After their big win over Session Moth Martina and Millie McKenzie at UNBOXING, we sat down with two-thirds of the Lana Austin Experience, LA Taylor and Skye Smitson. We discuss that match, their current situation with Lana Austin and Rob Drake and what the future could hold in store for the Cheeky Little Buggers!
Congratulations on your win at UNBOXING. Can we expect to see more tag matches with the pair of you in 2024?
SKYE: Of course, we’ve always been a tag team, always had each others back & now PROGRESS management have finally started putting us in matches we deserve to be in. Our goal is simple and always has been, to prove that we are one of the best tag teams in PROGRESS.
Skye that is two wins on the bounce for you, how confident are you feeling in your abilities right now?
SKYE: What kind of moron are you? Huh? Do you think for a second I’ve ever doubted my ability? NEVER! I am one of the best all-round performers this country has to offer. I know how damn good I am. It’s other people that have ALWAYS failed to see it! Now they have no choice in seeing it themselves…
LA you have won seven of your nine matches in PROGRESS. One of those defeats was to Millie McKenzie. Beating her in this tag must have felt good, would you like another singles match with her soon?
LA: Anytime I get to fling Mildred around I’m a happy person. Would I go 1-on-1 again? I guess we’ll have to see what the future brings, but to finish the year righting that score was delicious.
Skye, as the wrestler with far more experience in PROGRESS just how impressed with LA’s performances are you of late?
SKYE: I am always impressed with LA’s performance. There’s a reason Lana picked her. She’s one of the strongest and smartest wrestlers I know, and she’s only getting stronger, smarter and more vicious. I get it. People look at her and just see the Amazon that she is! But she’s so much more than that. And people are going to start seeing it real soon.
Was it little surprise to you that you came out on top without Rob around as a distraction?
LA: I can’t recall an instance where I’ve relied upon the actions of Robert. I’m not sure what you’re trying to insinuate here, pal? Foul play? Not something I’m familiar with.
You did a backstage promo after your match claiming that Rob needs to stop pushing your buttons…
SKYE: Look I hold my hands up – my anger got the best of me when PROGRESS shoved a camera in my face. But I stand by my words, Rob wants to be the Alpha but the problem is he’s coming into a pack of Alphas that won’t back down. And I’ll be damned if I stand back and watch him continue to bow up to my best mate. Last time he pushed LA’s buttons I stepped in and calmed her down for Lana, but next time I won’t step in, if he keeps disrespecting her then he’s disrespecting me and that isn’t on!
Are you still in contact with Lana or have things changed since Rob’s arrival?
SKYE: As for Lana, she’s our best friend, we have no issues with her. We LOVE her. We still talk daily and we still have her back. She isn’t the issue here.
What are your thoughts on the Cheeky Little Buggers as a tag team and their recent win over Lana and Rob?
SKYE: Their victory was merely luck, they weren’t up against the real tag team of the experience. Charles Crowley thinks he can get away with putting his hands on Lana? That’s something we’ll deal with in due course. I don’t care if they THINK they’ll become the most dominant team in PROGRESS… we are always one step ahead.
LA: Laying hands on Lana is inexcusable. I cannot deny the win, but I do know one thing – the track record of the LAE speaks for itself, had we been there, it would have been a different story altogether.
Lastly, would Lana still be champion if you were ringside at The Long Halloween and not Rob?
LA: The overwhelming reality is that we’ll never know. The one thing I DO know however, is that we spent over a year supporting an immaculate reign. I’m certain that had we been there, we’d likely be having a different conversation.
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You can see all of Chapter 161: UNBOXING… and a movie, including the Lana Austin Experience vs Session Moth Martina and Millie McKenzie when it appears from Friday 5th January by subscribing to DEMAND PROGRESS PLUS.
