Chapter 12 was entitled 'We're gonna need a bigger room' as the PROGRESS promotion had outgrown The Garage in Highbury. Since then, they have been housed monthly at the Electric Ballroom in Camden that holds 700 Ultras.
'Big shows' have followed annually at both the Brixton Academy and Alexandra Palace, but on Sunday, PROGRESS will be at Wembley Arena! What a journey!
Our nerd group make the pilgrimage to to see the biggest independent show on English soil for three decades and whilst the build has certainly been far from linear at times, the owners have done a tremendous job of pulling off a great looking card...
PROGRESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - WALTER (C) v TYLER BATE
PROGRESS WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP - JINNY (C) v TONI STORM v MILLIE MCKENZIE
PROGRESS ATLAS CHAMPIONSHIP - DOUG WILLIAMS (C) v TRENT SEVEN
PROGRESS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - THUNDERBASTARD
TLC NO. 1 CONTENDERS MATCH - MARK ANDREWS v EDDIE DENNIS
NO DQ GRUDGE MATCH - JIMMY HAVOC v PAUL ROBINSON
RIDDLE'S FAREWELL - MATT RIDDLE v MARK HASKINS
EUROPEAN DREAM MATCH - PETE DUNNE v ILJA DRAGUNOV
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PRE-SHOW BATTLE ROYAL
So without any further ado, let's ask the five big questions to team nerd about the show...
WHAT WILL BE MATCH OF THE NIGHT?
ROSS - I think it is going to be Havoc v Robinson. I personally think that it would have been Dennis v Andrews before the TLC announcement. I can't think of one match in BritWres where the ladders used haven't been dangerous and or useless! The Havoc v Robinson match at chapter 21 was one of my favourite ever PROGRESS matches and as someone who isn't really a death match guy, that's impressive. We have an excellent story, two great wrestlers in this environment and a clear face and heel. BRING IT ON.
DOM - Match of the night will be Pete Dunne vs Ilja Dragonuv (I'm not wasting my time looking up how to spell his name properly) Simply because I care so much about who wins. Let me preface this by saying: I voted remain in the EU Referendum, I’ve been to Germany twice and slept with a girl from Russia. I love vodka and my favourite football World Cup ever was this year in Russia. But dammit, I hate this vampire faced Ruski. How dare this squeezer come in to the promotion that my time, money and passion helped to build and disrespect my home grown hero. Pete Dunne kicks his teeth down his throat or we buystvo!
JAMES - Lots of options, The Thunderbastard will be madness. No idea how to keep an eye on that. Glad we can see the whole ring for once. The Battle of Wales has a great build and they barely touched each other all year, Walter and Tyler has the chance to be special and I've heard Riddle and Haskins have had at least one banger, but for me I feel Dunne v Dragunov will steal the show. Dragunov drips charisma and is a new attraction to lots in the UK. He will smash it and Pete Dunne is just that damn good.
MAT - Riddle v Haskins.
ROB - Eddie Dennis v Mark Andrews TLC.
SAM - Thunderbastard because No Fun Dunne is in it.
MUHAMMAD - WALTER v Tyler Bate
PETE - The battle of Wales.
WHAT SHOULD THE THUNDERBASTARD SHOT-ROUND RULE BE?
ROSS - I want to actually remember a show for once without watching needing on demand to jar my memory. Therefore, I vote for usual rules apply - like an economical bowler - no extras, please.
DOM - Thunderbastard shot round rule should be everybody has to buy themselves 1 shot and 1 beer. When their nominated team is eliminated they drink their shot. The nerd with the winning team nominates their shot to another nerd and gets all the beers to drink/ share as they choose.
JAMES - We've got 7 of us sitting together? Maybe something like Super Strong Style. All get randomly allocated 2 wrestlers (couple will have to double up), If your guy gets pinned you buy shots for you and the guy who pins you?
MAT - I think the loser of the shot round will need to watch a Brie Bella botch reel on repeat for an hour as well as buy the shots.
ROB - Don't understand the question? A shot round is a shot round you lunatic.
SAM - Whoever gets No Fun Dunne wins.
MUHAMMAD - Everyone drinks a flaming sambuca for every successful pinfall by Flamita?
PETE - Each person gets one member of a tag team and if that person is last eliminated then they buy!
WHAT WILL THE SHOCK OF THE NIGHT BE?
ROSS - I always make bold predictions before shows that never seem to happen, but I have truly convinced myself that we are getting Scroobius Pip live performance for Paul Robinson's entrance and it is going to be a goosebump inducing moment.
DOM - Shock of the night will not be Eddie Dennis cashing in to win the world title because that’s not a shock at all. Shock of the night will be no fun Dunne turning on El Santo to start an incredible feud to culminate in the ballroom.
JAMES - I manage to hold back the tears during the whole Riddle experience
MAT - Shock of the night will be Doug Williams retaining his Atlas Championship.
ROB - David Elmore surviving without being crippled by the weight of oxygen.
SAM - No Fun Dunne proving he is the best Dunne.
MUHAMMAD - Eddie Dennis pulling double duty and cashing in the title shot he earns against Mandrews to win the title after the main event
PETE - HHH shows up!
WHO WILL BE THE MVP?
ROSS - A LOT of fans are coming into this show having not really seen too much of Dragunov, myself included. I was blown away with his charisma and character work in the one actual live match I have seen so far and I think he is going to do the same to thousands more on Sunday, setting himself up for a main event push with a win over the WWE UK Champion, Pete Dunne.
DOM - MVP of the night will be Mark Andrews. He’s gonna do flips and take bumps and put over the promotion’s next “guy.”
JAMES - Does pre-show count? As that will be the great man. The OJMO. On the main card I think Matt Riddle is going out on top of his game.
MAT - Pete Dunne.
ROB - Me and Jake.
SAM - Have a guess.
MUHAMMAD - Ilja Dragunov
PETE - You are, Ross.
WHAT SONG WILL YOU REQUEST AT THE AFTER PARTY?
ROSS - I went for an eclectic range of requests on the PROGRESS fans page. Slick, Oddities, My Way, Creed, WALK, Man In a box, BWO, With My Baby Tonight, Freebirds, 80's Sting, 90's Boss Man. Just shuffle the pack.
DOM - At the after party I will request AFI: “miseria Cantare” because I want the other virgins in attendance to know that I watched ROH before Bullet Club and I liked your old stuff better than your new stuff. Or at the after party I will request a love song dedication. This one goes out to Session Moth Martina from Dom who needs reminding he has work in the morning. “The Divinyls: I Touch Myself.”
JAMES - Already done it. Keith Lee and D-Lo Brown.
MAT - Brie Bella's tune.
ROB - 'Closing time' as I leave early for my 5am start on Monday.
SAM - One big siren, all night long.
MUHAMMAD - Love Is Blindness
PETE - Some of the old entrance themes before the copyright issues hit.
Thanks to all the nerds who contributed - bring on Sunday!
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