PROGRESS Wrestling – PHILADELPHIA – FREEDOM DIDN’T JUST WALK

PROGRESS Wrestling returned to the US during WrestleMania 40 weekend after an absence of six years and knocked the ball outta the park with Chapter 166: Freedom Walks Again.

As part of the truly amazing 11-show GCW Collective, PROGRESS Wrestling delivered an outstanding 7 match card with their champions on show and two title changes.

Seven matches started with a 7 man scramble. Tate Mayfairs introduced each wrestler with a barrage of insults which helped create a six versus one mentality and for sure, Simon Miller targeted the first of his many spears at Tate.

The three PROGRESS debutants were worthy entrants with Philly’s own Marcus Mathers, Gringo Loco fresh from his previous day’s headlining Kenta encounter at group company DEFY and Cambodia’s finest Cody Chhun making the early running. High flying, TNA rising star, Leon Slater almost had the pin on Gringo but in the distraction of his efforts Kid Lykos 2 leaped on Mathers to take the win.

The first of the championships on the line was Ricky Knight Jr’s 400 day reign against Pro Wrestling NOAH, heroic archer-inspired Yoichi.

The ATLAS title lived up to its hard-hitting reputation as did the two protagonists and Yoichi’s multiple spinning and slam was a highlight. Or so we thought, as the match developed and two remarkable fighters delivered a match of the highest quality.

Gallant in defeat, RKJ leaves an abiding legacy as Yoichi was crowned the new ATLAS champion with an exquisite yea nage.

The tone turned inside out with Effy and Allie Katch virtually recruiting Gene Munny’s tag partner, the neon shoed Session Moth Martina. The legendary beer of Philly, Brotherly Love changed gender as Katch and Martina showed Sisterly affection, and an already confused match delivered a charming lightness after the heaviness of the ATLAS challenge. The local advice of “never trust a man with electric tape on his nipples” contributed to Munny’s eventual loss, and Danhausen’s post-ring picture with Effy and Allie did not soften the losing blow to Gene’s nose.

The former villain and past Men’s world champion, the vulture Spike Trivet succumbed to the energised Luke Jacobs in their fourth PROGRESS Wrestling bout – now 2-2 – best of 5, anyone?

SoCal Val, America’s sweetheart and host enjoyed welcoming the “lethal ladies of PROGRESS” as former champion Lana Austin sought revenge on the reigning champion, Rhio. Despite her finest Lanaoke efforts with “ I like big butts”, it was Rhio who sang the sweeter song.

The third title defence of the day saw the new Tag Team champions of Charles Crowley and Alexxis Falcon – the Cheeky Little Buggers – face the longest reigning former champions of TK Cooper and Chuck Mambo– the Sunshine Machine – and the only tag team in the ring not to hold the PROGRESS title – the recently reformed SAnitY of Big Damo and Axel Tischer.

A dazzling triple threat tag match of many shades of champions resulted in the result for SAnitY and the crowning of Big Damo as the first person to have won Men’s, ATLAS and tag team titles — PROGRESS’s now original Triple Crown champion.

The Philly audience had more than warmed to a welcome British Invasion in the home of Liberty and the final bell of the night announced Kid Lykos’s successful defence against the ever engaging Man like Dereiss.

Two fan favourites gave a fine example of athletic wrestling and Lykos’s octopus submission attempt eventually led to his brain busting pin.

A huge thanks was given to the GCW Collective and PROGRESS return to their own Electric Ballroom on 21st April for Chapter 167: One Bump or Two? on National Tea Day (what?).

Will Kid Lykos 2 gain any reward for the scramble win; can Spike and Luke continue on their path to regain their past status; will Gene Munny forgive his tag partner; who will Yoichi face in his first defence and for certain see the PROGRESS debut of New Yorker and former Ring of Honor World champion, Homicide.

Tickets available at:-https://link.dice.fm/W952b2fb5693