The Wrestling to relaunch as Clash Of The Comics via Apollo show
Clash Of The Comics, the show formerly known as The Wrestling, is coming to London's Eventim Apollo on 8th October.
Founded by Max & Ivan at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011, the format sees comedians competing in wrestling matches.
The promoters explain: "Clash Of The Comics is an epic, jaw-dropping night in which the biggest names in comedy really - yes, really - step into the ring, to take on each other and some of the UK's biggest and best professional wrestlers."
Phil Wang and Ed Gamble will undertake the Battle For The Belt main event at the Hammersmith Apollo show, having appeared the other night at a Progress Wrestling event together. Speaking about that fight, the promoters say: "Ed 'The Gambler' Gamble stole Phil Wang's Clash of the Comics Heavyweight Championship, with the help of his henchman - massive pro-wrestler 'Bullit'. Can Wang overcome the odds and win back the belt that's rightfully his? It's time for the greatest grudge match in history..."
Ed Gamble says: "It makes me physically sick to see Phil Wang holding championship gold, which is why I took it from him. That may be against the rules of wrestling, but the only rules I obey are those set by various casinos. And at the Hammersmith Apollo I'm gonna kick Wang's head off his stupid shoulders, because on October 8th all bets are... on."
Phil Wang comments: "For over two years, I was proud to call myself the reigning comedian's wrestling champion. But, on the very night I was meant to receive MY brand new Clash of the Comics championship belt, that treacherous snake Ed Gamble stole it from me. Now at the Hammersmith Apollo, he's going to learn a harsh truth: gambling doesn't pay. I will be the only hammer smith there that night - when I forge a hammer from pure vengeance and bring it crashing down upon him. The hammer is my fist, in case you're wondering."
The line-up for the October show also includes James Acaster, Aisling Bea, Greg James, Rosie Jones, Nish Kumar, Maisie Adam, Abi Clarke, Olga Koch, Matthew Crosby, Jazz Emu, Flo & Joan and "many more names to be announced (and plenty of HUGE surprises on the night too!)".
"On October 8, the Eventim Apollo will live up to its namesake - Apollo, god of war," says Max. "And just like in war, some of us will be brave, some will be ruthless... and some, like me, will be completely unprepared and utterly terrified," adds Ivan.
Backstage reporter Olga 'Rock Hard' Koch says: "It was only a matter of time before Max & Ivan brought The Wrestling to a venue that was truly worthy of the spectacle. The Apollo will finally meet its match, a wrestling match! I feel incredibly lucky to be able to attend this monumental event and even luckier to report on it."
Meanwhile James 'James Acaster' Acaster has vowed to finally break a multi-year losing streak, in which he has failed to ever deliver a single wrestling move. He says: "2025 shall finally be the year I triumph as a wrestler and the entire world will know the name James 'James Acaster' Acaster. I vow to defeat my enemies with brute force and absolutely, under no circumstances, get knocked unconscious with a metal tray again."
Tickets will be available from Wednesday 2nd April from clashofthecomics.co.uk