They ditched the title The Wrestling for Clash Of The Comics… and for a worryingly long while during last night’s show, it seemed like they might have ditched the actual ​wrestling too.

So much business was there at the top that we got about an hour and a quarter in with only one relatively brief match under our belt. An interminable one-joke sketch based on this all being for Comic Relief was a particular lowlight, as all involved were well aware.

But after all the introductions, recap videos and stilted banter were over and the grappling began, the glorious mix of pantomime and physicality everyone had come to see did not disappoint.

Despite a comedy musical supergroup comprising Flo & Joan, Jazz Emu and Jordan Gray getting proceedings at London’s Eventim Apollo off to a cracking start, the interminable set-up involved many gags about how chaotic and under-rehearsed everything was. MC Ivo Graham admitted he was parachuted in with just over three hours’ notice when advertised host Adam Hills ‘got the shits’. The phrase ‘under the circumstances’ has to follow the verdict that he did a decent job.

He introduced Mark Silcox on timekeeping duties then the commentary team. Sara Pascoe and Radio 1’s resolutely impartial Greg James were on the side of good – given that Andrew Maxwell, the man who first brought the ‘fair play and decency’ chant to The Wrestling, was away working at Riyadh comedy festival. For real. 

Representing the bad guys was Nish Kumar, who, thanks to dodgy sound mixing, turned out to be the only one of the trio the audience could consistently hear – well, he does have the loudest voice. He also talks a lot, which came in handy, while his pointed gags, often at the expense of comedy comrades, delivered regular laughs. As for his commentary, I’m not sure ‘shaky shaky plum shot’ is the official name for a move he later described.

Eventually it was time to ‘let the rumbling commence!’ – as the more familiar phrase for the occasion is apparently subject to copyright – with the opening bout between Maisie Adam ‘The Queen of the North (Based in Brighton)’ and villainous pro Nina Samuels. 

The comic showed impressive athleticism and the ability to take some punishment – as well as displaying a crowd-pleasing victory celebration right out of her beloved Lioness’s playbook. Whether or not that was premature I won’t reveal, lest any result be a spoiler for when Clash Of The Comics lands on U&Dave next month.

After some more typically chaotic comedy business, some equally chaotic ​wrestling – but in a good way – with a nine-way tag-team tornado match, a knockout format in which new teams join every few minutes. It featured the likes of Abi Clark playing up to the stereotype of the vacuous influencer and Max Tosh in tie and waistcoat as one of the privileged 0.00001 per cent. 

Sarah Keyworth proved very useful as a human projectile hurled by their partner Simon Miller; Ania ‘Slam Ya’ Magliano displayed unexpected athleticism in wrapping herself around fellow wrestlers’ necks;  and Amy Gledhill and Harriet Kemsley decided discretion was the better part of valour – or chickened out, depending on your point of view.

No such reticence from the OGs – Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez – the creators of this spectacle who threw themselves into the ring, and out of it, both metaphorically and literally.  Olesker used to be a pro wrestler and has lost none of his bravado in a clash that continued backstage and on to the balcony.

All this got spirits riled for part two, with the crowd chanting ‘gold Labubu’ at Kumar, in reference to the shiny shirt he’d chosen to wear even before any grappling had commenced.

First order of post-interval business was James Acaster’s open challenge against ‘any comedian or wrestler in the world’, in a bid to finally score his first in-ring victory, having been summarily KOed in every previous incarnation of this event without landing a single blow.

He promised ‘the greatest entrance you’ve ever seen’ – and recruited a line of cheerleaders to provide that – before facing the man who took up his challenge: former rugby ace Joe Marler, missing his appearance on Celebrity Traitors to come here to kick ass.

Finally, the much-trailed main event. Phil ‘Kill’ Wang seeking to defeat Ed ‘The Gambler’ Gamble, the heel who’d stolen the title the last time they met in 2023. ‘Fuck you, Gamble,’ came the unanimous, repeated chant from the auditorium, the comic only growing stronger from the hatred.

The pair demonstrated impressive skills in a demanding, lengthy match – occasionally joined by some of the wrestlers, pro and otherwise, from earlier.  Wang pulled off a powerful body slam and a bold suplex off the ropes, Gamble executed a sprightly somersault over the ropes and tied his opponent in a dominant hold, among many more moves.

They were both also adept at ​wrestling’s other necessary skill: overacting – encouraging the crowd to buy into the whole preposterous pantomime of the occasion.

Not that too much encouragement was needed, the absolute buy-in of the room hollering their full-throated support or disapproval is what makes the Clash Of The Comics atmosphere so electric. When the ​wrestling spectacle is front and centre, with comedy sprinkled on top, the night is untouchable. Not so much when the ​wrestling’s treated as a sidebar to comedy sketches.

Honourable mention, too, to the contributions of Rosie Jones, Rose Matafeo, Adam Kay and Joe ‘CE-Joe’ Lycett as the event’s owner. ‘I gave people a lot of money to humiliate themselves,’ he concluded. ‘I got the idea from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.’ 

Only the comedians who took part in this came out with a lot more respect – if a lot less money – than those who played Riyadh.