Fighting Talk: Marty's the main man

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Fighting Talk: Marty's the main man
 

 
IN THE past on this page we’ve used words like “underrated” and “potential” to describe Marty Scurll.
 
By virtue of his excellent win at the PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournament a fortnight ago, those terms can safely be put to bed. Scurll is only 28 and has risen from small beginnings in rural Cambridgeshire to become the champion in the most prestigious independent tournament on the planet.
 
 His win had a peculiar symmetry to it – defeating last year’s champ and former Leaders of the New School running mate Zack Sabre Jr on his path to glory.
 
 “The Villain” was full of the joys on the phone this week as he took stock of his remarkable achievement, and he doesn’t think that people should be surprised. He said: “Realistically I’m not someone who you might expect to go on to win the biggest independent wrestling tournament in the world.
 
 “Without sounding like a ragsto-riches cliche, I grew up in a very small place in Cambridgeshire. I decided I wanted to be wrestler when I was six.
 
 “I don’t think anyone told me it was a good idea. To be fair, I was a snotty-nosed kid, not exactly tall, people didn’t think it was realistic.
 
 “It became realistic when I worked my arse off for 12 years, then flying 11-12 hours over to California to compete in a tournament with the 24 best independent wrestlers in the world.”
 
 PWG’s BOLA tournament is a gruelling three-day affair with the top independent talent on show. To emerge triumphant is indeed a mark of excellence, and real stature.
 
 Marty explains: “The wrestling in BOLA is second to none, it’s the best wrestling in the world, without doubt. PWG is all based on the in-ring product, there’s no glitz and glamour, no frills.
 
 “To me, it’s the most important prize in wrestling, no matter what any other company might do.
 
 “Every match is a main event, every guy is a main-eventer. This is the place people go to make their name, everyone wants to go out there and kill it, there’s no holding back.
 
 “People talk about wrestling being art, well, PWG is the wrestling art form at its finest.
 
 “I defy anyone to watch my four matches from the weekend and tell me I’m not the best wrestler, the best all rounder, in the world right now.”
 
 In truth, Scurll has had the finest year of his career to date. Having been wrestling for 12 years, nearly half his life, he is finally reaping the rewards and the international recognition his talent deserves. Whatever you think of his dastardly persona, it’s hard to argue with that.
 
 Another big date looms on September 24 for Progress at Brixton Academy, where Marty is champion and the only man to have held the belt twice. He concludes: “I’ve talked about 2016 as being the Year of the Villain. I don’t think anyone can have any doubts about that right now.
 
 “As far as I’m concerned, none has done has much as I have this year.
 
 “I suppose the ideal goal is to become rich and famous in this business but, for me, the most important thing is creating that body of work, making a stamp in the history books.
 
 “And not just for being one of the greatest British wrestlers of all time, but becoming one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.”
 Styles is just stylish
 
 A COUPLE of years ago, few people would have predicted that AJ Styles would ever work for WWE, let alone become a world champion there.
 
 But on Sunday night at Backlash, he defeated Dean Ambrose, in underhand fashion, to claim a highly unlikely prize.
 
 Well done to AJ, it just goes to show: never say never in this business.