First off, congratulations on becoming the #1 contender for the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship! You earned this shot with a huge victory over Leon Slater at DEFY. Can you take us through that match and what it meant for you to win in that environment?

Becoming a part of the DEFY roster has been a blessing for me this year. I genuinely feel so lucky to get the opportunity to wrestle there. The venue is unreal, the atmosphere is electric and Leon Slater is an undeniable talent. It’s not secret how well me and Leon know each other. We’re a successful tag team, we train together, we go to the gym together, we play FIFA together. So to pick up a victory against someone who is so talented and has a high intel on my game plans means a lot to me. Leon is a great wrestler and I’m sure we will meet again very soon.

You’ve had title opportunities in the past, but this time feels different. How do you approach this match with Luke Jacobs compared to your previous shots, like when you faced Spike Trivet, who had his stable to back him up, or Kid Lykos, whom you had a great deal of respect for?

Patience. I’ve been patient. Things haven’t worked out for me so far in PROGRESS. However, since I’ve wrestled Spike Trivet I’ve achieved a lot elsewhere such as OTT in Ireland, North Wrestling in Newcastle, GCW in America, Slammasters in Wales, SAJ in Italy and many more all over the world. It’s only a matter of time before it happens at PROGRESS. 2024 has been the best year of my career, it’s the Year of The Dragon!

You’ve got some serious momentum right now with four consecutive wins, including your big victory in Oberhausen. What has changed in your mindset or preparation that’s fuelled this current winning streak leading up to Chapter 172?

Nothing has changed. What we’re seeing is years of hard work, dedication and sacrifices finally pay off. We’re seeing preparation meeting opportunity in real time. We’re seeing the effects of training in the dungeon in 45 degree heat with Natalya. We’re seeing the benefits of learning 100 different holds with Wild Boar at New Wave Wrestling. Every single stop of the Lyrical Dragon Tour has all led to this…

Luke Jacobs has built a reputation for being a hard-hitting champion who thrives in physical matches. Do you see yourself wrestling that style or trying to take him off his game?

All my matches are hard hitting.

With Jacobs’ dominant reign, what do you believe gives you the edge to finally end his title run? Is there something you see in his style or mentality that you can exploit?

Luke knows I can beat him. I can see it in his eyes. He knows it will take much more of a beating to keep me down than his previous opponents. He knows that. Luke is simply putting on a front to pretend that he is full of confidence. I am the best wrestler in PROGRESS and that title cements that status for me. I am going to take a beating in this match but best believe I’m going to give back every single last drop of my fibre back to him.

What are your thoughts on Luke Jacobs calling you nothing more than a cheap pop?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”.

If Luke is so naive to think that way then so be it. It says much more about him than it does about me. I can comfortably say that I out work every single member of the PROGRESS roster and I doubt anybody would even try to argue the case.

Luke Jacobs is correct however in his success at progress, his talent and how he has won everything. There is no denying that. But in the grand scheme of things, I have achieved more than him on a world wide scale. So he can call me names like the little man child that he is or he can go to the gym and prepare correctly for the fight of his life.

Finally, what would it mean to you and your journey in PROGRESS to finally capture the Men’s World Championship at Chapter 172 and become the face of the promotion?

It would mean the world to me. PROGRESS is my home and it has been for a number of years now. I love PROGRESS. After the events of SS16 I felt at my lowest, I was rock bottom. An opportunity to win one of indie wrestling grandest prizes taken away by one of your childhood heroes is soul destroying. Every big match can’t end in heartbreak? Surely not? Surely there’s got to be a point of success, where it finally feels like it’s all worth it. I’ve carried a massive chip on my shoulder since SSS16. I’ve never forgot it.

When I win that PROGRESS World Title, I will be so proud. I will take the PROGRESS World Title on a World tour. America, Italy, Germany, Ireland you name it, I will defend it everywhere. A fighting champion. I will make the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship the most relevant and sought after title in Europe, no in fact, the world.

PROGRESS Wrestling tickets are available for all future shows via the dice app, including this October’s event, WEREWOLVES OF LONDON. See you on Sunday, 27th October!

Watch wrestling online! You can see Man Like Dereiss matches in PROGRESS Wrestling, including his SSS16 run by subscribing to DEMAND PROGRESS PLUS.