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PROGRESS Wrestling held "Chapter 47: Complicated Simplicity" on April 23rd at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London, in front of a sell out 700 capacity. This was PROGRESS' first show following their debut in the United States during WrestleMania Weekend, and their last show in London before next month's Super Strong Style 16 Tournament.
1: James Drake defeated Eddie Dennis - Dennis came out to his original "Party Hard" theme by Andrew W.K., and explained that although Andrew W.K. had given permission for Dennis to use his song, the record label did not give permission, so Dennis went to the back and came out to a new custom theme which will be where the VOD will cut to. A good competitive match, but Drake controlled most of the contest and eventually won with his Mr. Mayhem DDT.
2: Laura Di Matteo defeated Alex Windsor in the third Natural Progression Series 4 semi final for the PROGRESS Women's Championship - a solid match, with Windsor grounding Di Matteo down for the most part and playing to the crowd. Di Matteo battled back, getting out of a Windsor submission hold and locking in her Octopus Hold to get the win. The final for the PROGRESS Women's Championship between Di Matteo, Jinny and Toni Storm will take place during Super Strong Style 16 Weekend.
3: "Flash" Morgan Webster defeated Mike Bird - good match with Webster taking on one of his trainers. Webster showcased some new lucha-influenced moves he's picked up since his injury layoff, and Bird largely grounded him down with power moves. Webster came back and hit a Destino before submitting Bird with The Strangler. Webster thanked the fans after the match, but was attacked from behind on the stage by James Drake.
4: The South Pacific Power Trip (TK Cooper & Travis Banks) (w/Dahlia Black) defeated The London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch) - this was the last appearance in PROGRESS for the time being for TK Cooper and Dahlia Black, as their visas are expiring, and they have to return to New Zealand in order to attempt to get new visas. They got a standing ovation before the match started. There was a scary moment during the match where James Davis suplexed Cooper from the top rope to the outside, and Cooper landed hard on his shoulder, but Cooper was able to come back after a couple of minutes. This evolved into a great tag team match, with lots of great impact spots, and the South Pacific Power Trip eventually got the win with their elevated spike DDT.
After the match, a ceremony was held to honour Cooper and Black, with Glen Joseph revealing that because the South Pacific Power Trip had defeated former Tag Team Champions in the London Riots, they were entitled to a shot at the PROGRESS Tag Team Titles anywhere in the world they wanted to have the match. At this point, British Strong Style came out, with Trent Seven giving the impression that he and Tyler Bate would defend the titles right there, but then Pete Dunne laid Travis Banks out with his PROGRESS World Championship, and Seven and Bate attacked Cooper, with Bate restraining Black. Seven got two chairs, and then Pillmanised Cooper's leg. British Strong Style looked to continue the attack when Ringkampf came out to chase them off. Black and Cooper got another standing ovation as they left the ring.
During the interval, Pastor William Eaver arrived after having run the London Marathon in 3 hours and 50 minutes, and Jim Smallman announced that Eaver was the first entrant in the 2017 Super Strong Style 16 Tournament next month.
5: Mark Andrews and Mark Haskins wrestled to a draw in a Number One Contenders Match - a very interesting dynamic between two major fan favourites. This match produced the hilarious chant of "Both these Marks", which given it came from a load of wrestling fans says a lot. The match was just picking up steam when Haskins caught Andrews coming off the top rope and applied a guillotine choke style hold. Andrews pinned him at the same time, and right on the three count, he tapped out. Referee Chris Roberts ruled that the match was a draw, and both Andrews and Haskins will challenge for the PROGRESS World Championship in Manchester on May 14th in a Triple Threat Match.
6: Jack Sexsmith defeated Paul Robinson in a Super Strong Style 16 Tournament Qualifying Match - Sexsmith came out with more anger than ever before, perhaps incensed by Robinson's comments about him on social media that could be taken by some as homophobic. Robinson took control for a good portion of the match, and when Sexsmith tried to use Mr. Cocko on him, Robinson bit off the condom, swallowed it, and spat it at Sexsmith's chest. Robinson missed a Curb Stomp, and Sexsmith applied a Crossface to get the win and qualify for the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament.
After the match, Robinson announced that due to suffering from a hereditary blood condition, and having suffered his first blood clot recently, he has retired from professional wrestling. Robinson was a key figure in PROGRESS' history, being involved in both Jimmy Havoc and Will Ospreay's story arcs, and was given a very good reception by the fans as he left the ring.
7: British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Trent Seven & Tyler Bate) defeated Ringkampf (Axel Dieter Jr., Timothy Thatcher & WALTER) in a match for both the PROGRESS World Championship and the PROGRESS Tag Team Championship - very heated match, with British Strong Style doing a lot of Memphis-style begging off, and Ringkampf being the no-nonsense babyfaces. Dieter Jr. controlled with finesse, Thatcher with his elite wrestling skills, and WALTER through sheer brute force. British Strong Style eventually attacked Dieter Jr.'s thigh and isolated Thatcher. There was a brief period where Dunne and Bate appeared to fall out, with Seven having to get them back on track. Ringkampf ran wild in their comeback, and WALTER caught Seven in his choke, which would have won Ringkampf the Tag Team Titles if Seven had submitted, but Dunne hit WALTER with his title belt, and an unconscious Seven was put on top of WALTER for the pin.
After the match, Thatcher and WALTER left the ring to Dieter Jr. who was saying goodbye to PROGRESS, as he is on his way to report to the WWE Performance Center and NXT in the next few weeks.
PROGRESS returns to the O2 Ritz in Manchester on May 14th for "Chapter 48: Bang The Drum", with Pete Dunne defending the PROGRESS World Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Mark Andrews and Mark Haskins. PROGRESS then return to the Electric Ballroom in Camden on May 27th, 28th and 29th for the 2017 Super Strong Style 16 Tournament Weekend, with Pastor William Eaver and Jack Sexsmith as the first two entrants. All four dates are sold out, but returns are available to UK-based fans via the Twickets service.
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