By @speficluchador

Follow @KayfabeToday for more news, previews and reviews from the UK scene.

Southside’s inaugural Young Tiger’s Cup was struck by terrible luck: originally, Chris Sabin, Andrew Everett and Will Ospreay were scheduled to appear at the event but, due to a combination of injures and public transport failures, all the aforementioned men were absent. However, unfortunate circumstances aside, Southside’s Young Tiger’s Cup delivered a great show that showcased some of Britain’s exceptional young talent.

Tyler Bate vs The Pledge

Quarter-Final

Undeniably, Tyler Bate has had a break out year: gaining acclaim at every available opportunity, Bate debuted in the US a couple of months back, impressing in Chikara’s King of Trio’s Tournament as part of team Fight Club Pro. Over the past year, The Pledge has remained in the shadow of Righteous Army leader, Joseph Connors. The opening match of the Young Tiger’s Cup represented an opportunity for both men to further impress.

Pledge immediately fled to the outside before gaining the initial advantage, landing an impressive saito suplex from the top rope. After receiving a jumping knee to the face, Bate powered out of a chinlock before landing a lariat followed by a german suplex.

Tyler Bate, in signature fashion, delivered an airplane spin that sent Pledge to the outside. Dizzy and disorientated, Pledge staggered around the ring before crashing to the ground, unable to answer the ten count allowing Bate to advance to the semi-finals.

This was a fun little opener: the finish was both entertaining and unique. So often in wrestling today, many on the receiving end of spinning manoeuvres regain their faculties rather quickly and this was a refreshing change.

Chris Ridgeway vs Damien Dunne

Quarter-Final

Chris Ridgeway, making his Southside debut, received the opportunity to impress against one third of the Southside Tag Team Champions, The Second City Collective, in Damien Dunne. Arrogant, insufferable and self assured, Dunne drew the ire of the crowd before the match began.

Ridgeway emerged on top following a brief grappling exchange before tying Damien Dunne up in various ways, punctuated by a european clutch. Ridgeway began work on Dunne’s arm following several chops before Damien Dunne gained the advantage through duplicitous means. Dunne worked over Ridgeway’s lower back before an enziguri shifted the momentum.

Ridgeway had the match won following a michinoku driver before Ryan Smiles, stable-mate of Damien Dunne, distracted the referee allowing Dunne to secure the victory by using his tag team championship to lay out Ridgeway unbeknownst to the ref.

This was a pretty impressive debut by Ridgeway, who wrestled a technical, mat based style: throughout the match, Ridgeway made some nice transitions from hold to hold. I expect to see him back at Southside in the near future.

Trevor Lee vs Dan Maloney

Quarter-Final

Since defeating Kevin Steen on his PWG debut, Trevor Lee has been one of the hottest properties in professional wrestling: Lee has impressed all over the US and has thus far made an impression in the UK if not for any other reason than his entrance music is Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off. Dan Maloney, over the past year, has impressed with matches in Fight Club Pro amongst other companies, featuring as part of the Fight Club Pro team that went to Chikara’s King of Trios tournament.

Lee’s jovial mood didn’t impress Maloney who appeared in no mood for convivial antics: Maloney and Lee went hold for hold early on before, surprisingly, Maloney gained the advantage. Following an exchange of roll ups, Lee delivered an impressive standing moonsault before reversing a fireman’s carry into a small package.

This match was carried by several comedy spots which denied the crowd an opportunity to witness a true battle between these two. Trevor Lee more than atoned for the early evening comedy antics later in the night, though. Understandably, Lee had to protect himself for his subsequent matches.

Pete Dunne vs Chris Tyler

Quarter-Final

Pete Dunne, too, recently gained international recognition as part of Team Attack at Chikara’s annual King of Trios tournament, his second appearance in the tournament in as many years. Dunne has impressed in Southside, Attack and Fight Club Pro this year and looked to continue his excellent year at the Young Tiger’s Cup.

Pete Dunne, continuing The Second City Collective’s chicanery, got the match under way with a cheap shot, working over Chris Tyler with stomps and slaps in Tyler’s third Southside appearance. An enziguri gained Tyler the advantage allowing him to land a standing moonsault followed by a german suplex.

Tyler headed up top before missing a moonsault: Dunne capitalised with an enziguri followed by a pump handle facebuster to secure the win to advance to the semi finals.

Last time out, Chris Tyler looked slightly off his game at the Southside Anniversary show, missing a couple of important spots: Tyler was much better here, he didn’t attempt much high flying and held his own against Pete Dunne. Like the other members of the Second City Collective, Pete Dunne knows how to get a reaction out of the crowd: Dunne got even better as the night progressed.

Pete Dunne vs Tyler Bate

Semi- Final

Pete Dunne attempted a cheap shot but Tyler Bate was wise to his intentions: Bate landed an impressive suspended vertical suplex before a dropkick sent Dunne to the outside. Bate landed a springboard cross body to the outside for a near fall.

Once again, through illicit means, Pete Dunne gained the advantage before delivering a double underhook suplex. Bate reversed a second suplex attempt before delivering an airplane spin that sent Pete Dunne to the outside. Regaining his sense somewhat quicker than Pledge, Dunne made it back into the ring before trading several stiff elbows with Bate: Dunne emerged on top before landing his pumphandle facebuster to advance to the final.

This was an excellent match between two of Britain’s best young wrestlers. Both men worked a stiff style merged with a traditionally British style: the combination of styles made for an impressive match. Tyler Bate is so impressive: his style is reminiscent of a young William Regal and, at the mere age of 18, has the world at his feet.

Evidently, both Dunne and Bate have a big future in professional wrestling not contained by the shores of Britain.

Trevor Lee vs Damien Dunne

Semi-Final

Damien Dunne took advantage of Trevor Lee’s intoxicated state induced by Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off with a spear: Lee and Dunne traded chops before Dunne attempted to secure a count out victory by tossing Lee to the outside by his hair. Back in the ring, Lee caught an attempted kick before unloading a series of chops punctuated by a standing moonsault.

Damien Dunne blocked a dead lift german suplex before landing an impressive springboard codebreaker: Dunne pounded Lee on the mat before Lee managed to reach the ropes. After complaining to the referee, Dunne received an enziguri before Lee rolled him up with a small package.

Lee was the wrestler so many of us have become accustomed to over the past couple of years here: the spear from Dunne early on set the tone for this match. Both men worked an aggressive, fast paced style which made for a good match.

Joseph Connors vs Martin Kirby

Southside Heavyweight Championship Match

At Southside’s Fifth Anniversary Show, Martin Kirby defeated Mark Andrews, Pete Dunne and Chris Tyler in a fatal four way to earn a shot at Joseph Connors’ Southside Heavyweight Championship. Nefarious, unpleasant and righteous, Joseph Connor and his Righteous Army have dominated the Southside roster for several months. At the Young Tiger’s Cup, Connors, as ever, was accompanied by The Pledge.

Kirby had the best of the early stages, landing a series of offensive moves culminating in a scoop slam. A distraction by Pledge followed by a lariat delivered by Connors allowed the champion to gain the advantage: Connors followed up with a northern light suplex before distracting the ref allowing Pledge to choke Kirby in the corner.

Connors continued to punish Kirby, working over the lower back with a vertical suplex followed by a back breaker for a near fall. Incandescent with rage, Connors lambasted the referee allowing Kirby to regain his senses: Kirby delivered an enziguri to send Connors to the outside before landing a tope suicida.

Following a series of uppercuts, Kirby delivered a powerbomb: the ref reached two before Pledge pulled the ref to the outside much to the chagrin of the crowd. Joseph Connors, opportunistic as ever, took advantage of the commotion with a lariat for a near fall. Again, Connors turned his anger to the referee before the referee pushed Connors into a roll up for a near fall. Soon after, Connors applied a sleeper before landing a ddt to retain the Southside Heavyweight Championship.

This was a solid match from two of the most underrated workers in the UK: Connors, throughout the country, always does a great job of generating the ire of the crowd. Kirby is a workhorse and deserves a lot more credit than he receives. The growing tension between Pledge and Connors appears ready to boil over: whether this will culminate in Pledge costing Connors the title is another matter.

Pete Dunne vs Trevor Lee

Young Tiger’s Cup Final

The inaugural Young Tiger’s Cup final placed one of the best young talents from the US in Trevor Lee against one of the best young talents in the UK in Pete Dunne.

Once again, Pete Dunne attempted a cheap shot but Lee was wise to his intentions. Lee sent Dunne to the outside before both men proceeded to brawl around the hall following a tope suicida from Lee. Pete Dunne gained the advantage with a big back body drop on the stage before delivering a belly to back on the apron.

Following a scoop slam, Dunne stomped Lee. Encouraged by the crowd, Lee fought back, trading several fierce forearms before both men traded headbutts. Lee, following a roundhouse kick, delivered a deadlift german suplex followed by a 450 powerslam. Lee missed a footstomp before Pete Dunne beckoned fellow Second City Collective cronies, Ryan Smiles and brother Damien Dunne, from the commentary table: Smiles and Dunne attempted to cause the distraction but Lee negotiated their interference, sending Damien Dunne crashing into Smiles.

Lee rolled Pete Dunne up with a small package before Damien Dunne caused the distraction, pulling Lee’s legs as he hit the ropes: Pete Dunne took advantage with an enziguri followed by the pumphandle facebuster to secure the victory and be crowned the inaugural Young Tiger’s Cup winner.

The whole show was built towards this main event and it delivered: Dunne and Lee delivered the best match of the night by some distance to only reaffirm their abundant talent. I’ve seen a lot of Lee whilst he has been in the UK and I would argue this is possibly the best match I have seen him have: Dunne and Lee had fantastic chemistry. The crowd was really hot for this one and greeted Dunne’s victory with vociferous boos.

Final Word: The inaugural Young Tiger’s Cup represented a breakout performance from Pete Dunne, who was excellent all night. Over the past couple of years, Pete Dunne has gained a reputation both in the UK and the US: victory here only added to that growing reputation.

The Second City Collective emerge from the event looking more formidable than ever: the faction has thrown together three of the most talented workers in the UK today as they look set to continue to rile audiences up and down the country.

The first ever Young Tiger’s Cup goes down a success and considering the high profile absentees the success of the show is placed in further perspective. This is a must see show for any fan of the UK independent scene that showcased many sure fire main eventers of tomorrow.