Spike Trivet’s reign as PROGRESS Men’s world champion continued at VENDETTA as Kid Lykos was unmasked in one of PROGRESS’s most personal title defences.
Lucha de Epuestas (a fight of bets) – meant there would either be the fall of an empire for Spike or a loss of an identity and mask for Kid Lykos.
It was a death match in all but name – tables, chairs, bottles, tombstones (yes really), garbage bins, ladders, pins, lemon juice and finally a sheet glass all played their part in Lykos’ second attempt at depriving Trivet of his title. Brutal is too trivial a description – devastation, you know thy name!
The unveiling of Lykos was a gut-wrenching nod to Lucha tradition. Trivet accepted the mask with unexpected grace, as the reigning Champion and the unmasked Lykos shook hands.
Despite his loss, “This doesn’t die today!” were the emotional words from Kid Lykos echoing around the Electric Ballroom.
The day began with Luke Jacobs, former ATLAS champion wanting his title back, but Ricky Knight Jr had other ideas as both wrestlers showed superb strength and athleticism for a blistering opener. If RKJ’s 60 second suspended suplex of Jacobs didn’t give him the win, the final body slam a few hard-hitting minutes later gave him a worthy defence of the title and strectched his undefeated singles streak in PROGRESS.
Newly signed TNA Wrestling (Impact Wrestling) rising star Leon Slater joined Connor Mills with the expected high flying action of flips, spins, kicks, and dives. However, Slater secured the pin with the neatest of small package moves.
Tate Mayfairs, the self-styled “Greatest Professional Wrestler to ever walk Planet Earth” then graced the ring against Paul “Robbo” Robinson in order to avenge his 2019 knockout. The failed use of Mayfairs’ knuckledusters didn’t prevent Robbo being on the wrong end of the winning pin again with Malik in his corner.
Revenge remained in the ring post-fight as PROGRESS host Simon Miller used those knuckledusters to good effect on his nemesis, Mayfairs. This feud will be decided at UNBOXING on 30th December back at the electric Ballroom in what is going to be an unrivalled street fight. Can Miller pick up his first singles win in PROGRESS against his fiercest foe?
Take a breath.
PROGRESS then unveiled a curiosity of tag-teams with former Women’s Champion Lana Austin teaming up with her wannabe Lana Austin Experience partner, Rob Drake taking on the recently PWI profiled pairing of Charles Crowleyand Alexxis Falcon, PROGRESS’s first planned inter-gender Chapter match.
The latter pair, fighting as Cheeky Little Buggers, secured their debut victory, with Falcon pinning Austin with a little help from her new found friend. Is this really the future?
We then had friendship turning to fighting with Warren Banks’ final and emotionally charged retirement match against mentor, trainer and … friend Gene Munny.
Skillit sang his Song – Unbreakable – for Warren’s entrance and that word was fitting for this match.
Friendship/fighting – fighting/friendship – but above all a fitting finale to a fine and proud career.
Warren Banks – we salute you and we thank you. #ThankYouWarren
A further landmark arrived with that match being the 100th time that commentator Ollie Spring had helped deliver a fight of Warren Banks.
The second half opened with the return of SAnitY – Big Damo, Axel Tischer and PROGRESS debutant Eric Young, all former WWE stars reuniting for the first time since 2019. The vibrant revised version of “Controlled Chaos” on testosterone composed by Dave Grunewald suggested very little sanity would be seen as they faced the Smokin’ Acesand Bullit.
This was a tag match and a half, with no breathes being taking here, and a rapturous ending with Eric Young pinning Nick Riley.
SAnitY are back and that was an insane match… but their special kind of CHAOS has only just begun.
Dragon-slayer Kanji and Liverbird Lizzy Evo were the combined threat to reigning Women’s world champion Rhiomaking her second defence of the title.
A frenzied start continued with a high energy match – each had chances of victory but with Kanji on the verge of extracting an Evo submission, Rhio lifted her for a spike piledriver and the pin. Title retained!
Eddie Dennis then appeared with arguably PROGRESS’s most loved opening – PARTY HARD. He announced his strategy for regaining the Men’s title – and it starts with Super Strong Style 16 in May- joining the just previously announced KC Navarro and first names entrant Bryan Keith. What a lineup already – and SSS16 for 2024 is already looking good.
The penultimate match saw longtime PROGRESS Japanese favourite Shigehiro Irie meet a rather familiar face, but a debuting name. Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Yoshiki Inamura has become Yoichi, inspired by the heroic archer of Japanese folklore.
Great athleticism from two fine heavyweights ended with a top rope dive to give Yoichi a winning debut pin.
Then we had that Men’s World Championship match that will live long in the memory.
As will the tribute to Steve Waterhouse, who sadly passed away recently. Steve had been technical manager at our spiritual home the Electric Ballroom for an astonishing 48 years and had been an intrinsic part of the success of PROGRESS. Rest in Peace, our friend.
