-out crowd filled the Lincoln city centre venue to witness the local promotion make its return to the building for 2026, which will also host its biggest show of the year, Bodyslams to Cancer, in October.
Kicking off the show was Ripper vs. Crook. Although it appeared that Ripper had the match won, Malika’s music played to distract the former FFW Junior Heavyweight Champion, leading to Crook capitalising to pick up the win in the opening match.
Up next was Eliza Roux vs. Kiya to determine who would face Lana Austin [and possibly her best friend Hollie Barlow] for the FFW Ladies Championship. Unfortunately, injury concerns hit the match early as Roux appeared to land badly on her shoulder. Referee Danny Marks threw up the X signal and medical checked on Roux, who was later cleared to continue. Targeting the injury, Kiya ultimately won the match by submission and is now next in line to challenge for FFW’s top women’s title.
Following a war of words via video packages, the next match saw Academy Champion AJ Loeve put his title on the line against J.O.C. Following a fun back-and-forth between both wrestlers, the match ultimately ended in DQ when Crook attacked Loeve. AJ’s brother, TJ, made the save, challenging Crook and J.O.C to a tag match at the next FFW event.
The first half main event saw the Tag Team Championships up for grabs as The Maulers put their title on the line against HMD and Maxwell and the trio of Mike-Raphone, Strap and Ace Matthews. Even though they were allowed to compete as a trio, Mike-Raphone and Matthews mainly competed as a duo as Strap was taken out of the match repeatedly. With action taking place all over the ring and at ringside, The Maulers stood tall to retain their championships in what looked to be the closing point of the first half, until the aftermath occurred.
Although the tag titles were successfully defended in the chaotic bout, Gunnarson’s luck would run out shortly after the bell rang. With the Anarchy Champion alone in the ring, Strap capitalised on the 24/7 rule to pin Gunnarson and win the title, much to the delight of the Lincoln fans, many of whom had signs and shirts in support of the masked wrestler.
Kicking off the second half, new FFW Junior Heavyweight Champion Carter put his title on the line against George Hunter, who has previously appeared at promotions such as True Grit and North Wrestling. Hunter hit the big moves in the match and came close to securing the victory, but Carter took advantage of a distracted referee to hit Hunter with the title to pick up the win.
The penultimate match of the show saw Joey Slade make his return to FFW to face firm fan favourite Damien Valentine. While Slade has not had much luck in Lincoln over the past few months by picking up many losses, the Nottingham-based wrestler saw his luck change on Easter Sunday. Picking up the pinfall win over Valentine with a roll-up, Slade let the Lincoln fans know that he had won with an equally entertaining and obnoxious celebration.
Setting the tone for a chaotic main event, ring announcer Stu warned fans to watch out for flying objects shortly before former tag team partners Reece and Rogan collided in an “I Quit” match with Rogan’s title on the line one year on from when he won the gold. From baking trays to chairs to LEGO, thumbtacks and everything in between, this was all action from the outset. The intensity only increased further when a barbed wire baseball bat was brought into the match. With Rogan taped to the ropes, Reece looked to finish his former friend once and for all until referees intervened. However, as Reece had snapped, officials were caught in the crossfire as the match continued.
Despite both men pleading with one another to quit before it got too much, neither would end things early. In the end, Rogan locked in the crossface with the barbed wire bat to win the match, retain the title, and force Reece to leave FFW. After the match, both men embraced as a sign of respect, with Reece adding that it was nothing personal, just all for the Heavyweight Title.
Just as it appeared that the fans were going to be sent home happy, the lights went out, and a returning Erin Jacobs attacked Rogan, likely setting up the next title match for Fight Factory Wrestling.
Fight Factory Wrestling: Return To The Drill Results
- Crook defeated Ripper
- Kiya defeated Eliza Roux to become the new number one contender to the FFW Ladies Championship
- AJ defeated J.O.C to retain the FFW Academy Championship
- The Maulers defeated HMD and Maxwell & Mike-Raphone, Strap and Ace Matthews to retain the FFW Tag Team Championships
- Strap pinned Gunnarson after the match to become the new FFW Anarchy Champion
- Carter defeated Hunter to retain the FFW Junior Heavyweight Championship
- Joey Slade defeated Damien Valentine
- Rogan defeated Reece in an “I Quit” match to retain the FFW Heavyweight Championship
Fight Factory Wrestling will return to One NK on May 23 for May Mayhem. Tickets for the show can be purchased here.
Featured image: Fight Factory Wrestling.
