Last Friday night Rev Pro put on a brilliant show at the York Hall in London, with several NJPW stars on the card as well as many of the best of British talent. A few of the nerds went along and here are the hazy memories from Dom, James and Ross.
Ross: So, I was lucky enough to go thanks to my brother getting a ticket for Christmas and in my head I was gonna go sober and enjoy the show with the lads and shoot off home... guess how well that went? What time did you guys get to The Dundee?
James: I got in about 5.30. Pete and Tom were already there. Sensibly went for the 4% Easy Peeler
Dom: On a Friday afternoon I’m meant to run a year 11 “social chill out” after school club. This was one time when being mean to the children worked in my favour as no one turned up and I was in the Dundee for 6.
Ross: Social chill out... classic Dom Van Dam. I was at the bar 5 minutes before bell-time anxiously hoping that I wouldn't have to sit in my seat that was badly blocked by the steel pillars. Happily, I walked up to the balcony with James and Rob, ready to watch Taichi mime his song and face Chris Brookes. Thoughts on the opener lads?
TAICHI v CHRIS BROOKES
James: I bloody loved Taichi. I don't care for him much on TV. But he was such a bell end it was brilliant. Highlighted by him having to get a chair to climb back over the guard rail.
Ross: I completely get on VOD he is a pain in the arse, but live he is a bloody riot. His antics are hilarious. He REALLY worked the eyes. Technician. The match itself was meh I guess, but live it was great fun and we got to see the TROUSER RIP in person. Goals.
Dom: I stayed at the pub so my mate Angelo could finish his pint (and I could finish both of mine) and as we walked in I nearly walked in to a Taichi Irish whip as they fought through the crowd.
Brilliant. Also that bloke is absolutely punching.
James: Who Angelo?
Dom: Yes. But I meant Taichi. Shout out to Angelo’s lovely fiancé and one of my work wives Elle.
James: Brookes got involved with some fun shenanigans in that cheeky way he does.
Ross: Ospreay attempted to stop the mic stand being used as a weapon but inadvertently hit Brookes. Is that gonna see him against Taichi in NJPW and Brookes in Rev Pro? I'm cool with both.
James: Could be something involving him, Taichi and Goto around the Never?
Dom: Pretty sure we asked Ospreay about it after the after party didn’t we Ross. He didn’t give any spoilers. But we wished him all the best.
Ross: Yeah we asked him about his WK13 likelihood. He was brilliantly kayfabe about it.
James: Definitely looked like Brookes and Ospreay down the line in RevPro.
GREAT O'KHARN v SHANE TAYLOR
Ross: Next up we were treated to Rob's favourites Lord Gideon Grey and The Great O'Kharn. He had a mystery opponent in Shane Taylor.
Dom: Rev pro Rob’s Gideon Grey is impeccable. Almost as good as Tristan’s Mambo. It was the best impression I'd heard all weekend til Tristan's Mambo.
James: Got in before me! Rev Pro Rob absolutely loves O'Kharn.
Dom: Tristan AKA Cosplay Nakamura for those playing along at home.
James: I don't think I've seen Shane Taylor for a while. Remember seeing him tagging with Keith Lee in a Ring of Honor dark match in Dallas.
Ross: My main memory of the match was Shane Taylor's bizarre bodyshape and O'Kharn winning by the Skull Bomb. Dom looked at me and said "There is no way ANYONE picks up Shane Taylor by the skull."
Dom: My first entry in my notes for the evening was “I’ve never seen anyone as happy as Revpro Rob when Gideon Grrrrey turned up”
James: Until you saw him when O'Kharn picked up Taylor by the skull
Dom: I think O’Kharn seems like a decent talent but I don’t know why he walks to the ring like I walk out of the Dundee Arms at midnight! If someone can explain that to me, hit me up.
JOSH BODOM v CHRIS RIDGEWAY
Ross: Next was an all British affair, a massive rarity in Rev Pro these days... Josh Bodom v Chris Ridgeway. To me, this was when the show really picked up. These two kicked lumps out of each other - with Bodom pissing blood from his nose and then wiping on his chest like a crazed ECW wrestler. What was it that Bodom shouted at Rids?
James: I'm harder than Fuck. That cracked me up. Made it on to my drunken voice note of reminders! Also Ross. That is not Rids… at best Riddy!
Ross: Apologies, bro. The finish saw Bodom tombstone Ridgeway on the apron, then Bliss bust him off the ropes for a decisive win. Mental match.
Dom: Wonder what Jobo kicked harder Riddy or the Hovis?
James: Yeah, I really enjoyed the match. Riddy is good in the ring and I really want to get that connection with him so I can get into him a bit more. If he keeps doing this though, it won't be long.
Ross: Same. Both impressed me
EL PHANTASMO v EL DESPERADO
Ross: ELP v El Desperado. Guys. This match. WOOF. From the couple in the front row high on life and other things with their glowsticks, all the way through to the pin, I had a blast.
James: El Phantasmo is one over gentleman. I'm not sure if ELP is underrated as people love him, but I feel he should be everywhere. I forgot the glow stick guy. He was having the time of his life!
Dom: I only remember one thing and that was when he did the Eddie Guerrero tope con hilo spot but Despy rolled out of the way. ELP walked on his hands to the middle of the ring but still hit it. Oh and those legends in the front row getting amongst the Friday Craic.
Ross: I remember loads of near falls, the incredible pace and ELP almost knocking out a small child in the first row with a dive. At half-time we watched Rev pro Rob make a beeline for his favs Grey and O'Kharn. He was the only one queuing for them I think...
James: Ah yeah Despy basically threw the kid out the way. Yeah Rob got a photo with Gideon and O'Kharn and LGG told whoever was selling the merch to take the picture in character and O'Kharn had his question mark cloth on his head.
Ross: Then it was the break... me and Dom hit the bar. Charli Evans stood with us and Dom and her said Aussie references that went over my head, but he was kind enough to introduce me anyway. He bought us shots of jaeger and there went my quiet night at the graps mindset… I was glad he did.
Dom: Friend of the group Charli Evans
James: Always good for a Jaeger Dom.
Dom: We chatted about twisties and Ice break and the mighty manly sea eagles.
James: Dunno what I was doing. Half time cigarette, I presume.
SATOSHI KOJIMA v WALTER
Ross: So the queue was long and we only got WALTER v Kojima in audio form for the first 3/4 of the match. The chops were LOUD though.
James: Surprisingly my memory becomes a bit more hazy after this. I was at the top for the start and that was one loud choppy match.
Ross: Once back on the balcony we witnessed WALTER german suplex Kojima and it sent him super wobbly.
Dom: I’m sure Kojima was legitimately knocked a bit silly in this match right? German suplex! That was it.
Ross: WALTER went super easy on him after that and then a LARIATOOOOO from the former G1 Winner was enough to pick up the three.
Dom: He didn’t look like he was all there after the match. It was maybe incredible selling and if it was he got us all hook line and sinker. But I think if he played football he’d be in the HIA protocol right now.
James: I had to go to the HIA protocol after our last Friday night watching wrestling...
Dom: Oh goodness gracious me! Yeah. Said to be one hell of a bump. Even if I was still there I probably wouldn’t remember it.
Ross: Then we got a promo from a groggy Kojima... and Bodom interrupted. He basically slagged off Kojima and bread. Declared himself a heavyweight and kicked the shit out of some Hovis.
James: But yeah, Kojima was either knocked out a bit or he has the most fantastic selling of a concussion. The bread stuff was brilliant. Just launching it at him and Kojima caught some and ate it.
Ross: IS BREAD CLUB MORE OVER THAN BULLET CLUB NOW? Hot Topic will probably sell loafs soon.
James: They don't sell belts. Surely you'd think a shop like that would sell a belt?
Dom: So I only know this bread story from the last RPW show. But apparently it’s a thing. I assume that Ko-Jim-aaahhhh feels about Bodom kicking bread how I’d feel if someone tipped a Pepsi max down the sink
Ross: Such a CM Punk mark, Dom!
MK MCKINNAN v SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY
Ross: Next up was a sleeper match of the year candidate in MK McKinnan v Speedball Mike Bailey. I can't even describe this one!
James: That was bloody good. I think Dom described it like the Danny Jones v Mike Bird banger from the Dome last year. Sort of came out of nowhere.
Dom: I’m not sure what our rules are for language on the site. But this is directly from my notes:
“Holy ducking shit. Speedball and the other cunt flogged the shit out of each other.”
Ross: Pretty sure there was a dive here that looked like a powerbomb as the dude who hit it folded up like an accordion on his neck. 5 stars in my opinion. Fucking awesome. There was a standing ovation after MK won that lasted a long time. Deserved it, too.
Dom: So I was thinking about this match a little bit and it made sense from their perspective. They have one shot to go out and try to steal the show so they decide to just kill each other to win the crowd. Psychology wise it was a bit loose but the crowd (including drunk us) loved it. Who cares if it was just 978 moves and kick outs. This was so much fun. 2 very sore boys on Saturday morning I’d suspect. They succeeded. They’ll be back. I also enjoyed the “kick pads! No shoes!” chant for Speedball.
SUZUKI GUN v AUSSIE OPEN
Ross: Then we got the tag title match between Suzuki Gun and Aussie Open. WOW what an atmosphere even before the match started for this. Big match feel.
James: What. A. Match. Match of the night for me. Just the start with Kyle slapping Minoru then he couldn't get his hands on him for so long but he kept looking at him.
Dom: Kyle Fletcher is really filling out. Doesn’t look out of place with heavyweights at all. Think I told him at the after party. That was pretty awkward.
James: You knew the King hadn't forgotten. Yeah, Kyle looks in top shape.
Ross: I don't remember much about the match itself other than Suzuki's amazing facial impressions, how disgusting his forearm shots are and Fletcher getting the stump piledriver, but i know it was special.
James: Whilst ZSJ had Davis tied up in something to avoid breaking it up
Ross: That’s right, yes.
James: Also Suzuki scared Roberts into running away at the end!
Ross: Roberts running is like Teresa May dancing. Pass it on.
Dom: Also RevPro Rob may like Suzuki more than O'Kharn
Ross: That’s one I will actually agree with him on!
Dom: I have a quote but I can’t remember why I wrote it down… “Does it embarrass you that you support the same team as Roberts?”
James: I think that was Newcastle Utd based joke I made to you?
Dom: Yeah I thought so too. Savage from you Harris
TOMOHIRO ISHII v DAVID STARR
Ross: MAIN EVENT TIME. David Starr v Ishii.
James: I'm now at the point where I know I liked it but specifics are hard to come by
Dom: “David Starr definitely shaves his back”
Ross: I recall the '3 count' that was called a 2 by Roberts and not a lot else, which is bad cos i'm sure it was excellent.
Dom: David Starr worked a hell of a match from my hazy memory. He was abusive and elusive. Ishii couldn’t really get to him too much in the early stages. Eventually though they ended up drilling one another in typical Ishii style. Didn’t think they’d pull off a typical Ishii underdog narrative when Starr is the cruiserweight. But they did.
Ross: Ishii won the match but was then jumped by Suzuki Gun with ZSJ challenging him for the British title at WK13. That was a MOMENT. Basically saw a Wrestlemania build, at york hall, pissed out of our heads.
James: Yeah Taichi walked out with a Pete Dunne shrug and I thought he was getting a shot.
Dom: Sabre started his portion of the promo with: “listen up you bald scrotum!”
Ross: Fucking hell, that's so brilliant. Forgot that.
THE OSPREAY PARTY
Ross: Then we went Dundee Arms and met up with Pete and waxed lyrical about the show.
Dom: We definitely should have gone to the chicken shop instead of the pub between the show and the after party!
Ross: I recall bumping into Lord Gideon Grey on the way and shaking his hand.
Dom: Oh yeah! We asked him if he was coming for a beer and he said he was too old. When he’s not in character he is a loveable geography teacher type.
Ross: My memory of the after party is very hazy but can be summed up in... Ospreay is a big loveable kid and loves an inflatable, Havoc is actually really nice, Burridge is a don and the DJ was playing some bangers. Pantera’s 'Walk' got a spin and I lost my shit.
Dom: Havoc is genuinely the nicest bloke if you buy him a beer. (James you have to tell the Pete viper story)
James: After party was a good craic. My memories are… Will was having a great time. Pete asking Viper 'are you Viper' after said to him there's Viper. I came and interrupted what I'm sure was a lovely convo you were having with Kyle and Charli to moan about the Beer Pong rules. Charli was very complimentary about my Brittsburgh hat despite my ranting. I discussed the beer pong rules with David Starr before eventually with a guy named Darryl and Pete who by his own admission did not contribute, won the final game of the night after kissing the ball and waving to the crowd before sinking the last cup. Shane Taylor claiming he ran the tables is bollocks. He lost to the team we beat!
Dom: I met Viper and fanboyed so hard. I drunkenly asked Jimmy Havoc if I should ask her for a photo. He said “I don’t fucking know mate. Best ask her yourself.” Then completely baby faced me to her. “Viper. This lovely gentleman is Dom and he’d love a photo with you, but is too embarrassed to ask.”
Ross: I'd say that's a lovely way to end any night. Got the bus with Dom, ate all the food and then got caught in the rain in the early hours. Totally worth it though. Until next time, chaps.
Dom: Oh, the chicken shop ripped me off Ross! They saw us coming mate. Didn’t give me half the chicken I paid for. Probably didn’t need 15 quid’s worth in hindsight though.
James: The Night ended for me with Will Ospreay saying "We'll do this again but I'm drunk, it's 2am and have to build a ring."
Thanks to James and Dom for sharing their thoughts with me - I hope you enjoyed the read!
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