Wrestle Ropes' Ready for the Weekend: April 2016 Week 2 - TW, PWC & PROGRESS

When a sports season reaches it's conclusion there is a small break, a time to recover. Well wrestling has no off-season and while the biggest weekend in professional wrestling may now have past for another year, British Wrestling still has a packed weekend of action coming up. This week we're firstly head to Carlisle to celebrate an anniversary before going back south for the biggest show in a promotion's history. Then just to round off the weekend we'll jump across to Manchester on Sunday. Let's get Ready For The Weekend!

friday

target wrestling: 3rd anniversary

carlise, cumbria, england

Kicking off the weekend on Friday night and Target Wrestling are at The Venue in Carlisle to celebrate their 3rd anniversary. To celebrate their 3rd year, Target Wrestling have announced a trio of international names to compete. One of those names is 'War King' Eddie Kingston. A former CHIKARA Grand Champion, Kingston is well-known for his violent and physical style. His opponent is one of the most violent man not only in Target Wrestling but the whole of the UK. One half of the current Target Tag Team Champions; Chris Renfrew. Both of these men have held gold in numerous promotions during their careers and have done so with more than a hint of ruthlessness. It's not really a question of who will walk out the winner but rather who will go the furthest to win. While Renfrew faces a man of violence, his tag team partner and fellow champion, BT Gunn will compete against a world-renowned high flyer in 'The Juice' Juventud Guerrera.  A former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Guerrera has worked for almost every international company on the planet. Gunn is considered to be the best wrestler in Europe by a number of fans and wrestlers. He could well cement that distinction this Friday with a win over 'The Juice'. The main event for April 8th shall see the current Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion; Jay Lethal come to Target Wrestling. He will be competing against the current Target High Octane Division Champion; Shady Nattrass. However, while both men may be a champion, after this Friday, one shall not be as this will be a dual championship, winner takes all match. Lethal has won championship gold all over the world and could well add to his collection. Shady Nattrass has beaten some of the biggest international names in professional wrestling but a win to become the ROH World Heavyweight Champion would be the biggest yet.

3rd anniversary match card

*ROH World Heavyweight Championship/Target High Octane Division Championship – Winner Take All*

Jay Lethal (c) vs Shady Nattrass (c)

*Singles*

Chris Renfrew vs Eddie Kingston

*Fatal Four-Way*

Martin Kirby vs Alexander Henry vs James Scott vs The Coyote Kid

*Singles*

BT Gunn vs ‘The Juice’ Juventud Guerrera

*Tag Team*

Havok & Karnage vs The Proven (Caz Crash & Sam Wilder)

*Singles*

Rampage Brown vs Lionheart

saturday

pro wrestling chaos - heir 2 the throne

whitchurch, bristol, england 

Moving on to Saturday and we head to Pro Wrestling Chaos who shall be holding their biggest event to date when they make their debut at the Action Indoor Sports in Whitchurch, Bristol. Now when we said this was their biggest show to date, we didn't mean in size although they have already broken their own pre-sale record. No, what we mean is that PWC will make genuine  world-first history as the Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Championship and TNA World Heavyweight Championship shall both be defended on the same show. Now you could excuse PWC for just using that news to make you want to come to this show. But that is not the style of PWC. This show is stacked from bell to bell! There are three championship matches, one of them a tables match. There is a Falls Count Anywhere match, a Ladder match, a Mountevans Rules match and a tag team championship tournament match! As we mentioned, both the ROH World Heavyweight Championship and TNA World Heavyweight Championship will be defended. Firstly, Jay Lethal shall be defending the ROH World Heavyweight Championship against 'White Lightning' Mark Andrews, a well-traveled, world-class wrestler in his own right and more than a challenge to Jay Lethal. 'The Pride Of Wales' Eddie Dennis, another hidden gem of British Wrestling, shall look to make history for himself as well on April 9th by becoming the first ever Welsh-born TNA World Heavyweight Champion when he challenges Drew Galloway for the gold. Mike Bird and El Ligero will look to settle their differences once and for all when they meet for a third time in a Falls Count Anywhere match. With each man holding one win over the other, they are without doubt going to do all it takes to pick up the deciding victory and end this long running rivalry. A few months ago, Pro Wrestling Chaos hosted a match between Johnny Kidd and Pete Dunne under traditional Mountevans Rules. For those unaware, Mountevans Rules dictate that a competitor may score a fall by pinfall, submission, knockout, technical knockout or disqualification with the winner being the most falls after three rounds. The match was so well received that Pro Wrestling Chaos have now brought Kidd back for what shall be one of his last matches. His opponent is a man who is the embodiment of the Mountevans era, Jack Gallagher. This match will be nothing short of pure wrestling joy. It is a chance to seem a legend in one of his last matches, doing exactly what he does best and doing it with one of the best.

heir 2 the throne match card

*King Of Chaos Championship – Tables Match*

Jeckel (w/ Pariah Khan) vs Wild Boar (c)

*Falls Count Anywhere*

‘Ginger Jesus’ Mike Bird vs ‘The Mexican Sensation’ El Ligero

*ROH World Heavyweight Championship*

Jay Lethal (c) vs ‘White Lightning’ Mark Andrews

*TNA World Heavyweight Championship*

‘The Chosen One’ Drew Galloway (c) vs ‘The Pride Of Wales’ Eddie Dennis

*Heir To The Throne Ladder Match – Winner Earns A Championship Match At Time Of Their Choosing*

‘Evil’ Ian Williams vs Gideon vs KillBane vs ‘Mr Massive’ Chuck Cyrus vs Panda Cub vs Eddie Ryan vs Alex Steele

*Mountevans Rules*

Jack Gallagher vs Johnny Kidd

*Knights Of Chaos Tag Team Championship Tournament*

The SX Express (Scotty Essex & Paul Robinson) vs DND (Danny Duggan & Cieran Donnelly)

sunday
progress wrestling - chapter 28: please please please let me get what i want
manchester, england

Finally rounding off the weekend and PROGRESS Wrestling are back at The Ritz in Manchester for 'Chapter 28: Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want'. Another stellar event is promised in Manchester with seven contests confirmed for this Sunday. Following Chapter 27, Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis were attacked by The Origin in what has been an on-going saga between the two teams for a number of months. So PROGRESS have signed a match between F.S.U and The Origin's Nathan Cruz and El Ligero in an attempt to end this battle. The Origin's PROGRESS Tag Team Championship shall be on the line and the match shall be fought under No Disqualification rules. The Origin could continue their reign in PROGRESS or F.S.U could walk out as two-time champions. This past weekend, Marty Scurll made history with Will Ospreay as they fought in Dallas, Texas for the PROGRESS Championship. 'The Villain' walked out still the champion and will head to Manchester as such. However he will not be defending the championship again as he has refused to do so. While he may not be a defending champion on April 10th, he will be a competing one as PROGRESS management have announced that he shall be holding a non-title open challenge to anyone in attendance this Sunday. Whoever answers the challenge may not leave as champion but a win over Marty Scurll could well set them up with a future championship match. At Chapter 27, PROGRESS Wrestling announced a new championship and tournament that will take place in the coming months. The Atlas Championship shall only be open to those over the 205lb weight limit with the tournament to crown the inaugural champion consisting of two groups of four men with the winner of each group meeting in the final on September 26th. The tournament gets started this weekend and the first match shows us what we have to look forward to as T-Bone face Austria's Big Daddy Walter in a Group A match. Both men will want to start the tournament off with a win and make a statement on their intentions. Quite simply, we're getting a heavyweight collision this Sunday.

chapter 28: please please please let me get what i want match card

*PROGRESS Tag Team Championship – No Disqualification*

The Origin (‘The Mexican Sensation’ El Ligero & ‘The Showstealer’ Nathan Cruz) (c) vs F.S.U (‘White Lightning’ Mark Andrews & ‘The Pride Of Wales’ Eddie Dennis)

*Natural Progression Series Semi-Final*

Ashton Smith vs Damon Moser

*Open Challenge*

‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll vs ???

*Atlas Championship Tournament – Group A*

Big Daddy Walter vs T-Bone

*Singles*

Jinny (w/ Elizabeth) vs Toni Storm

*Singles*

‘The Star Attraction’ Mark Haskins vs Flash Morgan Webster

*Tag Team*

The Dunne Brothers (‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne & ‘Number One’ Damian Dunne) vs Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven)

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, interviews, exclusive columns, reviews, reports and results!

Wrestle Ropes Ready for the Weekend: October 2015 Week 3

This week's edition of Ready For The Weekend sees us travelling to Carlisle before heading to the very north of Scotland before finally coming all the way back and ending in London. Only in British Wrestling would that be a normal weekend. So let's get on the road!

Friday night kicks off in Carlisle when Target Wrestling return to The Venue with a showcase of the Best Of British. When you talk about the best in the UK with regards to tag teams, few surpass The Hooligans' Zak & Roy Knight. On October 16th they step in the ring with a tag team who have dominated Target Wrestling for the last year, Alexander Henry & Johnny Khaos of Red Nation. Red Nation have taken the fight to any tag team they have faced but this Friday they'll face a team which loves to fight. The Hooligans are rightly so in the top elite of tag teams in the UK right now and this will be the biggest test that Red Nation have ever faced. A win for them would undoubtedly put them amongst the very best. Friday will also see James Scott make the first defence of the High Octane Division Championship since winning the vacant championship back in September. He'll have a challenge on his hands as he defends against Spyda, who he defeated to win the championship, and Martin Kirby, one of the UK's most decorated singles & tag team champions. Scott has proven himself at being tough after coming back from injury but this will be a big test against not just one but two opponents. Originally, Target Wrestling announced that Carmel would be in action against Saraya Knight, however after unforeseen circumstances Saraya had to withdraw from the match. Target Wrestling didn't let that stop them and upped the ante by announcing that Carmel would instead compete against Kasey Owens, Bete Noire & Destiny in a fatal four-way match instead. The mast will see both Destiny & Bete Noire make their Target Wrestling while Owens makes her first appearance since April. This match has a lot of styles in it from heavy hitters like Destiny and Bete Noire to the more high-flying and technical aspect from Owens & Carmel and a lot of crossover from all four women. Nobody looks a clear winner with all four looking to leave a lasting impression in Target Wrestling.

Moving on to Saturday and we travel to the north of Scotland for Wrestlezone's event at the Kinellar Hall in Blackburn. The past few events have seen a back-and-forth between The Rejected's Chris Archer & Mikkey Vago and the current Wrestlezone Tag Team Champions, Mr P & Kaden Garrick. Neither team has come out a clear winner from their previous match victories being shared between both teams. This Saturday looks to see their rivalry continue as Mikkey Vago faces Kaden Garrick while Mr P competes against Chris Archer in singles match. While these matches won't settle anything, wins for The Rejected could see them get another shot at the Wrestlezone Tag Team Championship. One man who has definitely been picking up win after win in recent months has been Aspen Faith. A few weeks ago, Faith issued a challenge to any former Wrestlezone champion to face him as he looked to further make his case as a contender for championship gold. However, few expected including Aspen Faith himself that the challenge would be accepted by former Wrestlezone Tag Team Champion, Cysto. Aspen Faith has made it clear that he is not happy and now looks to make an example of Cysto in Blackburn on October 17th. The main event for October 17th will see the current Wrestlezone Undisputed Champion, Scotty Swift continue his fight with Sterling Oil when he joins forces with former champion, Crusher Craib to face Alan & William Sterling in a tag team match. Since Sterling Oil's reformation they have primarily focused on getting the Wrestlezone Undisputed Championship back around their collective waist. Swift has not taken their attacks lying down and has faced every challenge they have put in front of him. He's now taking the fight directly to the group and looks to send a message on Saturday night when he and Crusher Craib meet The Sterling Brothers in the ring.

We finally finish the weekend back in London with Progress Wrestling 'Chapter 22: Trust, Encouragement, Reward, Loyalty... Satisfaction' at The Electric Ballroom in Camden. Now as is now a standard with Progress, this show is already sold out and has been for ages. But that doesn't mean we can't look at what is happening at the event and you might be very lucky and pick up returned ticket through their site: www.progresswrestling.twickets.co.uk. The main event will see former tag team partners and friends, Will Ospreay and Paul Robinson clash for the Progress Championship. Ospreay overcame the oppressive Jimmy Havoc to reach the top of the Progress mountain back at Chapter 20 and has already defended it against Mark Haskins at Chapter 21. It was at Chapter 21 that Paul Robinson beat Jimmy Havoc in one of the most brutal matches in the history of Progress Wrestling. Following the match, Robinson laid claim to a championship opportunity which would have been awarded to Havoc had he won. This is the most violent we have ever seen Paul Robinson but Ospreay has told his former mentor that he's not the Will Ospreay that he knew. He is no longer a kid that Robinson helped when they were team mates and Robinson is definitely not the same man he was back then either. These men have unfinished business with each other and on Sunday they look to end it. We won't say whoever wins, more whoever survives will walk of the Progress Champion. Following Chapter 21, Nathan Cruz released a video claiming that he, El Ligero & Zack Gibson were building an army. The London Riots soon heard of this video and countered that they and the current Progress Tag Team Champions, Tommy End & Michael Dante of the Sumerian Death Squad would face this army in a match at Chapter 22. The London Riots & Sumerian Death Squad are looking to meet this army head on except they don't know how big this army actually is. The match has been signed but in all reality we have no idea if the teams will be even or whether SDS & Riots will be outnumbered. Either way, regardless of the numbers, we're seeing a fight on Sunday in Camden. Since his début in Progress Wrestling, 'Flash' Morgan Webster has never lose a single match. Add in that he is also guaranteed a championship match whenever he wants thanks to winning the Natural Progression Series and things are pretty good for The Modfather. One man who wishes he had such success in Progress is 'The Villain' Marty Scurll who has come up short on numerous occasions. At Chapter 21, Marty Scurll simply snapped and shocked The Electric Ballroom with his actions. Since then Scurll has been silent. This Sunday Morgan Webster walks into Progress undefeated but against an opponent in Marty Scurll who might be so dangerous that nobody can comprehend what he might do.



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

Over The Border - A Revolution Has Begun

2014 has been a huge year for professional wrestling. With Scottish wrestling promotions really coming into their own and at least two companies drawing over 1000 fans in attendance, it's growing at a fast rate. Thanks, in part, to the Insane Fight Club documentary on the BBC. It really helped people realise that there are local wrestling companies that aren't "WWF Tribute" shows but legitimate companies with their own identity.  

In every corner of Scotland there is a company that gives you something a little bit different, from Rock N Wrestle and Caithness Pro Wrestling in the Highlands, WrestleZone in Aberdeenshire, SWE in Tayside, Reckless Intent in West Lothian, even Target tread the borders into Dumfries and Galloway. I can't forget the central belt and surrounding area that harbours a bursting scene with ICW, SWA, BCW, PBW, Fierce Females, PWE and Pride respectively. With many companies starting in the last year, like the aforementioned Rock N Wrestle and also Discovery Wrestling, and companies touring Scotland over the year like W3L, you can't help but be swept up in the momentum that Scottish wrestling is building.

Wrestling is a serious business, no more Tribute Kanes and Tribute Mankinds rolling about and failing to fool even the 10 year olds in attendance, but now there are actual wrestlers, entertainers and something you can believe in. It's proven by how many people want to spread the word about Scottish wrestling through blogs, videos, podcasts and Facebook pages (myself included) we are all proud of this revolution happening in our country. 

Proof is shown in TNA British Bootcamp Season 2 where four of Scotland’s best made it through to the UK Finals; Noam Dar, Kay Lee Ray, Nikki Storm and Grado. This is just scratching the surface of what Scotland has to offer.

It can only get better, with the country producing the best male and female talent it is only a matter of time before we see Scottish wrestling back on TV (and I don't mean a graveyard slot on MyChannel). Insane Fight Club 2 is set for airing next year on BBC One and with the ICW On Demand service (only £3.95) available plus a whole load of content on YouTube including full events from SWE and PWE, we are in a haven of opportunity to watch the cream of the crop, the best in Europe and it is right on your doorstep.

Drew Galloway sums it up best.