REVIEW: Progress Chapter 128 ‘Technique’

Progress Wrestling Chapter 128 “Technique”
O2 Ritz. Manchester, UK
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Reviewer: David South (@DavidSouth1980)

Back in December of 2019 I was present for Progress Chapter 99, at the O2 Academy in Sheffield. As I walked away, buzzing still from the Cara Noir and Ilja Dragunov 2 out of 3 falls match, I didn’t think it would be over two years until I saw Progress live again.

The sense of anticipation was palpable as I caught my train over to the wrong side of the Pennines. So much has changed at Progress (even in just the last couple of months) and with WWE UK having taken such a big bite out of the roster, what would the show feel like?

After the traditional “For Whom the Bell Tolls” opening, Simon Miller made his way to the ring to thank us for coming. Overall, it’s a bit of thankless task for Miller. Jim Smallman (and say, Billy Kirkwood) are professional comedians experienced at working a boisterous crowd and he isn’t that.

That said, I thought he did well, knew when to get on with the show and over time will learn who he should ignore. He didn’t actually get around to announcing the competitors in the first match though as.

The Smokin’ Aces (Charlie Sterling and Nick Riley) vs. Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos and Kid Lykos II)

At the previous chapter, those sneaky wolves stole the belts following The Smokin’ Aces hard fought victory over Sunshine Machine.

Angry about that turn of events the Aces came out with a purpose, attacking aggressively from the get-go and the teams battled around the ring.

Stunned, Lykos Gym decided to try again to throw powder into their opponents faces, but this time The Aces were prepared and had swimming goggle protection. All this was before the bell had rung.

When the match finally started Lykos Gym were in ascendancy, with Kid Lykos finally hitting his fabled brainbuster and with Spanish Fly and Total Annihilation combinations that resulted in long two counts.

Unable to get the job done, Lykos decided to leave with the belts again, but their attempts to steal them were thwarted by the ring crew, who eventually struggled along with the teams to one of the centre aisles.

Then came the moment that, if you’ve seen anything from this show, you’ve seen this. Nick Riley with a front flip dive off the balcony that brought the 02 to their feet in astonished applause.

Eventually back in the ring, Lykos Gym again attempted to cheat, swinging for Sterling with their baking trays, he ducked though and Riley threw powder into their faces.

With Lykos removed, The Smokin’ aces hit a superkick piledriver combo to Lykos II, then a gorilla press/cutter combo for the win.

I believe the phase when you come through the curtain after a match like this is “follow that!”.

Big Guns Joe vs. Scott Oberman

Following that was a Progress debut for North West Strong’s Scott Oberman. Tall and lean, in the early running he struggled against Joe’s hench strength. Oberman took over though after knocking Joe to the floor.

Back in the ring, and angry, Joe reversed a suplex and dropped the straps on his singlet before hitting an Underhook suplex, Gorilla Press, Senton and Gut wrench combination.

Oberman would kick out of a pop up powerbomb but Joe then applied a Boston Crab which Oberman couldn’t escape from and tapped out.

Alexxis Falcon vs. Lana Austin

Another match that started hot as Austin took to the microphone to remind Falcon that she cost her a victory in the Revelations of Devine Love tournament.

They brawled to the outside and Austin was able to reverse an Irish whip and send Falcon through the seats of my section. Having made the count back to the ring the pair traded power moves and two counts until Falcon hit a rope assisted Falcons Fury DDT for the win.

Austin was not finished though, and attacked her opponent after the bell, hitting an elevated DDT onto a chair, suggesting that this feud will continue.

Spike Trivet vs. Luke Jacobs - No DQ Match

I read rumours that elsewhere Spike has forgone some of his devilish ways, happy to report that this was not the case here as he came to the ring to a myriad anti-Tory chants and asked Simon to tell us that we weren’t invited to his “party”.

Which led to what I must assume was the first ever chant of “work event” at a wrestling show. Luke Jacobs was in no mood to play around though storming to the ring and starting quickly. The pair battled on the outside and Spike threw Jacobs into the chairs again (fortunately not my section this time).

Back in the ring, Trivet removed his belt and used it as a weapon, including one shot that we’ll all hope was to Jacob’s inner thigh, as he attempted a superkick.

Spike powerbombed Jacobs though one table, but in the second most E.C.W spot of the evening, Jacobs piledrove Trivet through a table on the floor, from the ring apron.

Back in the ring, Jacobs discovered Trivets bag of weapons, thumb tacks and lemon juice. Having spread the tacks, Jacobs poured the drink into Trivets mouth, Trivet though cracked Jacobs fingers, dropped him onto the tacks and then spat the drink onto his back.

Trivet then choked out Jacobs to the point the referee had no choice but to stop the bout and call it in his favour.

During the Interval, Gene Munny was in the crowd campaigning still for his inclusion in this year’s Super Strong Style event.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Chris Ridgeway - Ring of Honour Championship

Yes, when you defend it in this country, the “u” is restored to “Honour”. Back in October I had the pleasure to be at the Wrestle Carnival show where Gresham and Ridgeway fought to a time limit draw.

Despite the lack of a winner it was a terrific technical battle and with the R.O.H title added to the mix all signs pointed to this one being even better.

It began with a lengthy “Lets go Gresham”, “Let’s go Ridgeway” chant as the crowd showed their appreciate of both these guys.

From there, I can’t begin to do justice to describing the counter wrestling we saw from both competitors. This was, perhaps, more physical than their previous encounter, with Ridgeway unleashing his arsenal of kicks and managing to get Gresham to use all three of his allotted rope breaks without using any of his and with Gresham displaying even more unique ways of tying a human in knots.

Gresham would ultimately retain, with a series of brutal running forearms eventually dazing Ridgeway to the point he was unable to kick out of a pin. For my money, this is as good a ‘Pure’ rules Wrestling match as the world can offer.

Cara Noir vs. Dean Allmark for the Progress World Championship

Dean pointedly did not watch Noir’s entrance, turning his back his opponent until the match announcements were made. This was another technical display, as if inspired by the pure rules match we’d just seen.

Dean is physically bigger though and was hitting harder, especially once Noir had missed a dropkick into the corner and received a stomp dropkick from the top.

He got a very deep two count with the Ruby Cutter but from there Noir took over, hitting the suplex kneedrop and a stunner from an Allmark Sleeper for two counts.

Before a running headbutt and the package piledriver brought the match to an emphatic end.

Then the lights went out. When they came back on Ilja Dragunov was in the ring and following the huge reaction from the crowd he told Cara that that he hadn’t forgotten him and that the matches they made together were beautiful.

And with that promise of more to come, he left, allowing Cara more applause from the appreciative audience.

Gisele Shaw vs. Rhio - Progress Women’s Championship

Rhio earned this title shot by winning the Revelations of Divine Love tournament. Rhio is also part of North West Strong, so came to the ring with Chris Ridgeway and Ethan Allen.

Rhio had much of the early running in this one, before Shaw took control after whipping Rhio face first into the ropes. The pair traded slaps and forearms until Rhio hit an Attitude Adjustment style throw for a very near fall.

It was not to be though, as Shaw hit a standing spear and then locked in an arm submission that made Rhio tap out for an unpopular victory.

Having got the house microphone, she then rounded on the smart fans who assumed that she’d lose tonight and said that there was nobody left in Progress for her to defeat.

This called out the returning former champion Kanji, who was forced to vacate the title due to injury – she told Shaw that she was now fit and ready to go and looking to regain the title she never lost.

If you used to go to Progress shows and don’t feel you can anymore because the actions of previous performers have spoiled your memories, I can appreciate that.

But if your feeling is that this is some watered-down version of Progress that’s no longer worthy of your time then, based on this show, bell to bell – this is as strong as the company has ever been.

REVIEW: Progress Chapter 128 ‘Technique’

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