Progress Wrestling (stylised as PROGRESS) is a British professional wrestling promotion that was established in 2011 by comedian Jim Smallman and events and comedy promoter Jon Briley, later to be joined in management of the company by actor Glen Robinson (professionally known as Glen Joseph).
Video Progress Wrestling
History
The company was conceived by Jim Smallman and Jon Briley in 2011, who were both massive wrestling fans. Smallman is a big fan of "strong-style" wrestling, Japanese in particular, and Briley was Smallman's agent. The pair decided to put on a wrestling show in London, as not many shows were being put on in the capital itself, featuring the type of wrestling that they would both like to watch. The pair then spent seven months putting their first show together. Smallman is also a huge fan of punk music, and the pair decided to emphasize the fact that it would be a London-based promotion with a punk rock vibe. They also were keen not to be import-heavy, like other promotions, but to promote British talent. The pair eventually settled on The Garage in Islington for the venue, because of the size and also having a great reputation as a music venue. The Garage were also very supportive of what Smallman and Briley wanted to do, and the pair ran their first show on 25 March 2012.
After eleven consecutive sell out shows at the Garage, with the later shows drawing 350 fans, the promotion moved to the 700-capacity Electric Ballroom in Camden from Chapter 12 in March 2014 for their second anniversary show where the sell outs have continued. To date, Progress has sold out all London Chapter shows at The Garage and Electric Ballroom. For Chapter 36 in September 2016, Progress staged their largest ticketed show at the Brixton Academy, to an audience of 2,400 and announced that they would return the following September. Though they have run most of their shows in London, in 2014 Progress held three shows at The Satellite Stage at the Sonisphere Festival, and in 2015 they appeared for five nights at Download Festival. In December 2015, they began running regular shows at The Ritz in Manchester. In 2017, Progress will begin to promote shows in Birmingham.
The promotion have been reluctant to use imports (wrestlers for which the UK is not their home or one of their homes). Colt Cabana was the first wrestler to be included on a show as part of the debut show, Chapter 1, in a losing effort to Loco Mike Mason. Ricochet has appeared twice for the promotion, losing to El Ligero at Chapter 6 and in a triple threat with Mark Haskins and Zack Sabre Jr. at Chapter 11. Adam Cole was the first non-European wrestler to register a win in Progress, defeating Mark Haskins at Chapter 10. Prince Devitt also appeared twice for the promotion, defeating Zack Sabre Jr. at Chapter 13 and losing to Jimmy Havoc at the Progress World Cup, his final match in the UK before signing with the WWE. Other talents that have appeared include Samoa Joe, Roderick Strong and Tommaso Ciampa; though Ciampa has established himself as a Progress regular with seven Chapter show appearances.
In 2016 the company began working with other promotions. At Chapter 29 on 24 April in London, Progress hosted two qualifying matches for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.
Maps Progress Wrestling
International expansion
In June 2016, the Canada-based SMASH Wrestling had its title defended at a Progress show, ahead of three co-promoted shows between the two in Ontario in September.
January 2017 saw Progress promoting a show for Germany-based wXw in London, with wXw helping with Progress' début German show in Cologne in July.
2017's Wrestlemania Weekend saw Progress travel to the United States for a number of shows; including their own Orlando show, a joint show with WWNLive, and contributing talent - including ring announcer Jim Smallman - to WWE's Wrestlemania Axxess events. Progress returned to the States in August for two shows - one in New York City and one just outside of Boston - as well as announcing they would be running two shows as part of Wrestlemania Weekend 2018 in New Orleans.
Demand Progress
In March 2015 Progress launched Demand Progress, their own video-on-demand service. Demand Progress was launched with several Chapter shows - as well as two ENDVR shows - available to watch. In time the service would grow to include every Chapter held by the promotion as well as nearly every ENDVR show, the Progress World Cup and other events; such as the previously-unreleased Download and Sonisphere Festival match cards.
January 2017 saw the first episode of Freedom's Road, a new series from Progress which would feature matches taped specifically for the show and have a heavy focus on characters and plots.
Events
Training school
In late 2012, Progress launched the Progress Wrestling School - affectionately known as the Projo - which it claimed to be the only full-time wrestling school in London and the South East. The school has classes for beginner and advanced level wrestlers, and has a wrestling ring permanently erected along with another ring-sized matted area. The original head trainer at the school was Jimmy Havoc, but he was replaced in November 2013 by Darrell Allen. Other trainers include Danny Garnell, James Davis, Eddie Dennis, Damon Moser, Chuck Mambo and "Wild Boar" Mike Hitchman. The school has hosted seminars by the likes of Michael Elgin, Scott Levy, Nigel McGuinness and others. In late 2013, Progress announced that the Projo students would be putting on their own shows, which would be called ENDVR. ENDVR shows feature a mix of trainees from the Projo, their trainers, and other professional wrestlers. The first four ENDVR shows were held at The Bedford Arms in Balham, while ENDVR:5 was held as an afternoon show before the Progress World Cup on 29 June 2014 at The Garage in Islington. Starting from ENDVR:8, the trainee shows move to The Garage on a permanent basis. The shows were later moved back to the Bedford - and eventually The Dome in Tufnell Park - and filmed for Freedom's Road, a new regular program for Demand Progress with more of an emphasis on drama and characters.
In August 2017, it was announced that the school - whilst still operated by Darren Allen - would no longer be affiliated with the promotion, and would now be known as the Knucklelocks Gym.
Jimmy Havoc and Regression
To date, the most significant storyline within the company has been that of Jimmy Havoc's ascent to the championship. Havoc debuted for Progress on Chapter 2 in May 2012 and went on to lose six straight matches, though he became very popular with the Progress fans as an underdog babyface. At Chapter 10 in November 2013, Havoc attacked promoter Jim Smallman and aligned himself with The London Riots, turning heel in the process. Havoc would then use an open contract given to him by Smallman to defeat Progress Champion Mark Andrews (who had just wrestled both Paul Robinson and Rampage Brown in consecutive matches) to become champion and pick up his first victory in Progress.
In his first title defence at Chapter 11, Havoc defeated Zack Sabre Jr. with the help of his newest associate, Progress trainee "The Omega" Isaac Zercher. Havoc was joined at Chapter 13 by Paul Robinson, and the group later christened themselves Regression as a play on the name of the company and to symbolise their hatred of Progress Wrestling.
The group lost its first members at Chapter 15, as the four members of the group (not including Zercher) took on Progress Tag Team champions Eddie Dennis and Mark Andrews, Will Ospreay and Noam Dar in a titles vs. careers match. Ospreay pinned James Davis of The London Riots, meaning that The London Riots were gone from Progress.
Havoc eventually lost the title at Chapter 20 to Will Ospreay in a no disqualification match. At Chapter 21, Havoc and Robinson were placed in a number one contenders no disqualification match against each other. After they both failed to convince Zercher to turn on the other, the two engaged in a bloody contest with Robinson emerging victorious, seemingly signalling the end of Regression.
Championships
Progress World Championship
Unlike conventional wrestling championships which are generally represented by a championship belt, the Progress championship was initially represented by a large staff with an eagle head piece. At Chapter 16, the staff was replaced by a more traditional title belt. The title has been defended in the United States at the WrestleCon Supershow in Dallas, Texas, and subsequently defended in Italy on 30 April 2016 and Ireland on 16 July 2016.
As of 14 December 2017.
Combined reigns
As of 14 December 2017.
Progress Tag Team Championship
It was announced at Chapter 9 that beginning in November 2013 there would begin a series of matches to determine the first Progress Tag Team champions. The champions were crowned at Chapter 12, the second anniversary show, in March 2014. As with the Progress Championship not being a conventional championship belt, the Progress Tag Team Championship was originally represented by a shield with the Progress eagle on the front. The shield splits into two, one for each championship holder. At Chapter 46 the Tag Team shields were replaced with traditional strap title belts, with the design on the front plate of each belt representing the defunct Tag shields.
As of 14 December 2017.
Combined team reigns
As of 14 December 2017.
Combined reigns
As of 14 December 2017.
Progress Atlas Championship
The Progress Atlas Championship is exclusively for wrestlers over 205 pounds in weight--the cruiserweight weight limit. Rampage Brown was the first champion after winning a tournament. As of 14 December 2017.
Combined reigns
As of 14 December 2017.
Progress Women's Championship
It was announced on 24 April 2016, that Natural Progression Series IV would crown the first Progress Women's Champion. The tournament got underway in October 2016, with the champion to be crowned during the Super Strong Style 16 2017 weekend from 27 May 2017, to 29 May 2017. At the conclusion of the tournament at Day Two of the Super Strong Style 16 event, Toni Storm was crowned the first Progress Women's Champion.
Tournaments
Natural Progression Series
Beginning with Chapter 4: The Ballad of El Ligero, Progress launched the Natural Progression Series, with the intention of showcasing up-and-coming British talent. The winner earns a match for the Progress World Championship at any time, the Natural Progression Series trophy and is allowed to install an eliminated wrestler in that year's tournament into the next Natural Progression Series. This last rule did not count for NPSIII as the following tournament was all-female.
Series I
At the conclusion of the first Natural Progression Series final, the winner Mark Andrews decided to install Will Ospreay into the next tournament.
Series II
The winner Morgan Webster decided to install Pastor William Eaver into the next tournament. Morgan Webster lost his championship opportunity to Zack Gibson.
Series III
Series IV
Natural Progression Series IV was to crown the first Progress Women's Champion, with its first match at Chapter 38: When Men Throw Men At Men.
Super Strong Style 16
The Super Strong Style 16 is an annual Spring Bank Holiday weekend knock-out tournament with competitors from around the world. The winner of the tournament receives a Progress Championship match.
2015 (Chapter 19)
2016 (Chapter 30)
2017 (Chapter 49)
For the first time, 2017's tournament took place over three days; running from 27 to 29 May. The tournament bracket was announced on 23 May.
2018 (Chapter 68)
The 2018 edition of Super Strong Style 16 will take place on May 5-7 and - for the first time - will be held at Alexandra Palace.
Progress World Cup
The Progress World Cup was held in June 2014 at The Garage in Islington, with eight members of the Progress roster representing individual countries. The winner of this one-day tournament would be given a title shot against the Progress Champion.
At the conclusion of the tournament final, Jim Smallman approached Rampage Brown, the tournament runner-up, and said that if Brown left the Screw Indy Wrestling faction, he would let him face Samoa Joe at Chapter 14. Brown accepted the offer, and was installed as Joe's opponent at the promotion's Thunderbastard show in July.
Tag Team Championship tournament
Starting at Chapter 10, Progress held a tournament to crown their inaugural tag team champions. Four semi final matches were held, with the winners set to face off in a four-way match for the Championship at Chapter 12.
Atlas Championship tournament
Group stage
- Chapter 28 - Group A: T-Bone defeated Big Daddy Walter via pinfall
- Chapter 29 - Group A: Michael Dante defeated Damo O'Connor via pinfall
- Chapter 29 - Group B: Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey ended in a time limit draw
- ENDVR:16 - Group A: T-Bone defeated Iestyn Rees via pinfall
- Chapter 30 - Group A: Big Daddy Walter defeated Dave Mastiff via submission
- Chapter 31 - Group B: Damo O'Connor and Joe Coffey defeated Rampage Brown and Mikey Whiplash (substituting for Michael Dante) via pinfall
- Chapter 32 - Group A: T-Bone and Zack Gibson (substituting for Dave Mastiff) defeated Big Daddy Walter and Iestyn Rees via pinfall
- Chapter 32 - Group B: Rampage Brown defeated Damo O'Connor by forfeit when Damo was unable to appear
- Chapter 34 - Group A: Dave Mastiff defeated Iestyn Rees
- Chapter 34 - Group B: Joe Coffey defeated Michael Dante
Finals
Media review and industry response
Patrick Lennon, wrestling journalist for the Daily Star, has attended and reviewed Progress shows such as the acclaimed Chapter 7: Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner Has a Future.
Carrie Dunn, founder and main contributor of wrestling blog "The Only Way is Suplex", published the book Spandex, Screw Jobs & Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling. Progress Wrestling features frequently in the book including opening a chapter regarding London based wrestling promotions.
Roster
Progress wrestlers are freelance competitors, meaning they appear for multiple promotions worldwide, as well as performing for Progress. The following are wrestlers who have appeared on the most recent three Chapter shows, barring any who have announced they have left the promotion.
Correct as of Chapter 59
Male roster
Female roster
Broadcast team
Notable guests and alumni
- Adam Cole
- Axel Dieter Jr.
- Chris Hero
- Damo O'Connor
- Grado
- Jack Gallagher
- Johnny Gargano
- Mason Ryan
- Noam Dar
- Prince Devitt
- Ricochet
- Roderick Strong
- Sami Callihan
- Samoa Joe
- Tommaso Ciampa
- Tommy End
- Will Ospreay
References
External links
- Official website
- Progress Wrestling on Twitter
- Progress Wrestling on Facebook
- Progress Wrestling on Instagram
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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