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FAREWELLS FOR CIAMPA, TOMMY END & JACK GALLAGHER IN FRONT OF MASSIVE CROWD: PROGRESS CHAPTER 36 LIVE REPORT FROM LONDON

By Ian Perry on 2016-09-26 12:41:00

PROGRESS Wrestling

Chapter 36: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Room... Again!

O2 Academy, Brixton, London

For the past couple of years, PROGRESS' London home has been the 700-capacity Electric Ballroom. With every single show selling out in advance, PROGRESS announced this one-off show at the much larger Academy in Brixton.

Before the usual show opening music, 96 Quiet Bitter Beings by CKY - which was the theme song of the late Kris Travis - was played in tribute.

At the start of the show, PROGRESS owner/ring announcer Jim Smallman informs us that they've sold over 2,400 tickets; making this the largest independent wrestling show in England "since the days of Big Daddy".

We open up with the tournament finals to crown our first ever PROGRESS Atlas Championship; a title exclusively for wrestlers who weigh above 205 lbs.

Atlas Championship Tournament Final: Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey

Former PROGRESS Champion Rampage Brown gets the victory via pinfall and is presented with the - in the words of Mauro Ranallo - newly minted Atlas title belt.

Winner: Rampage Brown

After the belt both men showed their respect for one another.

Match number two is a preview of the forthcoming tournament to crown a first ever PROGRESS Women's Champion.

Dahlia Black (w/ TK Cooper), Alex Windsor & Jinny vs. Nixon Newell, Laura Di Matteo & Pollyanna

The heel team (lead by Jinny) scored the pinfall victory, in spite of TK Cooper accidentally punching his girlfriend in the face.

Winners: Black, Windsor & Jinny

No Disqualifcation: Sebastian vs. Pastor William Eaver

After Sebastian's introduction, Eaver quickly hit a Clothesline From Heaven, but it very quickly became apparent that something was wrong. Paramedics came to ringside and Jim Smallman informed us that this was a legit injury.

No Contest

As it turns out, Sebastian was knocked out and potentially suffered a neck injury. He's seemingly fine now, but it was a scary moment; as well as a massive shame as this was sure to be a great match.

Tag Team Championship: British Strong Style (Trent Seven & Pete Dunne) vs. London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch) (c)

Rob Lynch was sporting stitches above his eye from an injury suffered the night before.

During the bout, BSS used the Riots' trademark cricket bats to attack their opponents - specifically targeting Lynch's eye - and ultimately claim the victory and the titles.

Winners: British Strong Styles, new champions

After an intermission, Jim Smallman did his introductions for the second half of the show, but was interrupted by the returning Paul Robinson who demanded a match. Smallman granted him the opportunity, and Chuck Mambo came out from the back - complete with an epic entrance involving hundreds upon hundreds of Chuck Mambo branded beach balls - to answer the challenge.

Paul Robinson vs. Chuck Mambo

Robinson hasn't been seen in a PROGRESS ring since March and was his usual angry and disgusting self. Constantly spitting on Mambo or blowing snot rockets onto him. Ultimately he proved too much for the youngster, and claimed the pinfall.

Winner: Paul Robinson

Two out of Three Falls: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Zack Sabre Jr

This is Ciampa's final independent appearance before starting full time with WWE.

The first fall was declared a draw with both men's shoulders being down whilst referee Chris Roberts counted the pin. The next and final fall saw Sabre lock Ciampa in an (I think) Octopus hold - coupled with some kicks to the head - for the submission victory.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr

The Origin (Nathan Cruz, Zack Gibson, Dave Mastiff & El Ligero) vs. Mark Andrews, Eddie Dennis, Jack Gallagher & Damon Moser

If the heel Origin faction lose, they must disband. Zack Gibson gets unbelievably nuclear levels of heat, and the crowd had brought toilet paper to pelt the ring with during his entrance.

This went all over the venue with Mark Andrews doing a moonsault off a balcony at one point. At one point, referee Joel Allen and El Ligero got into it, with Allen hitting Ligero with a stunner.

Zack Gibson scored the pinfall over Jack Gallagher; keeping The Origin together as a unit.

Winners: The Origin

PROGRESS World Championship: Tommy End vs. Mark Haskins vs. Marty Scurll (c)

These three men really took it to each other, and gave it everything they had. Scurll pulled out a series of umbrellas from under the ring, and attacked referee Chris Roberts, his replacement Marc Parry, and the third and final referee Joel Allen.

With no referees left, Jim Smallman entered the ring but - before Marty could attack him - some very familiar music hit and Jimmy Havoc - who hasn't been in PROGRESS for a whole year - came out, hit an Acid Rainmaker on Scurll, eyed up the PROGRESS title and left.

The finish saw Mark Haskins lock a sharpshooter on Scurll and referee Chris Roberts pull himself into the ring to call the submission.

Winner: Mark Haskins, new champion

Haskins adds the PROGRESS Title to the Smash Title that he already holds.

After a celebration, Haskins left the ring and it was just Tommy End left. Jim Smallman brought Tommaso Ciampa and Jack Gallagher back out, to give these three wrestlers a proper send off.

End has been rumoured to be WWE-bound for a while now and - after the CWC - Gallagher too is WWE-bound.

PROGRESS have announced that they will be back at Brixton Academy next September but - in the meantime - add Birmingham Academy to the Electric Ballroom in Camden (London) and Ritz in Manchester to their list of usual venues.

Another great PROGRESS show, that should be available to watch on demand - via www.demand-progress.com - at the weekend.

 

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