Kris Travis 1983-2016

The thoughts of all ATPW are with the friends and family of Kris Travis at this time. An absolute star in the ring and always a pleasure to deal with in any capacity. He will be sorely missed. 

We think it'd be awesome if you could donate to the charity that Trav was a patron of, Cavendish Cancer Care. Details in the pic. x

The Merch Table with Craig Hermit #5 - Jimmy Havoc, Vicksticth Customs, PBW, HOPE Wrestling, ICW & Kenny Omega

First off right from the bat, apologies for no Merch Table last week and to make up for that there will be two editions this week...no really.

This edition will focus on clothing and while Friday's will focus on everything else.

Let's begin with a man who hasn't just been a prominent figure in the UK Wrestling scene also he has become a figure recognised worldwide for providing fans with amazing Hardcore matches and demonstrating nothing but passion in the ring, that man is 

jimmy havoc

His new T-shirt is available from Xs to 3x-Large "Die Havoc Die" is available in Black or White from £14.95. (Editors Note: I've got a lot of love for this rougher version of the Die Havoc Die shirt. Whilst the original is a classic, this has got a different feel to it and certainly makes a statement!)

http://www.partsunknown.co.uk/collections/jimmyhavoc/products/die-havoc-die-black

Now, we turn our attention to a clothing company that over social media, has been mentioned several times for their quality and reliability.

vickstitch customs

This company I refer to is,  Vickstitchcustoms.com. Above is everything they do in one picture, but I'll add this, not only do they create T-Shirts for sale for the fans but they also provide the tights and other items of clothing for wrestlers to wear when wrestling. It would be easy for me to just say that and leave it there and that's it however, for months and months, I have heard nothing but good things, in fact great things about them all across the board. From quality, to delivery and attention to detail as well. This comes from punters and wrestlers alike, so we look at their latest offerings available for the fans:

I would need much more space in this article than would be allowed to discuss and talk about this man, I am talking about the much-loved Kris Travis and his T-shirt is now available in sizes S - 2x Large from £12.00.

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/kris-travis-shooting-star-tee.html

Then there is Bubblegum, one of the most accomplished UK stars around, multiple Champion of any promotion he has been involved with and he's released his "Champion" T-shirt available in S - 2x Large and children's sizes from £15.00.

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/bubblegum-champion-tees.html

It's not just the wrestlers themselves Vickstitchcustoms.com is involved with but the promotions themselves, we look at those two awesome Promotions in the UK:

premier british wrestling

Battling through the recession and now stronger than ever with more sell out shows than ever before and a show quality that not many other European companies can match.  Their shows are enjoyed by fans of all ages.  We would strongly advise if you are yet to check out PBW to come and see one their live events soon as we are 100% confident you will not leave disappointed.

PBW continue to run one of the most respected wrestling schools in Europe today.  The PBW Academy holds classes every Sunday in both the Barrhead Sports Centre and the Airdrie Lesiure Centre. Some of Britain's highest rated young stars were trained at the PBW Academy such as Noam Dar, Kay Lee Ray, 'Unstoppable' Andy Wild, Davey Blaze plus many more.

Premier British Wrestling, "Leading Forward" T-shirt available in S - 2x Large from £15.00

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/pbw-moving-forward-tees.html

Premier British Wrestling "Leading Forward" Zipper Hoodies in a Double Sided Print available in  Sizes S - 2x Large from £25.00. (Editors Note: Have to say that these company designs both look superb and some of the best I've seen across the UK. If you're a regular at PBW these items are surely must-haves)

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/pbw-moving-forward-zipper-hoodies.html

hope wrestling

.. established in 2013, HOPE is a name that has become synonymous with UK Wrestling across numerous locations. Providing top quality British Wrestling show in the Midlands based upon strong edgy encounters, high quality in ring action and they also aim to provide high quality Wrestling Merchandise.

Their mission is to bring to the East Midlands the very best of British Wrestling, showcasing the fantastic talent in a family friendly environment and becoming a firmly established part of the community. Currently running shows across the East Midlands in Derby and Nottingham as well as in the East Anglia regions of Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard. 

Hope Wrestling T-shirts are available in black or white S - 2x Large from
£12.99.

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/hope-tee-option-1.html

Hope Wrestling Hoody is also available in two different variations in S- 2x Large from £25.00. (Editor's note - Similar to what I had to say about the PBW merch, HOPE have produced merch that sticks strongly to their brand identity, using the ACDC logo to create items that any regular should surely have as part of their collection)

https://vickstitchcustoms.com/shop.ehtml/products/hope-hoodie-option-2.html

insane championship wrestling

In association with BigCartel.com ICW are having a sale on with a variety of T-shirts, here's two from the selection

Kay Lee Ray, one of the very best technical and high flying wrestlers in the country. Seen in NXT, TNA, Stardom and many, many more promotions, here is your chance to own the  T-shirt available in S - 4x Large from just £9.99.

http://insanechampionshipwrestling.bigcartel.com/product/kay-lee-ray-hardcore-daredevil

Also from ICW, is the awesome Kenny Williams. 2015 has seen Williams travel all over the UK and this year many more fans will see what he provides in the ring, his T-shirt is available from £9.99 in sizes S - 4x Large.

http://insanechampionshipwrestling.bigcartel.com/product/kenny-is-the-bollocks

And lastly we look at the man who has been one of the most prominent men in NJPW and enjoyed monstrous success last weekend

kenny omega 

Available from www.njpweurope.com at £16.99 in sizes  S - 2x Large.

What you'll get with delivery, the T-Shirt and free NJPW Stickers! (Editors Note - Kenny has made waves over the last few months in Japan, if there was a time to jump on the band wagon and get some merch now is it! It helps that this tee is sick af as well)

http://www.njpweurope.com/product/kenny-omega-the-cleaner-8bit-bullet-club-t-shirt

And that is the clothing line so far for this week, on Friday I'll be looking at many more merchandise such as books, DVD's and alot more. 

Check out Craig on Twitter by clicking this entire sentence. 

Event Review: PROGRESS Chapter 21: You Know We Don't Like to Use the Sit Down Gun

So PROGRESS Chapter 20 currently had the highest score on the ATPW Scale going into Chapter 21, surely the show subtitled, You Know We Don't Like to Use the Sit Down Gun, couldn't top that? With Thunderbastard winner Mark Haskins stepping up to challenge the newly crowned PROGRESS Champion, Will Ospreay, in the main event, surprise appearances from Roderick Strong and Adam Cole, and with Jimmy Havoc, Paul Robinson The London Riots, The Origin, The Sumerian Death Squad and more across the card, did PROGRESS continue to make waves in the Electric Ballroom?

Start things as you mean to go on, right? That's what the people say. And that's what PROGRESS did with Chapter 21. Anyone who's been to a PROGRESS show knows the score, the show begins once the Imperial Death March starts, with Jim Smallman spending time walking around the ring as Started from the Bottom and then For Whom the Bell Tolls plays. However, this time Smallman was join by two Stormtroopers, who got a lovely pop when they came out the curtain. This pop would be bested moments later when they removed their helmets and revealed themselves to be...THE GZRS, Sebastian and Tom Irvin. The pair officially opened the show with a quick promo, teasing answering the Sumerian Death Squad's Open Challenge later in show (although quickly withdrawing themselves from that), as well as pushing their ENDVR: 12 with Project Ego next week, with the crowd lapping up every entertaining syllable. 

Match 1 - Tag Team - The Origin vs. The London Riots

This match was made following El Ligero's attack of James Davis (with the Riots' Cricket bat no less) at Download Festival back in June, and the storyline continued here. Ligero not wanting to be in the ring with Davis, not only got on the crowd on Ligero's back ("El Torito" *clap clap clap clap clap*) but also allowed the contest to take on a different element. It was clear that the bout was less about the win for Davis and more about gaining an element of revenge on Ligero for his dastardly actions. Therefore, when Davis was finally able to get his hands on the former PROGRESS Champion and powerbomb him onto a number of chairs at ringside, not only did it look fucking incredible, but the Riots had technically achieved what they set out to do...the fact that they'd go on to lose that match, thanks to Zack Gibson seemingly joining the Origin and handing Nathan Cruz a fork, really didn't matter. The Origin however needed the victory after floundering a little, a savvy piece of booking.


The storytelling throughout was flawless, and for the most part so was the wrestling content, with the teams going back and forth and building towards the conclusion nicely, with a series of strikes and various suplexes. There was however a handful of awkward looking bumps, including Cruz landing almost directly onto his face after attempting to flip over, which got an audible reaction from portions of the crowd. Despite these slips, this was still a strong opening bout that had a lively crowd hooked, both with the action and story, and continued to develop the Origin storyline, which seems to becoming more prominent in the promotion going forward.


Winners - The Origin via pinfall in 15 minutes, 46 seconds.

Match 2 - Singles - Jack Gallagher vs. Pastor William Eaver

Pastor-mania was certainly running wild in the Electric Ballroom, but Nigel Thornberry was there to put a stop to it all in another one of his classic japes. Obviously, it wasn't ol' Nige, but it was Jack Gallagher (somebody noticed the uncanny resemblance and started the chant) and it was another technically sound display from the Futureshock Wrestling regular. Gallagher working the arm was nice, and as usual everything he did was so crisp. Eaver's selling is perhaps something he needs to develop, but his struggle to hit his Crucifix Powerbomb was a sweet touch. Gallagher kicking out of the move and immediately rolling through into Boston Crab to get the submission victory was a curious finish, considering Gallagher's previous work on the arm, however, the victory, especially after Eaver defeated Noam Dar at the previous Chapter, put Gallagher in a strong position in the promotion. Hopefully we'll get to see him more regularly in Camden going forward.

Winner - Jack Gallagher via submission in 7 minutes, 48 seconds.

Match 3 - Singles - Eddie Dennis vs. Zack Gibson with Nathan Cruz

As Nathan Cruz accompanied Zack Gibson to the ring it was pretty much confirmed that the Scouser had joined the Origin, and the heat that he had previously became even more intensified. Throw the perennially popular Eddie Dennis into the mix as his opponent and you had the recipe for a rowdy singles encounter. Whilst the crowd were animated throughout, the action inside the ring matched it as Gibson creatively worked over Dennis' arm, including a lovely overhead throw using the arm, in preparation for his Arm bar submission. However, it wasn't his technical prowess that earned Gibson the victory, but the distraction caused when he attempted to introduce a fork into the match, as well as Cruz's involvement, as he was able to hit a low blow with the referee's back turned and pick up the victory. It's been said many times that the best heels don't need to cheat to win, but do it anyway, Gibson seems to fit that mould in PROGRESS.

Winner - Zack Gibson via pinfall in 11 minutes, 35 seconds

Match 4 - No Disqualifcation for the #1 Contendership to the PROGRESS Championship Jimmy Havoc vs. Paul Robinson

A bonus addition to the card, after Jim Smallman placed the pair in a bout following Jimmy Havoc demanding to have a Number One contenders bout with anyone (with the added stipulation that if either laid down for the other they would be fired). This was one of, if not the, most brutal matches that I have ever seen. When one of the first spots of the match is a piledriver off the apron through a table, you know that things are going to get a little messy by the end. And they certainly did, as Havoc and Robinson introduced more tables, chairs, singapore canes, thumbtacks and a fuck load of motherfucking light tubes. If you long for blood in pro wrestling then this was for you, with the juice flowing freely for a good portion of the match. Each gasp-inducing spot seemed to top the last, as we ended up with Robinson setting up three light tubes across two set-up chairs, before eventually being able to deliver a devasting curb stomp to pick up the victory. 


It would be easy to mistake the description for mindless violence, but you couldn't be further from the truth. This was a rollercoaster ride of emotion, that manipulated the crowd for it's duration to side with one or the other. The majority seemed to go with it, as Havoc and Robinson straddled the heel/face divide at various points, playing off their previous actions in the company. Robinson seemed to be the fan favourite in the early going, seemingly embracing the fan support at one point with the "Dobby is free elf" chants echoing around the ballroom. But the more punishment that Havoc took, the more the empathy built for the man who once held an axe to Will Ospreay's head. There were moments where I just didn't know how I felt about anything in the world anymore and began to question everything that I had ever done. But when all was said and done I was convinced that Jimmy Havoc was our man, and I'm not sure I've ever had a more cathartic experience in my entire life.

Winner - Paul Robinson via pinfall in 15 minutes, 42 seconds

Match 5 - Singles - Kris Travis vs. Marty Scurll

An emotional return to PROGRESS for Kris Travis here, with the crowd clearly appreciate of the man who kicked cancer in the arse, with the support almost bringing the Sheffield grappler to tears. The match was focused around opponent Marty Scurll's attempts to lock in the Cross Face Chicken Wing and Travis being able to wriggle free each time. There was plenty of back and forth action between the two with two crowd behind Travis all the way, but still rather appreciative of the Villain, who seemed to be playing everything by the book in this one. The pair strong together a series of lovely reversal sequences, building the pace of the bout towards the conclusion where Travis was able to pick up the victory by turning Scurll's suplex attempt into a small package. 

Winner - Kris Travis via pinfall in 14 minutes, 30 seconds.

I was just about to write something about the decision of having Travis win on his return bout in my notebook, when out of the corner of my eye I saw Scurll lock on the Cross Face Chicken Wing and a big reaction of disapproval from the PROGRESS faithfull. There's one rule of PROGRESS and Scurll was certainly breaking it here and the crowd let him know. There couldn't have been a better moment to fully realise Scurll's Villain character and with The GZRS, Eddie Dennis and even RJ Singh out to get Scurll out of the ring, PROGRESS have given themselves plenty of options going forward.

Match 6 - PROGRESS Tag Team Championship - The Sumerian Death Squad (C) vs. Roderick Strong & Adam Cole

As surprise appearances go they don't get much bigger than both Roderick Strong and Adam Cole, who were the ones to answer The Sumerian Death Squad's Open Challenge. The pop for the two Ring of Honor regulars was terrific, but that jubilation quickly turned to jeer, as the fans remembering something about Strong's previous visit to Camden. His boots. They are little and they are shitty. With Strong and Cole quickly becoming heels, they fell into their role perfectly against the popular Tommy End and Michael Dante, with ROH duo working quick tags and distracting the ref to stay in control of face in peril, End. Both men worked the crowd well and showed their years of experience in being able to react to pretty much anything that was thrown their way with an entertaining, yet frustrating response, a type of heel that suit the promotion.

The match built and built and built into a tremendous tag team duel with both teams trading strikes, that looked so crisp and sounded even better. Cole and Strong and End and Dante went hammer and tongues in the final third of the bout and produced a number of near falls that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. A particular highlight saw all four men connect with signature strikes in succession, whilst End and Dante being to escape the Figure Four Leglock and Strong Hold simulataneously was also a standout moment for me. After a frenetic closing sequence, SDS retained their tag shields with their Wheelbarrow into float over cutter combination and look all the better having to go toe to toe with two of the premier talents from across the pond. Who could possibly take the shields away from the Dutchmen?

Winner - The Sumerian Death Squad via pinfall in 16 minutes, 7 seconds. *STILL CHAMPIONS*

Match 7 - PROGRESS Championship - Will Ospreay (C) vs. Mark Haskins

After the show that had gone before them, I almost felt sorry for Will Ospreay and Mark Haskins, but I feel like a fool for even allowing the thought that these two wouldn't deliver a match that at least matched what had gone before them. With a lively crowd that was seemingly split down the middle for the Aerial Assassin and The Star Attraction the Electric Ballroom was arguably the loudest it had been all night. The action reflected the crowd, as the pair would go back and forth for most of the bout, with Haskins perhaps seeing slightly more offence in the first two thirds of the bout. Haskins number of submission holds on the Champion, including a lovely looking Lebell Lock, told a fine story of the technician trying to ground the highflyer. Ospreay's is an underrated seller and showed so here with some lovely touches coming out of each of Haskins' submission sequences.


The action was fast paced, physical and crisp throughout, with both men looking like they belonged in the main event of one of the biggest promotion in the United Kingdom. Ospreay provided plenty of "Wow" moments, being his usual flippy self, hitting a superb standing corkscrew senton after previous missing a moonsault, featuring a ridiculous sequence that saw him land on his feet after a top rope reverse rana attempt by Haskins, only to hit a reverse rana of his own and finishing off the bout with his beautiful 630 senton. This was a perfect way to finish the show that saw the landscape of PROGRESS continue to change, cementing Ospreay as the champion and validating his title win at the previous chapter.

Winner - Will Ospreay via pinfall in 17 minutes, 21 seconds.

Finally...

ATPW Scale Rating: 7.79/10


There was no chance that PROGRESS was going to be able to top Chapter 20, no chance at all....but I think they did it here. The ATPW Scale has been smashed. There were three outstanding matches on this card for me, with Havoc vs. Robinson, SDS vs. Strong & Cole and Ospreay vs. Haskins all being of the absolute highest quality indeed. Personally, Havoc vs. Robinson was my match of the night for it's emotional storytelling and utter brutality, but I certainly wouldn't have a problem with someone who sided with one of the two.


There is just no stopping this promotion at the moment as they continue to go from strength to strength. ATPW will be back at Ballroom in October for the sold out, Chapter 22, and we're very much looking forward to seeing what PROGRESS have in store for us next.

Wrestle Ropes Ready for the Weekend (21st/22nd/23rd August 2015)

In this week's edition of Ready For The Weekend we have events where returns will take place, careers and championships are on the line and opportunities are up for grabs.

On Friday night, HOPE Wrestling host a bumper 8-match card, Evolution 27: You Ask About My Consience and I'll Offer you My Soul, at the Forest Town Arena in Mansfield. In the main event of the evening, Jack Jester shall defend the HOPE Championship against Lionheart. Jester became the first-ever HOPE champion after defeating five other men in an elimination match at Evolution 25: Am I More Than You Bargained For Yet? last month, whilst  Lionheart outlasted 29 other men to win an opportunity at the title just a day later at Evolution 26: Boulevard of Broken Dreams. On August 21st we shall see which of these two men can overcome the other. A man who has overcome the biggest challenge of his life in the last 12 months is Kris Travis. In Mansfield on Friday night, Travis will make his in-ring return to HOPE Wrestling to face the winner of the Kings Of Flight tournament, Chris Tyler. Many have called Tyler the new Kris Travis, Travis is out to prove that wrestling doesn't need a new Travis, the original is still more than capable of stealing the show. Elsewhere in HOPE, there are no two men who hate each other more than LJ Heron and Ryan Smile. These men have competed in various matches for months with neither definitively showing superiority. However, this Friday they'll compete once again and the only way to win is to make their opponent say “I Quit!”. Add in another 5 matches that will feature El Ligero, Joseph Conners, Lana Austin, Martin Kirby & The Hooligans to name just a few and HOPE have a stacked show.

This Saturday will see Futureshock Wrestling celebrate their 11th Anniversary with Underground 12 at The Longfield Suite in Prestwich, where every championship will be on the line. A few months ago The Models were attacked and their Tag Team Championship belts were stolen by an unknown duo. It has now transpired that the duo in question were international tag team, The Wolves. Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards have now informed The Models that if they want their titles back then they'll have to win them and they'll have to do it in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match on August 22nd. Two men that have no love lost are Jack Gallagher and Zack Gibson. Both men have faced each other many times, delivering technical spectacles every time. On Saturday both men will come face-to-face once again, this time in a Submission Match. Either man could be argued as one of, if not THE best technical wrestler in the UK. Now it's time to find out who is superior. Every match has something on the line, be it respect, an opportunity or a championship. However, at this Saturday not only will Xander Cooper's Futureshock Championship be on the line but the challenger, Dave Rayne's career will be at risk. Dave Rayne is determined to end the reign of Cooper but 'The Man For All Seasons' wants Rayne's career to come to an end. Regardless of the outcome, Futureshock Wrestling is about to be changed forever. The Adrenaline and Women's Championship will also be up for grabs along with matches that feature Bubblegum, Ashton Smith, Sexy Kev and more as Futureshock Wrestling celebrating their 11th Anniversary in style.

Moving on to Sunday and IPW:UK are back at the Tap 'n' Tin in Chatham, Kent with another 18+ show, entitled If You Like Pina Coladas...and Getting Kicked in the Face. One match that presents an opportunity to all involved is a Four-Way Match between Damian Dunne, Chris Brookes, Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne. Remarkably, none of these four men have ever competed in IPW:UK before and this match not only has the possibility to steal a packed show but also gives all involved a chance to show why IPW:UK needs them in their ranks. A bout with an international flavour is the tag team match between The GZRS and the duo of Iestyn Rees and Robbie E. Sebastian and Tom Irvin have been tearing it up in the UK for the last few months doing things that a year ago had never been seen in a wrestling ring, such as a slip 'n' slip! Robbie E has won numerous championships and Iestyn Rees is a dominating powerhouse. The GZRS have a challenge on their hands when they face a team brimming with power and experience. When a show is for over 18s, there is usually a reason. One main reason for this IPW:UK event is undoubtedly the No F'n Rules Match between The London Riots and The Murkers. The Riots are known to do everything they can in matches to win when there are rules. Removing them will no doubt make them even more dangerous. However, their opponents love a fight. So much so that Jon Ryan's original tag team partner, Kurrupt is competing in his first match for over two and a half years. When a team reunite after being apart for so long you know that they are going to bring everything in their quest for victory. Riots vs Murkers, violence is a guarantee. Additional matches featuring Danny Duggan & Snare in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, a rematch between Toni Storm & Tennessee Honey and a lot more takes place this Sunday.


That wraps up this week's preview of the weekend's wrestling schedule. Of course, there are many more events taking place over the three days. To find out more about the shows we've highlighted here as well as all the others, check us out at www.wrestleropesuk.wordpress.com for the latest show and match announcements, British Wrestling event list and more.

PCW The Fourth Awakens LIVE Review

Just under four weeks since Tribute to the Troops 2 (which saw Dave Mastiff defeat Chris Masters for the PCW Championship) PCW was back to celebrate the promotions fourth anniversary in style, with The Fourth Awakens. Packed with talent from around the world, the show was main-evented by current WWE NXT star and former ROH World Champion, Samoa Joe taking on an unannounced opponent, with the likes of Dave Mastiff, Drew Galloway, Joey Hayes, Martin Kirby, Noam Dar, Sha Samuels, reDRagon and more also appearing. The event also featured the well-anticipated return of Kris Travis, in his first PCW match since June 2014, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Due to being stuck by the bar (outside of the main room in Evoque), I completely missed comedian Chris Brooker's opening speech, although I'd imagine it was a hilarious affair, as usual.

One Fall Six Way Match

Ophidian 

vs. 

Luther Ward 

vs. 

Dean Allmark 

vs. 

El Ligero 

vs. 

Charlie Garrett 

vs. 

Ashton Smith

 Anyone who's seen a PCW show will be more than familiar with the company's six way bouts, by now. If you're not, I'm sure you can figure out what six of PCW's cruiserweight division going at it could potentially look like. The match has become a calling card for the promotion. Plenty of fast-paced action and some quality spots spread throughout the bout, with Ashton Smith's double Olympic Slam and a superplex to the outside standing out as the pick of the bunch. The bout had an interesting dynamic, with the debuting Luther Ward impressing as the only heel in the bout. My only real complaint was that the match was fairly short, and all six of the men in the match could have benefited from a having a bit more time here. I also would have liked to have seen the bout have some kind of consequence (a shot at the Cruiser-weight title being the most obvious option), which could have added a little extra bite, when El Ligero picked up the win with a C4L on Smith.

One Fall Tag Team Match for the PCW Tag Team Championships.

Team Single (C) 

vs. 

The Broleivers

Hmmm...How to review this match? Essentially, what was supposed to happen, didn't happen, and what was supposed to happen wasn't much in the first place. Without going into it too much, Rampage Brown and T-Bone legitimately battered Josh Bodom and Ryan Hendricks for an uncomfortable couple of minutes. The majority of the Preston crowd couldn't have cared less for the debuting Broleivers or their fate chanting on for the usually hated Team Single. The finish saw the referee call for the bell with Bodom in a rear-naked choke from Brown, despite the move clearly being in the ropes and Bodom seemingly never tapping. Make of this what you will. It was not an enjoyable experience to watch this one at all, I'd paid to watch pro wrestling and this wasn't pro wrestling.

Following the match T-Bone, who for some reason was suddenly sporting a funky hat, challenged the winners of the upcoming reDRagon vs. Martin Kirby & Joey Hayes bout for a match later down the line, a strange thing for a heel tag team champion duo to do.

One Fall Match

Dave Rayne 

vs. 

Iestyn Rees

Going in, I was wondering how exactly Dave Rayne and Iestyn Rees would approach this one, with their styles of wrestling being very different. However the pair put on an enjoyable encounter, that although fairly short, played to the strengths of both men well. With a strong structure, that involved Rayne giving Rees the old fashioned run around in an attempt to take control of the match and plenty of comedy thrown into the mix, as one would expect with Rayne. The finish furthered Rayne's issues with General Manager Joanna Rose, as she appeared at ringside with Rayne's #Boom belt, allowing Rees to take control and hit a huge powerbomb to pick up the win. Plenty to enjoy in this one, with some strong storyline development, as Rees' powerbomb after the match suggested that we may see a rematch between the two, further down the line.

One Fall Match

Noam Dar 

vs. 

Drew Galloway

This bout was right up my alley, with Galloway and Dar putting together a top-quality effort. Some strong story-telling which saw Dar focus the majority of his efforts on Galloway's right knee, including hitting a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes, as well as off the top rope! The former Chosen One's selling was spot on throughout, with just enough touches  and winches on the knee, to keep the injury in the mind of fans, meaning that when Dar locked on the Champagne Super Knee Dar, twice, it meant so much more, and got a lovely reaction out of the Evoque Nightclub.

Whilst the crowd in many places around the country would have been split down the middle for these two Scotsman, Preston quickly decided they were behind the regular Noam Dar, serenading him with the usual chants. Galloway's demeanour, walking out slowly with head down and hair across his face, made it easy to side with Dar, over the more well-known former WWE Intercontinental Champion, with Galloway clearly playing to this kind of reaction, unlike previous imports who have clearly been thrown by the reaction opposite the ever popular Dar. The current leader of The Rising's offence seemed very scrappy, suiting his demeanour and adding something different to the show as a whole. 

With two huge near-falls, that got both got terrific reactions out of the live crowd, for Galloway, including a Tombstone Piledriver, it was Dar who was able to pick up the victory, capturing a frustrated Galloway in a small package for the pinfall. Whilst it was a shame not to get a true pay-off on Dar working the leg earlier in the match, it could easily be argued, in kayfabe, that the injured leg made it harder to escape the small package, so all is well with me. A post-match attack from Galloway following a handshake, turning him full-blown heel in PCW, would suggest this isn't the last we've seen of the current ICW World Heavyweight Champion in the promotion, a rematch with Dar certainly wouldn't go a miss for sure.

Elimination Three Way Match for the PCW Championship

Chris Masters 

vs. 

Dave Mastiff (C) 

vs. 

Bubblegum

I can't say I was particularly over joyed when Joanna Rose added Chris Masters to the match, mainly because Master's does very little for me, however his involvement here did provide a solid narrative, and allow babyface champion Dave Mastiff to be seen as the underdog, a role that one of our top five bastards is very rarely able to be in. The best reaction of the match came when Masters' asked Bubblegum to lie down for him, and whilst the logic may have been a little flawed (Why not wait to eliminate Mastiff?), the masses rallied behind their favourite Rent Boy, with Bubblegum eventually able to eliminate Masters with a roll-up. Strangely, Joanna Rose instantly banished Masters' from F.W.B. and PCW, turning him into an awkward babyface, whilst Bubblegum remained heel, despite having the crowd support earlier on. 

With Mastiff quickly able to take advantage once inside the ring, the big man from the Black Country picked up the win with a Cannonball in the corner to retain his title. It was a shame not to be able to see a little more of a one-on-one contest between Mastiff and Bubblegum, as I was interested to see how the dynamic was going to play out when heading to the show. However, this worked well as a way of building Mastiff as a dominant champion, who the crowd is clearly behind when placed against the right opponent. Another potential match for a future show, whilst the Bubblegum babyface turn tease seemed well received, there was a lot to take away from this bout. 

That wasn't the last we'd see of Mastiff on the night, as Joanna revealed that he would Samoa Joe's opponent in the main event, with the current WWE NXT star heading out for an intense stare down.

After a quick fifteen minute interval, with your regular wetting of whistles and perusing of the merch desk, it was back into the action.

One Fall Match

Rockstar Spud 

vs. 

Lionheart

Unannounced before the show, this match seemed to fall flat with the crowd. The problem seemed to be that both men are currently protagonists in the promotion, and so, as can often happen, the crowd was unsure on who they wanted to get behind and therefore...didn't get behind anyone. There were smattering of chants for Spud and a "Sexy Bastard" chant or two for Lionheart, but beyond that the match was mainly played out to crickets. The match having very little consequence or a build heading in, didn't help proceedings either, as there was no particular reason for anyone to care about who picked up the win.

The action in the ring was perfectly fine, as you'd expect with two of the most well-travelled performers here in the UK. The pair flowed nicely in the ring together, and every move looked crisp throughout, I don't think I could pick fault with the action at all. Rockstar Spud's selling was particularly strong, which perhaps made it even more frustrating to watch, as if Lionheart had been playing a full-blown heel role, which was teased at points, it would have completely changed the match around with the crowd being able to truly get involved in the action. Lionheart picking up the win cleanly with a Lifting Side Slam, followed by a Frog Splash, was a big win for the Pro Wrestling Elite promoter and gives him some momentum heading into PCW's autumn and winter shows, with particular eye on the collaboration with Ring of Honor in November.

One Fall Tag Team Match

reDRagon 

vs. 

Martin Kirby & Joey Hayes

With an intriguing pace and slightly off-kilter story, this was a delightful slice of tag team action from start to finish. Almost all of the story was focused on PCW regular's Joey Hayes and Martin Kirby's precarious partnership, with Hayes presenting Kirby with a brand new pair of trunks with his name on them prior to the match, setting the tone for what was toe come. reDRagon worked over Hayes for a good portion of the bout with their usual hybrid style, much to the delight of the Evoque, building nicely to a hot tag to Kirby. With the bout lifting in tempo for the closing stages, with the highlight of Kirby's run as the proverbial house of fire being a double Northern Lights suplex. 

The action was spot-on from bell to bell, and as the bout headed to a climax (following the hot tag to Kirby) the two teams lifted their respective games and the pace to create some good tag team action, with the performers seeming to gel together early on. reDRagon's combination that see's Fish hold an opponent in a wheel barrow position, followed by a double underhook DDT by O'Reilly, before O'Reilly pushes the opponent into a wheelbarrow suplex from Fish, always impresses me for it's creativity and flow, and worked nicely as a near fall here, with the teams going back and forth for a good few minutes either side. 

The Hayes and Kirby story continued to develop when after Kirby had hit Kirby's Dreamland and seemingly had the match won, Hayes tagged himself in, leading to a disagreement between the two and Hayes kicking Kirby in the stomach and tossing him to the outside. Whilst this worked as the finish to the match (after reDRagon took advantage and hit their Chasing the Dragon finish for the win), it was surprising to see Hayes and Kirby split up so early, meaning that the incident was a little underwhelming at the point it came at. reDRagon move onto a Tag Team Championship bout in November, whilst Hayes and Kirby will supposedly now be working a singles feud, perhaps involving Kirby's Money in the Bank briefcase, over the next few shows.

One Fall Match

Kris Travis 

vs. 

Sha Samuels

The moment Kris Travis walked out to wrestle for the first time in a PCW ring since June 2014, was a truly special moment. One of those moments that only pro wrestling can create, when a full to brim Nightclub can show their appreciation to a man who suffered with stomach cancer, for coming back to entertain us. Kris Travis is certainly a one of a kind performer in the ring, but making a return to pro wrestling, when many would have called it a day, makes him a one of a kind human being. Trav is the fucking man, man.

The match itself featuring some superb storytelling and Travis and Sha Samuels had the crowd in the palm of their hands from start to finish. Samuels, the cockney wanker that he is, made Travis' stomach the focus of his attacks throughout the contest, with Travis' selling being so good that at times it was uncomfortable to watch. Travis' fight back produced a stellar false finish with the Shooting Star unable to put away Samuels with a Double Underhook Piledriver. Travis even became the first person to successfully escape Samuels' sleeper hold for another big moment. It was, however, not the fairytale comeback that the crowd was looking for with Samuels able to put Travis away with another Sleeper Hold, this time with his leg wrapped around Trav's waist. For me, having Samuels win here was the right decision for everyone involved, with Samuels getting some lovely heat from the crowd, whilst Travis now has a much more interesting story to follow as his comeback continues. 

A raffle happened, who doesn't like a raffle. With the crowd being directed to the screens, former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was announced as making an appearance for the promotion on October 31st. 

One Fall Match for the PCW Championship

Samoa Joe 

vs. 

Dave Mastiff (C)

For what would many would mark as a dream match, Evoque was very subdued for this one. Maybe it was that the match started way after ten o'clock, maybe it was the crowd needed to come down after the emotional rollercoaster that was Travis vs. Samuels, maybe the match suffered from a similar problem as the previous Spud vs. Lionheart match, maybe it was because we'd already seen both Mastiff and Joe earlier in the night, I'm not quite sure what it was that caused the crowd to be relatively quiet for this heavyweight clash. 

The pace of the start of the match seemed to suggest that the match could potentially be going long, with the pair exchanging holds at a low pace and Joe especially working a headlock for a long time. Although this wouldn't come, there were a handful of nice suplexes delivered from both men (although not warranting the "Suplex City" chant that broke out) and a submission sequence from Joe also stood out, with Joe transitioning from an STF into a Crossface. With F.W.B. and Iestyn Rees charging the ring following a Cannonball from Mastiff, I was left scratching my head a little bit, as the run-in caused the disqualification that allowed Mastiff to retain the title, exactly what the pinfall on Joe would have done. 

The show closed with Chris Masters heading out to make the save for Joe and Mastiff and the trio being able to fight off the four heels. It was Joanna Rose however who had the last word, announcing that Mastiff would be defending his title on October 31st opposite former 5 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Jeff Jarrett. With the pair having a heated exchange back in April at 5upershow - Show 3, this one looks set to be an intriguing encounter indeed, especially if Jarrett's wife, Karen, is involved.

Finally...

ATPW Scale Rating - 5.69

Another strong showing from PCW, that produced a number of matches that I wouldn't argue if someone wanted to call match of the night. Travis vs. Samuels had some superb emotional storytelling, Dar vs. Galloway produced top performances from both men, whilst reDRagon vs. Martin Kirby and Joey Hayes was an unusual bout, but worked well thanks to four top-quality workers.

While there wasn't a "bad" match on the card (let's not talk about Team Single's Open Challenge at this point) there were points when the match failed to capture the crowd, with the biggest example being Lionheart and Rockstar Spud's bout, which would be heavily based around the reasons mentioned above, but could also have done something with the match being chosen to open the show, in a show that seemed to struggle to a gain good flow, in terms of match placement. Having Travis vs. Samuels directly before the main event would work as an example of this. 

With some pleasing storyline development (Mastiff vs. F.W.B., Dar vs. Galloway, Travis/Lionheart vs. Samuels, Hayes vs. Kirby, reDRagon vs. Team Single) this anniversary show seemed much more focused on the future than it did the past. This is a PCW that is continuing to grow as a promotion, and it's was great to see the promotion looking to build, rather than looking back at past successes.

With just over three weeks until the promotion hits Blackpool for Bank Holiday Bash (which is free by the way), which will feature 2 time ROH World Tag Team Champions The Wolves, 3 time TNA Knockout's Champion Mickie James, former  WWE United States Champion Mr. Anderson, former IWGP Tag Team Champion Magnus and former WWE World Tag Team Champions Too Cool, you can find out more about Preston City Wrestling by clicking the name.