Fifer grapples WWE star in farewell fight

Dar has recently signed up with the multimillion pound American wrestling organisation after working his way up to the top of the ever growing domestic scene.

As part of the WWE, the Scot will be part of television shows broadcast across the world and compete at events staged in front of tens of thousands of fans.

Before setting off, Dar had one last match with the Scottish ICW promotion he made his name in to say farewell, and asked for that to be against life long pal, Kirkcaldy wrestler Andy Wild.

The two have grown up together, learning their craft as young wrestlers heading from venue to venue to perform in town halls and leisure centres across the country.

Over the past couple of years their lives headed in different directions, but the new darling of WWE clearly hasn’t forgotten his old friend.

Wild said: “I’ve settled down and had a young child so haven’t been doing as many shows as I used to.

“It became more about doing shows when I could rather than when I wanted to.

“But then the opportunity came up with Noam Dar who wanted his last match to be with myself.

“We started off together but had gone our separate ways.

“I became a family man and he focused on the wrestling.”

Andy didn’t have to be asked twice about stepping back into an ICW ring.

The Scottish promotion sells out venues up and down the country and has forged strong links with the WWE.

It was hardly unfamiliar territory for the Kirkcaldy wrestler who is a former Zero-G champion with ICW.

“I had three or four weeks to get into better shape ahead of the match,” he said.

“To go back and get the reaction I did on the night was a big moment for me.”

The match between the two in September had the sold out Glasgow Garage rocking, with Wild getting the win and then raising Dar’s hand before he set off to the States.

The moment may have been about the departing superstar, but Wild’s in-ring performance turned heads too, and he’s been invited back for another run in ICW.

On November 20 Andy will run wild again, this time at Glasgow’s 13,000 capacity Hydro, on a bill which includes Kurt Angle, Team 3D, Finn Balor and the stars of ICW.

He’s preparing for his bout, a ‘stairway to heaven’ match for the Zero-G title he once claimed, at Kirkcaldy’s Apex Strength and Conditioning.

“I was on the phone to Mark Dallas (ICW co-owner) and he was saying ticket sales have been fantastic - they’ve just had to open another tier,” said Wild

“It shows how healthy wrestling is in this country.

“We were supposed to have WWE’s Mick Foley there but he’s had to pull out because of Survivor Series (WWE pay-per-view) so they’re sending Finn Balor over who’s being given a massive push by them.

“That sort of thing just wouldn’t have happened before.”

For more information about how you can see Andy at the Hydro, visit insanewrestling.co.uk