by Rich
So here we are, night two of seven, or Seven Slam Week as I’ve just rebranded it. Tonight’s show is Progress. Looks to be a good card as it stands (card subject to change). Some of the same wrestlers from last night as well as some additions so should be fun. Crowd seems a bit bigger than last night, should make for a decent atmosphere.
So here we go...
Jim kicks us off again. Loves how Canadians are so polite and don’t boo those who weren’t at last night’s show. Time for some crowd introductions starting with a guy in a Shane o Mac baseball shirt. After a couple more, it’s time to kick things off.
Full disclaimer before we get into things, I don’t know all the names of moves, and some I may be naming incorrectly, my apologies!
Match One:
Jordan Devlin v Travis Banks
Test of strength neither can get the upper hand. After an exchange of roll ups Banks gets on top with a solid knee to the face, then lines Devlin up for a chop. Next Banks whips Devlin into the corner and over the top rope out of the ring. Another big chop outside the ring before they both get back in the ring.
Devlin starting to get back in it, hits what looks like a Rock Bottom (probably has a technical term) followed by a standing Moonsault for the near fall.
Pace is picking up now and the crowd are really getting into it. Banks sends Devlin out of the ring, then hits a huge kick on the apron followed by suicide dive.
“This is Progress chants” ring out across the hall. Devlin hits a Spring Board Cutter out of nowhere for another near fall. But Devlin doesn’t keep advantage for long, Banks regains the advantage with some explosive offence, ending with both men on the canvas.
A big head butt and Canadian Destroyer (still trying to figure out how on earth that mover works) from banks but Devlin comes straight back and gets a close 2 and 3/4 near fall. Delvin then missed from too rope, and Banks hits some form of slam for a near fall. Pretty sure that was about 2.99 seconds!
Banks heads up to the top rope, lining up Devlin but as Banks is on his way down, Devlin pops up and hits the Code Breaker. Devlin follows up with his finisher for the win!
Wow, what a cracker, probably one of the best live matches I’ve ever seen. Wow, just wow. Banks gets standing ovation as he leaves.
To quote Jim “that was fun wasn’t it”
Match 2
Holidead v Toni Storm
Crowd into the entrances. These two women have a lot to live up to after the first match.
Holidead with the trash talk, playing the heel role very well. A test of strength ends in the corner for the break. Huge right from Holidead then they exchange rights.
Storm drops Holidead with a big boot, followed by sliding knees to face sending Holidead out of the ring. Storm hits one suicide dive, sets up for the second but blocked by Holidead with a knee to the face.
Holidead mocks the crowds “Toni Toni Toni f-ing Storm” chants which sparks a “Holi Holi Holi f-ing dead” Holi Holi f ing dead chant from one man.
Holidead hits a back breaker and beats down Storm. Storm tries fighting back but Holidead hits another back breaker. Holidead uses ring post to stretch out Storm as the boo’s begin to ring out around the ring.
More trash talk from Holidead, things are not looking good for Storm right now. Holidead locks in more submissions followed by a huge close line and back to the submission. Storm just makes it to the rope. Holidead hits a neck breaker and continues to taunt the crowd.
The women set up in the middle of the ring and begin a “boo”, “yeah” exchange. A German Suplex from Strom to get the advantage, and another! Holidead prevents the third, oh wait, no she doesn’t there’s German number three from Strom and now Storm goes for the submission, Holidead makes it to the bottom rope.
A massive headbutt from Strom for a near fall then a quick Spine Buster from Holidead gets her back in it, next a Samoan drop, am I watching the rock?! Big near fall. Holidead tries the roll up again, I never get that if they kicked out once already...
Holidead is going up top but misses the leg drop. A Pile Driver from Storm leads to the pinfall and Strom gets the win!
Different style from the first match, but still great! A little more technical but some great wrestling from both women. A good reaction to Holidead at the end of this one as the “Holi Holi Holi f-ing Dead” chant rings out.
2 matches down in about an hour, but boy this is flying by!
Jim spots young lad in the crowd and does the classic asking for age. Elliott says he’s 6 and begins to cry, after some coaching from Jim, Elliott now informs the crowd he’s 20! Crowd goes wild, all chanting “Elliott”. What a little legend.
Tag match up next to round out the first half of the show.
Match 3:
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark “Dunkzilla” Davis) v Butcher & Blade (debut) v The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson)
Butcher and Uno start this one off, but Uno is scared of the Butcher so tags in Stu right away. The exchange chops in the corner as Kyle gets blind tag on Butcher. Kyle then tags in Dunkzilla for the double team and quickly go for the pin, just a 2 count.
Dunkzilla hits the huge chops and tags Kyle back in. Stu manages to get to the corner and tags in Uno who hits the nipple twists to chants of “you sick f@$k!”,
Uno distracts refs so his minions at ringside can get best of Kyle. A double team from the Order. Kyle is all alone as he gets chopped and his eyes raked by Uno. The Order exchange tags before a super kick from Kyle buys him some time but he can’t make tag.
A huge double team slam on Kyle by the Order but the count is broken up by Blade who proceeds to blind tag Uni. Poor Kyle taking a lot of punishment in this match. A distraction leads to a cross body off the top from Kyle and he is finally able to make the hot tag to Dunkzilla who clears the ring.
Dunkzilla hits the Order’s minions with a suicide dive as Kyle hits the other 4 men outside the ring with a Swanton. Big Aussie Open chants from the crowd. A double team cutter by Aussie Open on Stu leads to a near fall and now everyone is in the ring. They each get their time to hit a big move. This is becoming an epic 6-man match!
Everything happening now, huge moves all over the place, wherever you look! Wow, breath taking stuff! Somehow Kyle is still alive and kicking out! A huge “This is Progress” chant from everyone in attendance.
Dunkzilla and the Butcher now in the ring, not sure the ref knows who’s legal at this point. A step up Enziguri from Dunkzilla but Butcher replies with a huge power bomb. Butcher locks in a submission on Dunkzilla but Kyle comes to his rescue, or at least you’d think, repetitive kicks to the chest of Butcher do nothing!
A Hugh flying move by Butcher and Blade and it looks like they have this won, but Uno breaks up the pin at 2. Uno drags Dunkzilla to corner for tag but is double teamed by Butcher and Blade.
Aussie Open return to the ring with some good offence but Blade somehow kicks out. Wow, this is great stuff! Now everyone is getting involved again, insanely quick offence, there’s no time to breathe in this one! Massive moves and flips everywhere you look! Finally, Aussie Open hit their finisher for the win. Holy s%*t, that was insane!
To quote Jim in the ring “one of the most enjoyable first half’s ever”. Wow, that really way great! The first half absolutely flew by and some insane action, can’t believe it, what a show so far and we are only half way through!
The 2-minute warning for the restart of the show goes out and is followed by a fight starting in the bar. Who is it, what’s going on...?
It’s Trent Seven and Eddie Kingston. The crowd and camera men are scrambling to catch some of the action, one thing for sure is you can hear the chops from anywhere!
The gradually make their way to the ring and Kingston gets on the mic with some trash talk.
Match Four:
Trent Seven vs Eddie Kingston
The bell rings, this one officially starts.
Huge chop to Trent and some good heel work on the mic from Kingston. Seven finally finds a footing in the fight and makes his way back into it. He hits Kingston with a Suplex followed by a Suicide Dive. Trent heads to the top rope for a dive but Kingston rolls away.
Kingston hits back with some offence resulting in both men on the canvas. A duelling “Eddie Kingston”, “British Strong Style” chant picks up.
After a short exchange, Kingston hits a Suplex for a 2 count. Kingston follows up with another Suplex for another 2 count! Both men exchange of chops and punches as they make their way to the top turnbuckle.
Trent gets advantage with a big chop. Trent then hits a massive Piledriver off top turnbuckle for the win! Fun way to start the match in the bar. What a great start to the second half to continue the great show!
Kingston takes the mic “all s%*t I talk I say is because it’s funny to me, Trent, Pete Dunne Tyler etc. I want to say thank you, I was going to quit but then I saw you tear it up in NXT and in the UK”. Eddie chants ring out as he heads straight to the bar.
Match Five:
Jordynne Grace & Chris Brookes v Jody Threat & David Starr
Huge Jody chants for the home town girl. A classic big intro for Starr followed by an “Oh Ah David Starr” chant from the crowd.
Men kick things off as the “Oh Ah David Starr” chants continue. Neither man gets the advantage and they both tag out. Another back and forth with neither woman getting the advantage.
As Brookes tags back in, he asks Jody to do the same. Jody having none of it. “F him up Jody” chant begins. Brookes asks Jim at the commentary desk if he can check with Triple H if he can fight Jody. Jim tells him to “get the f on with it!” A phone call is made to “Uncle Paul” who ok’s Brookes to fight Jody. We have a fight!
Jody hits Brookes with a top rope rana followed by a Suplex that she held for a while. That was impressive, especially as Brookes is about 10 feet tall!
Jody tags out and Brookes runs to the corner and does the same. We now have Starr v Grace. Grace flexes her muscles and Starr challenges her to a test of strength. Grace dominates which leads to a “you f-ed up” chant to Starr. As he makes his way to the ropes Starr asks Grace to tag out, but she has none of it.
Starr finally gets the advantage; he goes for the pin but Grace kicks out with authority sending Starr out of the ring. They spill into the crowd. Grace picks up Elliot (the 6-year-old) and slams him into Starr on the ground, Grace then proceeds to do the same with Jody and Brookes leading to loud “holy s%*t” chants. That’s how to make your women’s champ look strong!
They come back to the ring and Grace is still on top. Starr is in trouble! Poor guy! Starr finally breaks free and gets in some offence, reaching for tag. Jody finally gets tagged in and hits Grace with a massive spear, but Brookes breaks up the count. Threat throws him out of the ring and tries to pick up grace but is blocked. Grace hits a Piledriver near fall.
They move to the corner and Grace hits Jody with the double knees to back of head followed by an elbow to the face. Jody counters with a cross body from the top, leaving both women down reaching for tags.
The men are in. Starr sends Brookes out of the ring and sets up the suicide dive, but Brookes hits the spring board cutter. Starr is able to get to his corner for the tag before hitting Grace with a suicide dive as Jody hits the slam in Brookes in the ring. Wow what a near fall, I bit!
Huge Jody chant but Brookes gets back into it with a big knee. Jody counters the comeback with a Code Breaker. As they all head to the outside of the ring, a suicide dive by Grace on Jody as she is stuck on Brookes shoulders.
Another “This is Progress” chant picks up. We head back in the ring as Grace hits a huge splash and a Senton from the top from Brookes onto Jody for a 2 count. Brookes lifts Jody up into Grace’s shoulders to set up the Muscle Buster, before hitting the move, Brookes makes things worse for Jody by hitting her with a Super Kick on the way down. Starr is just able to break the count.
This is another great match! What a night of wrestling! The two men exchange chops and rights. We are at lightning speed now as a Spine Buster from Grace on Starr and Spear by Jody on Brookes are hit at the same time in the middle of the ring.
Everyone is exchanging rights now before Grace hits Starr with a massive Clothesline that sends him head over heels. Brookes and Grace lock in submissions at the same time. Jody can’t hang on any longer and taps out. Another bloody good match, this is amazing. Wow!
This card has done nothing but deliver and we have the main event still to come!
Match Six:
Paul Robinson v Walter (c) for the Progress Unified World Championship
Little and large in this one, but Robbo looks like he could beat up anyone. “F him up Walter” and “Walters gonna kill you” chants from the crowd. Walter goes down to his knees to make it even. Robbo is having none of it, nutter, and goes nuts sending Walter out of the ring. Walter posts himself but gets back into the fight quickly.
Robbo tries a dive but is caught by Walter who then lands a big boot. Walter tosses him on the Apron, this is pure rag doll action right now, poor Robbo getting thrown around. Walter stretches out Robbo on the top turnbuckle. But Robbo escapes eventually and gets in some offence if his own.
A Drop Kick sends Walter to the ground and Robbo goes up top for a huge flip to the outside. Robbo goes up top again, but Walter throws him off this time. A massive trademark chop from Walter but Robbo counters out of the Powerbomb Walter had lined up. Walter powers back with a huge German for a 2 count.
Robbo continues with the never say die attitude and gets in some offence ending in a 2 count. Walter works his way back into it, but Robbo hits a top rope rana. Is this Robbo’s time to shine? Can he win the title? He heads to the top turn buckle and tries a Shooting Star Press, but Walter gets the knees up.
This spells the end for Robbo as Walter wears him down ending the match with a massive Power Bomb. Walter retains.
Another classic that rounds out an amazing night of wrestling. A standing ovation for both men and “Thank you Paul” chants.
Robbo takes the mic and simply says “I’m sorry, back to the drawing board” before heading up the stage before silencing the crowd again to say “this... is.... Progress”
The crowd goes nuts.
I hung around after and had a chat with Jim, we planned starting NXT Canada together. Also had a chat with Walter and shook his hand, his hands are surprising soft!
Wow, just wow! All in all, when all was said and done, wrestling was more than fun!
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