By Elliott Troop.

PROGRESS’ SSS16 reached its conclusion with the eight remaining competitors vying for the opportunity to face Marty Scurll for the PROGRESS Championship. Last year, Will Ospreay emerged victorious to go on to defeat the then 600 day+ PROGRESS Champion, Jimmy Havoc. Day two of SSS16 was the show of the year in Europe, featuring numerous outstanding matches up and down the card that culminated in Tommy End being crowned the 2016 SSS16 winner.

Due to a severe case of exhaustion and dehydration, Mark Haskins, one of the favourites to win the tournament, was forced to withdraw. Subsequently, an eight man single pinfall elimination match with the the participants eliminated on night one was set to determine who would take Haskins’ place in the last eight.

Pete Dunne vs Damon Moser vs Tk Cooper vs Mikey Whiplash vs Matt Cross vs Dave Mastiff vs Rampage Brown vs Mark Andrews vs El Ligero vs Nathan Cruz

As soon as the match was announced, El Ligero and Nathan Cruz, who lost their tag titles to London Riots on night one, forced their way into the match. This match was complete chaos and a LOT of fun. It was worked with two in six out for the most part, featuring enthralling high flying, grappling and intensity. Highlights include a “Vader hates this” chant directed at an interaction between Matt Cross and Mark Andrews, a dive to the outside by Rampage Brown and a Sasuke Special by Matt Cross. Mark Andrews would emerge victorious as he followed a double hurricanrana with a Shooting Star Press to pin Pete Dunne and earn redemption for night one’s defeat. Really excellent stuff here from all involved and it really set the tone for the rest of the show.

Mikey Whiplash vs Mark Andrews

SSS16 Quarter Final

As Mark Andrews celebrated, Mikey Whipash,truculent and incensed, emerged to attack Andrews from behind. Whiplash dragged Andrews’ lifeless body into the ring, attempting a cover but Andrews reused to surrender so soon. After lambasting the referee, Whiplash attempted a Zombie Maker but was rolled up by Mark Andrews, who gained an unlikely victory to advance to the semi-final. Andrews was outstanding all weekend and was one of the tournaments MVPS: he was the consumate underdog in all of his matches and delivered some of his most compelling performances to date.

Zack Gibson vs Jack Gallagher

SSS16 Quarter Final

Before the match began, Gibson chastised the crowd, proclaiming that he is the uncrowned PROGRESS Champion before mocking Jack Gallagher’s size. This was an excellent mat based match that saw Gibson work on the arm and Gallagher work on the leg. After gaining the advantage through duplicitous mean, Gibson took pleasure in inflicting pain and basked in the ire of the crowd along the way. Gallagher reversed the Shankley Gates into a Single Leg Crab but could not apply the hold for long as Gibson reapplied the Shankley Gates to submit Gallagher, once more earning the chagrin of the crowd. Gallagher and Gibson have faced each other all over the UK and clearly have a great deal of chemistry. Gibson’s dynamic with the PROGRESS crowd has to be heard to believe: Gibson does a fantastic job of inciting the rancor of the crowd.

Chris Hero vs Big Daddy Walter

SSS16 Quarter Final

Underscored by chants of “big lads wrestling”, this match embodied the classic tropes of heavyweight wrestling. As in the first round, Hero was in the match of the round again. After a strike trade off, Walter and Hero brawled around the ring, testing to see who could withstand the most punishment. Walter landed a series of impressive suplexes before applying the sleeper. After Hero reached the ropes, he unloaded numerous strikes that failed to ground Big Daddy Walter. Unperturbed, Hero secured victory and passage into the semi finals following three elbows with a Gotch Style piledriver.

Tommy End vs Sami Callihan

SSS16 Quarter Final

Minus a sloppy strike exchange towards the end, this was another hard hitting, intense match. As soon as either End or Callihan would gain an advantage, the other would cut their opponent off with a thunderous strike to ensure that neither man could gain an advantage. Two piledrivers were not enough to pin End, which felt a little excessive although one was admittedly Callihan thinking fast to catch End after a mis-timed spot. End secured the victory following a jumping knee to take the final semi-final spot.This felt a little rushed in spots, which is understandable considering the winner would have two more matches in the show, but it could have been better on a show that wasn’t so physically demanding as a showcase singles match.

Intermission.

Zack Gibson vs Mark Andrews

SSS16 Semi Final

Once more, Zack Gibson received vociferous boos as he proclaimed that he would soon not only be Liverpool’s number one but PROGRESS number one, too. Andrews, wearing the post-match beat down delivered earlier by Mikey Whiplash, received a further beat down at the hands of Gibson, who mechanically dismantled Andrews’ arm to prevent Andrews from taking to the skies. Andrews, though, would not quit in his pursuit to regain the PROGRESS Championship. Animated by the crowd, Andrews secured another improbable victory following a roll up as the roof of The Ballroom was blown off. Really excellent story here that further established Andrews as an unlikely underdog that refused to give up. Credit, too, to Zack Gibson, who was one of the MVP’s of the SSS16. Gibson demands a reaction every time he emerges and he has the facials, psychology and most importantly the ability to back it up.

Chris Hero vs Tommy End

SSS16 Semi Final

If you were to pick a match that best represented the ethos of the Super Strong Style tournament, this would be it. This was the best match of the tournament, which hardly comes as a surprise considering their previous matches in Southside, PWG and wXw. This, though, was better than the lot.

Hero and End are the two most wince inducing strikers in the world: every time one man struck the other, the crowd would let out a gasp of astonishment at the sheer sound of the strike. The match presented both men as equal in striking excellence, with the momentum flowing between End and Hero. End followed a double footstomp with a Roundhouse kick, but Hero kicked out to send The Ballroom into a fevered frenzy. Hero, after delivering a series of strikes of his own, delivered an avalanche piledriver from the second rope but End kicked out, too.

People were throwing money in the ring and men were offering their wives. Moments later, End rolled up Hero to gain the victory and his place in the final. Post match, End and Hero bumped elbows as everyone stood up to applaud both men: a testament to what they achieved.

Chris Hero is the best in the world: his three matches, which were all with very different opponents, in 48 hours was impressive a performance that I have ever seen live. It may sound a bold claim but in terms of consistent performances, only AJ Styles is on the same level. Hero’s psychology, pacing and the veneer of legitimacy that his strikes possess is incomparable. It was an honour to watch him over the two days.

Sweet Jesus vs Dazzer Team

#1 Contenders match for the PROGRESS Tag Titles

Emerging from the latest ENDVR show, the tensions between Dazzler Team and Sweet Jesus culminated in a street fight to determine the first number one contenders to London Riots’ tag titles. Parts of this were good, parts of this felt like four guys hitting each other with weapons. I really couldn’t get into this and it felt like a match too much on a long card. Dazzler Team delivered an assisted suplex to the Pastor on to thumbtacks to secure the victory. Pinning the Pastor, the Natural Progression Series winner and future number one contender, felt like a strange decision but hey, we just had Hero vs End before it so all was well.

Roy Johnson’s Wasteman Challenge

Roy Johnson emerged for his second Wasteman Challenge on a Chapter Show. Johnson quoted Skepta, claiming he “had more bars than Camden Town” before Eddie Dennis emerged to answer the challenge. Instead of spitting some original bars, Dennis indulged in some karaoke. He sang Your Mother’s got a Penis by Goldie Looking Chain before Roy Johnson offered his retorted that centered around mocking Dennis. After sharing a beer, Dennis laid out Johnson before heading to the back.

This was certainly something.

The Pro-Jo has produced numerous heavily gimmicked wrestlers and, like Jack Sexsmith, Roy Johnson has the charisma to pull it off.

Tommy End vs Mark Andrews

SSS16 Final

Both men emerged, their bodies bearing testament to the battles they have undertaken to be in the SSS16 final. Although this was short, this was a good little match that was worked at a frenetic speed as both men looked to gain a quick victory. Tommy End’s fearsome strikes negated Mark Andrews’ aerial offence until The Ballroom was enshrouded by darkness: as the light returned, there stood Tommy End’s bitter foe, Mikey Whiplash. End delivered a roundhouse kick to Whiplash to ensure he would have no further part to play.

However, the momentary distraction allowed Andrews to mount some of his offence, landing a frankensteiner followed by a shooting star press for a near fall. As End regained his senses, he unloaded a series of strikes laced with the desire to emerge victorious. Andrews willed End to hit him harder, which he duly did: a roundhouse kick to the face secured the victory as End was crowned the 2016 SSS16 winner.

Tommy End dedicated his victory to Kris Travis before thanking the fans to raucous chants of “Tommy Fucking End”. A date with Marty Scurll lays on the horizon and what a prospect that rematch is.

Final Word: What a couple of days it has been. Day two was even better than night one, with excellent matches between Gibson/Gallagher, Hero/Walter, Hero/End and the opening match providing ample reasons to go out of your way to see this show. Although every competitor over the two days were on top of their game, it is important to recognize the outstanding individual performances of Mark Andrews, Zack Gibson, Tommy End and Chris Hero.

Night two of SSS16 was the best show in Europe this year: PROGRESS continue to testify why they are one of the hottest tickets in independent wrestling. As a fan, PROGRESS have created something tangible to invest in and it is great to be a part of: everyone should watch these shows.

Love the wrestling.