We sat down with Nick Riley and Charlie Sterling to discuss their return at Chapter 169, their ambush on Axel Tischer and their upcoming match with SAnitY. Let’s hear from the Smokin’ Aces‘ on their past, present and future in PROGRESS Wrestling.

Charlie and Nick, your return to PROGRESS Wrestling was marked by a surprising attack on Axel Tischer after his ATLAS Title defence. How long had you been planning this?

Both: The return of the Smokin’ Aces was inevitable, we are the number one tag team on the PROGRESS roster. We knew that big dumb bear Damo was out of town the other weekend, so we simply made our points clear. We didn’t get our rematch for the Tag Titles, we hold a victory over them and we want what is ours. To answer your question, we have been planning this for nearly 6 freakin months!

Charlie, you’ve been side-lined due to an injury. Could you elaborate on the nature of the injury, the rehabilitation process, and how this time away has influenced your current mindset and return to the ring?

Charlie: My injury has been well documented on my instagram, where I go into detail about all of the above. Getting back to PROGRESS Wrestling and regaining the Tag Team Championships has been at the front of my mind since my surgery and it remains that way today. Watching SAnitY, who I hold a personal distaste for, hold our championships really boils my piss!

Reflecting on your last appearance at Chapter 163, where you lost the PROGRESS Tag Team Championships to the Cheeky Little Buggers, what are your thoughts on that match and its outcome?

Nick: It’s like the time we lost the tag titles the first time (in a gauntlet match), nights we have to wrestle multiple, long, exhausting matches, the tide gets the better of us. The better team lost that night, & if you watch the footage back, I actually get my shoulder up. The PROGRESS referee team failed to spot it and made a huge error.

To what extent do you hold SAnitY responsible for your loss of the tag titles, and is this a motivating factor in your recent actions against Axel Tischer?

Charlie: There is no doubt that SAnitY are the toughest team we have ever fought. They bring a wealth of experience, skill, strength and together, they are incredibly hard to beat. As a tag team, especially as champions, when a force like this challenges us, it takes everything we have to win. At chapter 163, we did defeat them and we were cooked, spent even! During the match, both Nicky and I had taken knocks to the head by Damo’s elephant feet and clearly, we were cognitively impaired. The decision to accept the Cheeky Little Buggers challenge was out of our control; you could say we had lost our SAnitY! For this reason, we hold them personally responsible for our most embarrassing moment and together, we will put these old relics down and take our titles back.

Can you update us on the status of Dominatus Regnum? Have there been any discussions with Spike Trivet or Bullit since your loss in the steel cage match?

No Comment.

Since your departure, how do you assess the evolution of the PROGRESS Tag Team scene, and what are your impressions of the teams currently competing for supremacy?

Nick: PROGRESS has some of the best tag team talent in the world for sure, there is absolutely no doubt. However, the PROGRESS fans have clearly missed the Smokin’ Aces in the tag team division. We were voted best tag team of 2023 for a reason.

Winning back the PROGRESS Tag Team Championships would be a significant achievement. What would regaining the titles mean to you both personally and professionally?

Charlie: When we smash SAnitY in the face and retain our titles, we will join Grizzled Young Veterans and CCK as 3-time PROGRESS Tag Team Champions – a significant achievement that we are very proud of.

Your return featured masks inspired by the film Point Break. What significance does this theme hold for you?

Nick: Point Break (Dead President bank robbers essentially) at times is about sticking it to the man, living for the rush. Me & Charlie are sticking it to the man and to PROGRESS management for missing me getting my shoulder up at Chapter 163.

There is speculation about additional “presidents” potentially joining your ranks. Are you prepared to shed any light on this, or will this remain confidential for the time being?

No Comment.

Axel Tischer has accepted a match against you at Chapter 170. We recall you beating them last time out but through cheating… does that win give you extra confidence going in – cheating aside?

Charlie: You can call it cheating, you can call it strategy, it really doesn’t matter. I’ve had many run ins with Damo all over our country and abroad through 2023 exchanging wins and loses wherever we have faced. I can’t disclose our strategy for chapter 170 and I will not be pressured to reveal it, just know that we will do whatever takes to win and our confidence in doing so, has never been higher.

What does it mean to you both to reunite as The Smokin’ Aces, and what should the PROGRESS Wrestling community anticipate from your team in the coming months?

Both: This is what we’ve been working towards, our goal, come back stronger, faster, smarter. The very best version of the Smokin’ Aces the PROGRESS Wrestling has ever seen. We want to win back our titles, and push to make the PROGRESS Tag Team Championships the main event again!

PROGRESS Wrestling tickets are available for all future shows via the dice app including WRESTLING NEVER SLEEPS where Smokin’ Aces look to win back the Tag Team Championships against SAnitY.

You can see all of Smokin’ Aces PROGESS Wrestling matches by watching wrestling online and subscribing to DEMAND PROGRESS PLUS.