The nerds are marching up the hill to Alexandra Palace for three days of graps this weekend and the 16 man tournament looks very open... we each have our pick and attempt to suggest why we are right.
MATT - JORDAN DEVLIN
Devlin is my Guy. Right now, who doesn't love Jordan Devlin? He even has an annoying chant we can all get behind when we are a few Beers down. Also the Plastic Paddy in me makes me want the Irish to Win. (Martina winning would be the dream double!)
He hasn't been stuck in one of the 3000 make shift tag teams in NXT:UK. He is due a National Holiday in Ireland for toppling WALTER. I will question his decision to do an interview with the Daily Star but this quote sums up why its worth backing The Killer Import.
“I don't care, I'll wrestle anyone. I'm in the form of my life, the fittest I've ever been, so it doesn't matter to me who I'm in there with. I'm not going into SSS16 to have a nice time or work with my friends. From the second that first bell on night 1 goes until the 3 count lands in the final, it'll be all business for me, no matter who finds themselves in the ring with me. SSS16 is where I establish myself as the premier professional wrestler in Europe, and I prove to the wrestling world that you never bet against the Ace.”
ROSS - TREVOR LEE
Trevor Lee has been impressing on the indies for years now as well as on Impact TV. To win any tournament, you need stamina and endurance and Trevor Lee once won the CWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship in a match that went 105 minutes long.
Let's take that in for a moment. That's 104 minutes and 54 seconds longer than Trent Seven lasted in the 2017 SS16 tournament!
Whilst it is a big shame that he is unlikely to enter to Taylor Swift at this show, the new WWE signee (who beat Shane Strickland this week in NXT) will likely be a lot more serious as a result. Bring it home, Trevor - I'm supporting you because of that time I was really sweaty and got a photo with you and Grado.
Plus, he is facing Aerostar in the first round and if Jake has proven anything over the last two years, it is that masked wrestlers don't win matches.
JAMES - DAGA
Daga.
Just trying to think of one.
The question was going to be 'What D' and the answer was going to be 'Daga'
Ok. How about 'what D is a member of the villainous R.E.D stable and is going to win super strong style 16?
Would you have got that?
I'd have had a guess.
Don't get prizes for guessing.
See ya later.
You know we were talking earlier about Daga?
Yeah,
Daga. AKA Miguel Angel Olivio. Born 1988. Still alive. I just found it interesting the stuff he did in AAA.
I don't know much about that.
Ah. Well what it was - he was a former AAA cruiserweight champion. Won it in a ladder match and held it for 623 days.
Oh yeah. I remember. Him and Psicosis challenged unsuccessfully for the AAA tag team championships at Triplemania 21 didn't they?
Yep. Oh well.
Were we talking earlier about Daga and his AAA cruiserweight title?
I think it came up yeah.
Just saying not his last major title was it?
No?
No. He won the Lucha Underground Trios Titles with Kobra Moon and Jeremiah Snake.
Well, my favourite was when he won Super strong style 16 2019...
SIMON - PAUL ROBINSON
After a successful tag run with probably one of the best wrestlers in the world in Will Ospreay...
It’s time for Paul Robinson to step up and win SS16. He may not be the tallest but he’s definitely the toughest c*nt in the tournament!
Don’t write him off.
DOM - KYLE FLETCHER
I want you to close your eyes for a minute. (No need to count to anything just yet) Imagine you’re sitting on a sun stunned, sand smothered beach as the bright sunlight gently warms your skin. The waves explode comfortably inside your ears, like a dull whisper of some far off war.
You’re 18 years of age, recently finished secondary school and the World seemingly lays at your feet. Now imagine leaving all this behind; your family, security, the Australian Sunshine etcetera all dropped like luxuries in order to move to Wolverhampton England. Why would you do this?
Because you’re Kyle Fletcher and you’ve got a dream to chase. Fast forward to 2 years later and the Aussie Arrow has become one of the fastest rising and most accomplished stars in British wrestling. To count his tag team accolades you’d have to be barefoot or wearing thongs, but this weekend marks a new challenge for the lad from Sea Eagle territory on the Northern Beaches in Sydney.
Thanks to a boarding pass given to him from NPS winner and tag partner Mark Davis, Fletcher enters SSS16 for his first real chance at singles glory in Progress Wrestling, and he’s doing it as a heavyweight.
There’s been plenty of buzz around wrestling circles about the headline stories waiting to unfold this weekend. David Star’s civil war, Travis Banks’ return to the scene of his greatest triumph, Kyle O’Reilly’s decent from the ivory tower in Florida to invade the Alexandra Palace and even Jimmy Havoc’s final stand.
But if you really like a happy ending, if you believe in miracles and if you love a fairytale; look no further than Big Strong Kyle. Fletcher’s hero narrative; his journey to another hemisphere, another division and even manhood all culminate within the castle on top of the most famous hill in North London. The Green and Gold is bringing home the Silver and he’s doing it for anyone who has ever chased a dream.
DANIEL - DAVID STARR
Why David Starr? Well let me tell you why. Wouldn't it be fitting for the most independent wrestler on this planet today to win one of the most coveted independent tournament on the planet and finally, potentially, beat Walter fair and square for the Progress Championship instead of another future WWE star?
He is, after all, your favourite wrestlers wrestler so you should be supporting him too. If you still don't agree with me, go watch his SSS16 promo video and then tell me he shouldn't win. That's all. Short and sweet. Like a starburst.
LUKE - AEROSTAR
Looking at the history of the Super Strong Style tournament, Will Ospreay, Tommy End, Travis Banks and ZSJ have all been crowned the Super Strongest boy. These are pretty legendary names of the UK wrestling scene.
On May 6th 2019 in Alexandra Palace, Aerostar will join that illustrious list. And here’s why: Tournament Pedigree In 2008, Aerostar hoisted the Alas de Oro 2008 crown, beating out the likes of Tigre Uno and Teddy Hart. In a team, Star (the superior one not spelt with two r’s) picked up the Impact World Cup of Wrestling and the King of Trios in Chikara.
Like an experienced race horse, you simply can’t rule out the high flyer. He’s shown he can win in this kind of format and will apply this expertise at the Ally Pally. Bracket In the first round, Aero Star faces off against Trevor Lee. A tough match but if you’ve ever seen the luchador grapple, you know he is an elite level high flyer. Can Trevor Lee keep the match grounded? I doubt it.
If Starr picks up the early W he’ll go on to face the winner of Chris Brookes and a lot of people’s tournament favourite, Ilja Dragunov. These are another couple names that may not be used to the style of the high flyer. I’m not saying it will be easy. But once you get to the final four, anything can happen.
In summary, I think it’s fair to say the 5’6 Luchador will have to overcome a lot of odds and go against many people’s predictions. But odds are meant to be defied and this race horse can go all the way.
ROB - CHRIS BROOKES
(To the tune of YMCA)
CHRIS BROOKES
He's got his arm in a sling
CHRIS BROOKES
But somehow he always wins
CHRIS BROOKES
With his terrible lid
He's just a lanky scene kid
CHRIS BROOKES
I think his partner is dead
CHRIS BROOKES
He probably injured his head
CHRIS BROOKES
He was a papier mache wolf
He should maybe stuck to golf
(chorus)
It's fun to predict
CHRIS BROOKES TO WIN
when you're uninformed
CHRIS BROOKES TO WI-IN
When you've not watched in months
But you remember his sling
And the fact that he always wins
Repeat until you hate yourself...
MIKE - CHRIS RIDGEWAY
An Ode to Chris Ridgeway Chris is our man of that there’s no doubt Who dares step up to get knocked the fuck out?
Smash mouth by name, smash mouth by style. He’s looking forward to getting hold of Kyle.
To finish you off, he’ll send you to sleep, and on in the tourney, he will surely creep.
To win Super Strong Style, he’ll need some luck - But of course we all know, he’s hard… as… fuck…
PETE - TRAVIS BANKS
Now I will admit I have been among the first to boo Trav in the past, hell I'm pretty sure I am about 25 percent of the reason why he turned into such a dick towards the end of his title run...but personal feelings have to be left at the door for Super Strong Style 16!
I'm backing a winner here!
And few men in PROGRESS wrestling history are bigger winners than Travis Banks. He's already gone and won the bloody thing anyway, so you have to believe he's a favourite for his tournament format expertise, if you will.
Adding to this the man is a certifiable workhorse, if a surly grumpy horse with two trusty horse buddies to help him out if he gets into a spot of bother in the form of TK Cooper and NIWA. This man broke the record for most title defences during his run, even if it was only half the length of Havoc's reign.
Plus, crucially, he cannot be pinned! It felt like half the indies tried over his 2017-2018 run and he survived and beat them all.
Brookes? Beat. Ospreay? Beat. Riddle? Beat...twice! (Travis is the Kiwi Carmella). In the end only big bad WALTER could lay a hand on him. Guess who's not in the tournament? That's right, WALTER!
Sorry, everyone else, your geese are cooked. On Monday whether we're celebrating or booing, I have no doubt that Travis Banks is walking out of Alexandra Palace as the first ever two-time Super Strong Style 16 winner.
And in time I feel we will hear new chants breaking out of the ballroom that Trav, once again, is our champion.
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