Heavyweights clash on huge Morecambe wrestling show

23-stone Irishman Damian O’Connor, known as ‘Big Damo’, will main event this Saturday’s fight night at the Morecambe Winter Gardens.

O’Connor will duel with ‘The Heavyweight House of Pain’ Stixx in a highly-anticipated heavyweight clash.

‘Big Damo’ might be the toughest challenge yet for Stixx, the Alpha Omega Wrestling champion who has not lost in Morecambe for eight years.

O’Connor is an intimidating figure but incredibly agile for his 6ft 4in size.

He has also had a successful start to 2016 after debuting for USA-based TNA Wrestling on their recent UK tour where he wrestled in a match at Wembley Arena aired on Challenge TV.

Big Damo also captured the Insane Championship Wrestling heavyweight title in his native Belfast last month.

The bearded behemoth also holds the XWA Title and is regarded as one of the UK circuit’s best heavyweights.

O’Connor will be accompanied to the ring on Saturday night by Morecambe’s own Greg Lambert, local journalist and wrestling personality.

Lambert has handpicked Big Damo as Stixx’s opponent, aiming to finally end his long undefeated run.

The champion from Nottingham has beaten a who’s who of opponents in Morecambe in an amazing streak stretching back to April 2008.

His list of defeated foes includes TNA’s RockStar Spud, top UK wrestler ‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll and Zak Knight, brother of WWE superstar Paige.

Stixx has also held the AOW Championship since December although Saturday’s bout will be a non-title match.

Also on the ‘Morecambe Mayhem’ show this Saturday, popular local wrestling star ‘The Psychotic Warrior’ Johnny Phere will square off with Mikey Whiplash.

The clash between Phere and Whiplash has added spice because both trained to become wrestlers at the same gym in Stoke.

Whiplash, 35, has since gone on to be regarded as one of Britain’s top technical wrestlers and is a major name for Glasgow-based ICW.

Phere, who lives in Morecambe, is a former three-time heavyweight champion.

In other bouts, Barrow rivals ‘One Man Riot’ Craig Kollins and ‘The Priority’ Chris Ridgeway will go one-on-one, ‘The Leader’ James Drake squares off with Ricky J McKenzie, and Sexy Kev will take on ‘100% Welsh Beef’ Dylan Roberts.

The AOW tag team titles will be on the line when The Referendum defend against mystery opponents.

And the self-professed ‘Best Female Wrestler in the Galaxy’ Nikki Storm will be forced to defend the women’s championship which actually belongs to her Referendum stablemate Viper. Storm’s challenger will be crowd favourite Lana Austin.

Also the next inductee into the Morecambe Wrestling Hall of Fame will be announced. Last year former TNA star and UK wrestling ambassador Doug Williams became the first name to be inducted.

Doors open at 6pm on Saturday, 5.30pm for VIP ticket holders.

Tickets are still available in person from Studio Bronze on Queen Street, Morecambe, or online at www.aowuk.com

Prices are: Adults £12 on the door, £9 in advance; Child/student £9 on the door, £6 in advance; VIP £15 in advance; Family of four £36 on door, £25 in advance.

*Photos by Tony Knox.