At DEVIL ON YOUR SHOULDER Paul Robinson and Malik went to war over the Proteus Title in one of the most aggressive and violent matches in PROGRESS Wrestling history.We sat down with both Malik and his Don, Kosta Konstantino to discuss the match and their feud with Robbo…

Your match against Robbo for the Proteus Championship was incredibly intense and left both of you bleeding. Can you share what was going through your mind during that brutal encounter, and how do you feel about the match now looking back?

I’m sorry I know I promised you a chat with Malik but he’s not really in a good place right now and you’re probably not going to get much out of him. But I’m happy to try and answer any questions on behalf of us both.

OK, understood. Let’s aim these questions at you then Kosta. Given the no-holds-barred nature of the match, how did you prepare Malik both physically and mentally for the challenges he would face against Robbo?

To be honest I didn’t have to do all that much. Malik knew the stakes and he can handle all his own preparation as far as training etc. It might not have gone how we wanted but I will say this, by the time the bell rang we were looking at the most determined version of Malik we’ve ever seen.

Although Malik didn’t win, he gained a significant amount of respect from the fans and his peers for the heart he showed. How does it feel being in the ring with him at the end there as you pointed out the respect being shown to him after such a gruelling duel?

If you go back to 2019 after Malik lost his match in the NPS, the fans gave him a standing ovation and chanted please come back. Jump forward to 2020 he stole the show with Ilija Dragunov and again was praised by the fans. And now its 2024 and once again after coming up short they showed him love. The common denominator here is that even in defeat these people see in Malik what I see in him. They see the drive, determination and most importantly of all they see true real fighting spirit. So to answer your question honestly, it feels great.

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from this experience, and how do you plan to apply them for Malik’s PROGRESS Wrestling future?

I don’t know about lessons per say. But from the perspective of his business partner I’d like to hope he won’t be in such a dangerous situation again as its just bad business. But from his best friends point of view, I pray he gets his payback someday!

Your partnership has been a crucial part of your journey. Can you talk about the dynamic between you two and how you support each other in such high-stakes environments?

Ill answer that with a true story. Last year I lost my grandfather and before he passed I flew to Cyprus to see him in hospital. While this was happening my parents were in the middle of moving house here in the UK and I was supposed to be here helping them. But when I flew out last minute Malik stepped up big time and drove from West London to Essex and helped my dad move furniture all day. He didn’t want money, he didn’t want a thing. He just did it because that’s what family does. That’s the bond we have, he stepped up for me and I’ll always step up for him!

What was it like hitting the double team moves again back in the ring, Kosta?

Felt good minus their being tacs everywhere. What felt better though was punching that bald headed little chihuahua right in the mouth.

Wrestling often involves setbacks and challenges. How do you deal with defeats like this one, and what motivates you to keep pushing forward as a duo and as a faction?

Honestly this is the first loss that truly feels like it’s had an emotional impact on Malik. This was as personal as it got, then you throw in losing out on becoming a champion. It just sucks. But given a little time Malik will undoubtedly be back on form and will use it all as motivation to push forward and get back into the title picture.

Looking further ahead, where do you see your career in PROGRESS Wrestling going, and what are the key milestones you aim to achieve in the next few years?

The goal hasn’t changed. Any and all titles are in my line of vision and once Malik decides which route he wants to take I can game plan for how we get back in the hunt. With his determination, my business mind and with the crowd behind him Malik is going all the way to the top and proving once again exactly why he is known as The HI….TTA!!!!!!

PROGRESS Wrestling tickets are available for all future shows via the dice app, including this August’s show, WRESTLING NEVER SLEEPS. See you on Monday, 26th August!

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