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PROGRESS WRESTLING REPORT
CHAPTER 32: 5000 TO 1
Sunday 26th June 2016, Electric Ballroom, Camden, London
Jim Smallman does his usual introductions whilst wearing a one-off rainbow PROGRESS t-shirt, in honour of London Pride which is taking place this weekend. Jim has a couple of line-up points to mention; Damo O'Connor has had to withdraw due to injury, and Dave Mastiff has had to withdraw due to illness; with them being replaced by Trent Seven (making his first appearance in London for PROGRESS) and Zack Gibson respectively.
DAMON MOSER vs. NATHAN CRUZ (w/ ZACK GIBSON)
Continuing his campaign against his former Faceless/Origin brothers – and following on from his defeat of Gibson last week – Moser takes on the leader of the Origin, Nathan Cruz. After his vicious beatdown after last week's match, Moser asks Jim Smallman to make this a no-DQ match, which Smallman happily obliges.
This was an absolutely vicious contest which saw multiple chairs and a table get involved. Moser held his own and this was possibly his best showing in his entire (albeit short) career. Moser looked the part here today and has definitely shed being just a ProJo graduate, or a former Faceless member.
Moser nearly took the victory on several occasions but – owing to the use of some cable ties – Gibson and Cruz pummelled him with a Con-Chair-To for the pin.
WINNER: NATHAN CRUZ
Even in defeat, Moser's star is rising. The fan support for him is constantly increasing and – with every match – he shows himself to belong more and more.
Before the second match, there was an ugly incident where Jim Smallman had to throw a fan out of the building which is quite possibly the only time this has happened in PROGRESS' four year history. The other 699 people in attendance very much seemed to agree with Jim's dismissal of him, and we were onto match number two.
T.K. COOPER (w/ DAHLIA BLACK) vs. JACK SEXSMITH
This feud has been bubbling away for a while and the crowd seems invested in this. Sexsmith is adored by the crowd, and it's easy to see why. Whilst his gimmick can seem crude sometimes, he always comes across as a legitimately lovely human being! Contrast this with Cooper and Black, who are so good at looking like total A-holes and you can't help but want to see them lose.
Black got involved on several occasions, as you'd expect. The finish came with the referee checking on Cooper, and a mystery man (wearing a South Pacific Power Couple t-shirt) running in from the crowd and laying out Sexsmith. Cooper picks up the victory and he, Black and the mystery man leave together.
WINNER: T.K. COOPER
Whilst not mentioned at the show, the mystery man is fellow New Zealander Travis Banks.
Both matches so far have had huge grudges leading into them, but they both pale in comparison to match number three.
JINNY vs. LAURA Di MATTEO
This feud has been going on since the very beginning of these ladies' PROGRESS tenures. Di Matteo was originally 'Elizabeth' and was Jinny's assistant. Cracks began to form in their alliance, eventually leading to Elizabeth breaking away, announcing that her real name is Laura Di Matteo, and this match being announced.
Jinny is absolutely amazing at nearly everything. Unfortunately, the one thing she lacks in is her in-ring work. She is still very green and did slip up in a couple of places. The tools are all there and – in time – she will only get better. It's just a shame that her physical ability isn't yet on the same level as her unbelievably character work.
Di Matteo picked up the victory but Jinny laid waste to her after the match. This isn't over yet.
WINNER: LAURA Di MATTEO
PROGRESS Wrestling has formed something of an alliance with Smash Wrestling from Canada. A co-promotion has been announced for September – a two-day event in Toronto – and this following match had been announced. Johnny Gargano defending his Smash title in an open challenge at a PROGRESS show.
After Gargano made his entrance, the music of the returning Mark Haskins hit and the crowd went nuts.
SMASH WRESTLING TITLE MATCH: JOHNNY GARGANO (c) vs. MARK HASKINS
After having to withdraw from the SSS16 tournament due to illness, the crowd was absolutely thrilled to see Haskins back, especially in such an important match, and was very much divided on who to route for. Haskins ultimately edged it though, and won slightly more crowd support than Gargano did.
A great back-and-forth contest. Lots of technical wrestling. Lots of strikes. Lots of fan support. Lots of, well, greatness from these two athletes.
Haskins got the victory with his armbar – the same armbar that Ciampa has since borrowed from him – and won the Smash title!
WINNER: MARK HASKINS
Gargano stole the title belt back, before cutting a promo praising Haskins, the fans and the promotion, and giving the belt back. Haskins celebrated with the crowd in what felt like an absolute 'big deal' moment.
Thus ends the first half of the show. After an intermission we're back and Jim Smallman introduces our tag champions the London Riots to the ring.
The Riots re-iterate their claims that they intend to be fighting champions, and Smallman announces that – at Chapter 33 in July – they will be defending their titles against WAR MACHINE.
ATLAS TOURNAMENT GROUP STAGE: IESTYN REES & BIG DADDY WALTER vs. ZACK GIBSON & T-BONE
Zack Gibson is filling in for his unwell stable-mate Dave Mastiff. This match has a fifteen minute time limit – as per Atlas rules – and each member of the winning team will earn two points. In the event of a draw, all four competitors will earn a point each.
Before the bout, Gibson attempted to cut a promo, but received unbelievable levels of heat from the crowd.
This is Rees' first appearance on a main Chapter show (his previous Atlas match took place on an ENDVR show) and he physically looked to be in absolute great shape.
Unfortunately this match never seemed to click. Gibson and T-Bone scored the pin on Rees, earning two points each but it never seemed to get out of first gear.
WINNERS: ZACK GIBSON & T-BONE
Whilst the Atlas tournament seemed like a great idea at first, I feel that the concept has lost its way. The introduction of tag team matches – coupled with the unfortunate injuries and illnesses – have left the tournament seeming somewhat haphazard. Hopefully things will pick up once we enter the knockout stage but, for now, I find myself struggling to care about these matches; especially with the inconsistency of the rules. This tag team match – as well as last week's – saw a withdrawal with the injured wrestler being allowed a substitute to earn points on their behalf.
Our following contest, however, saw Rampage Brown awarded two points by forfeit and his replacement match having no actual baring on the group stage standings.
RAMPAGE BROWN vs. TRENT SEVEN
Ignoring Damo's injury – and taking this match just for what it was – it was an enjoyable first London appearance for Seven; who comes to the ring looking something like a classic Spitfire pilot!
A fairly short match – the show was running late by this point – but fun for what it was; a match with lots of stiff strikes; seeing Rampage getting the victory.
WINNER: RAMPAGE BROWN
And now... our main event. After a great video package, Tommy End and Marty Scurll make their entrances and our title match is GO.
PROGRESS TITLE MATCH: MARTY SCURLL (c) vs. TOMMY END
Initially, this match was everything you'd want. End and Scurll beat the heck out of each other and End was definitely looking to end Scurll and claim his place atop PROGRESS.
Referee Chris Roberts got knocked out, and Scurll locked in a Chicken Wing – assisted by his trademark umbrella – and replacement ref Marc Parry ended the match. Jim Smallman came out and annulled the decision due to the blatant use of the umbrella, and re-started the contest.
Harking back to Chapter 29, the lights went off except Mikey Whiplash – who had been banned from the building – didn't come out this time. Scurll used the distraction to lock in another Chicken Wing, causing Tommy End to pass out and to retain his title.
WINNER: MARTY SCURLL
The crowd seemed a bit deflated at the manner of Scurll's retention; but then “REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH” blared out of the speakers and NPS winner Pastor William Eaver came to ringside and declared he was cashing in his title shot.
PROGRESS TITLE MATCH: MARTY SCURLL (c) vs. PASTOR WILLIAM EAVER
A stuff-looking Clothesline From Heaven took care of Scurll, the referee counted the three, and we have our first ProJo graduate PROGRESS Champion!
WINNER: PASTOR WILLIAM EAVER
The crowd was absolutely electric. Looking back, the concept of a face taking advantage of a prone champion to easily win the belt doesn't seem like a great way to book a future champion but none of that mattered. The crowd was incredibly happy for what they'd just seen, and no-one – literally no-one – was complaining. We had a new PROGRESS Champion and all 700 people in attendance were absolutely thrilled.
Eaver celebrated with the crowd and everyone went home happy.
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