In the FWA, Tighe was always billed as the 'first son' of the FWA Academy, having been the first wrestler to graduate. He won a tournament to become the first FWA Academy champion, beating Eamon Shrahan. Shrahan would beat Tighe a few months later to become the champion. In the latter half of 2004, Tighe was engaged in a brief feud with AJ Styles. Tighe defeated Styles at FWA Vendetta 2004 by disqualification, only to be defeated in turn at FWA British Uprising III in a 30-min Iron Man Match. James Tighe also appeared on International Showdown in March 2005, teaming with then GHC Tag Team ChampionsDoug Williams and Scorpio to win a 6-man tag team match against Tiger Emperor, Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa. In February 2010, Tighe competed in a 2-falls-to-a-finish match which consisted of 6 5-minute rounds against Joel Redman for the Devon Wrestling Association in Teignmouth, UK. He lost by two falls to one, by disqualification when Redman had the referee believe that Tighe had used a steel chair. Tighe also played a part in training current WWE and former TNA, ICW, PWG and EVOLVE wrestler Drew Galloway.
Since Tighe semi-retired from professional wrestling in 2010 with his last recorded match being against Joel Redman for International Pro Wrestling:UK. 4 years later Tighe wrestled for Revolution Pro Wrestling twice in 2014. In 2017, James Tighe returned to semi-regular action reuniting with former Tag Team partner Andy Boy Simmonz as the 'Iron Lions'. They suffered a loss against the team of Buff Daddy Johnny Rock-it and TIMO in December 2017 at Revolution Pro Wrestling. At the RevPro: Revolution Rumble event in January 2018, The Iron Lions defeated Eddie Kenway and Ace Grace. 4 months later in April 2018, The Iron Lions lost to the team of Kurtis Chapman and Dan Randall. At the RevPro Contenders 18 event in June 2018, The Iron Lions defeated Kelly Sixx and Joshua James. On Sunday 22 July 2018 James Tighe and Andy Simmonz returned to IPW.UK for the first time in almost 10 years to take on British wrestling and two of the best Jr Heavyweight wrestlers in Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm. Following on from this, James Tighe and Andy Simmonz will team up on Saturday 3 August to take on the UK’s Youngest Pro Wrestler Harry Milligan and Dan Randall.
