By Elliott Troop. Catch him on Twitter @specficluchador.

PROGRESS returned to Camden on 04/24 with Chapter 29, titled Practically Progress in Every Way that not only had implications on PROGRESS’ immediate future, but implications on WWE’s Global Cruiserweight Series in June.

Smallman had some announcements before the show. First up, he announced that the next Natural Progression Series would be to determine the first ever PROGRESS Women’s Champion at an undetermined date.

Smallman proceeded to announce that Mark Haskins, who was not scheduled to compete on the show, had some words to say. Haskins, encouraged by the crowd, proclaimed his love for PROGRESS before asking Smallman to be part of the SSS16 Tournament.

Smallman accepted and Haskins was announced as the third participant in the 16 man elimination tournament.

Damo vs Michael Dante

ATLAS Group B Match

A brief reminder of the rules for the ATLAS Division: all eight of the competitors are over 205 lbs and are divided into two groups of four that work on a round robin basis. The two winners of the groups will meet in Brixton on the 25th September to determine who is the first ATLAS Champion.

The first group A match witnessed ICW Heayweight Champion, Damo, succumb to Michael Dante. This was a short sprint, with the two behemoths delivering the typical big man match that was strike and brawl heavy. A spear secured the victory for Dante and ensured he made the best possible start to his ATLAS campaign. This was too short to have lived up to its potential.

Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifier #1

Zack Sabre Jr vs Flash Morgan Webster

Before the match, Jim Smallman, PROGRESS owner, beseeched the fans to mind their language as the matches would be made available either on the WWE Network or WWE.com.

Despite already being announced as one of the 32 competitors in WWE’ Global Cruiserweight Series, Zack Sabre Jr was forced to face Flash Morgan Webster for the right to be in the tournament. Although the result was never in doubt, this match served as a showcase for Zack Sabre Jr with Flash Morgan Webster, for ninety percent of the time, serving as a dummy for Sabre to manipulate and tie into knots. Sabre ran through his arsenal of wince inducing holds and submissions, eventually securing the victory after sitting on Webster’s neck.

As it turned out, the reason why Flash Morgan Webster was no more than a body for Sabre to bend was because he was injured. Post-match, Webster was rushed to A & E with torn ligaments in his ankle and a dislocated shoulder. Major props for finishing the match and get well soon.

Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifier #2

Pete Dunne vs Jack Gallagher

In the more open of the two GCS qualifiers, it was Pete Dunne who delivered the star making performances despite submitting to Jack Gallagher’s leg bar. That is no sleight on Gallagher, who was very good, too, but merely a comment on how great Pete Dunne was. For large portions of the match, Pete Dunne controlled the pace, working the mat and Gallagher’s arm: whilst in control, Dunne lambasted the crowd, stating that he was the best bruiserweight in the world. Although it wasn’t to be for Dunne this time, he is clearly on the brink of breaking out huge and performances like this only provide further credence to that.

Due to the temporary ban on swearing, the crowd was forced to find creative ways to ensure Dunne knew his hair cut wasn’t endearing. This inspired some fun chants.

Natural Progression Series Final

Pastor William Eaver vs Damon Moser

In the third Natural Progression Series Final, Damon Moser, who defeated Ashton Smith in the semi finals and both Shen Woo and Jack Sexsmith in the quarter finals, met Pastor William Eaver, who defeated Tyler Bate and Damian Dunne en route to the final.

This was a back and forth match that started at a frenetic pace, with both men brawling around the ring side. Moser, who appeared more confident than last time out-and was better for it-, gained the advantage after evading the Pastor’s Clothesline from Heaven that collided with the ring post. Moser delivered a series of ferocious knee strikes that allowed him to control the middle portions of the match. The reversals and near falls from were hot, with the crowd predominantly supporting the Pastor. Pastor William Eaver landed a second Clothesline from Heaven to secure the victory and claim the trophy. The finish fell a little flat but shouldn’t be held against what was a good match.

Both Moser and Bill Eaver, graduates of PROGRESS’ ProJo training school, have earned a growing reputation in recent months, impressing throughout the tournament and this was another good showing for both.

After the break, Pollyanna emerged, momentarily sitting on a burnished silver throne that was reeled in just to be reeled away five seconds later. After Daliah Black, not accompanied by TK Cooper who was banned from ringside, joined her in the ring, Black announced that Pollyanna’s partner would be Jinny. Pollyanna declared that Black’s partner would be Elizabeth, Jinny’s estranged assistant.

Pollanna & Jinny vs Daliah Black & Elizabeth

Although the match itself was often clunky in places and didn’t really click, the story told of Elizabeth, who was protected from working extensively in the match, finally standing up for herself blew the roof of the Ballroom. Elizabeth secured the victory after delivering a backstabber to Jinny, ensuring that she finally gained a modicum of revenge for the months of abuse.

Post-match, incandescent, Jinny, who was exceptional throughout as ever, took her humiliation out on her former personal assistant. Pollyanna attempted to make the save but was prevented by Daliah Black as two brawls had to be broken by security. Despite the quality of the match itself, the development of two stories in the women’s division gives ample reason to be incested in all four women. Pollyanna, Daliah Black and Jinny (I Leave Elizabeth out as I have not seen enough of her to comment either way) are all more than capable in the ring and will be the cornerstones of the PROGRESS Women’s division

Joe Coffey vs Rampage Brown

Atlas Tournament Group B

Joe Coffey is a wrestler I have been desperate to see in PROGRESS more frequently and his singles debut didn’t disappointed. In contrast to the earlier ATLAS Tournament match, this started off slow and worked to a ferocious ending. Certain BIG LAD matches have a tendency to rely heavily on strikes which often become redundant: Coffey and Rampage made every blow mean something. Stylistically, this was reminiscent of a Strong BJ division match that began on the mat and culminated with both men, worn out, striking each other until something gives. Nothing, however, gave as the fifteen minute time limit expired and the match ended in a draw. Fantastic match.

Current ATLAS Group A Standings

Michael Dante 2

Joe Coffey 1

Rampage Brown 1

Damo 0

The Origin (El Ligero, Nathan Cruz, Zack Gibson & Dave Mastiff) vs FSU (Mark Andrews & Eddie Dennis) & London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch)

Since Chapter 23, The Origin have tyrannically ruled over PROGRESS’ tag division, gaining illegitimate victory after illegitimate victory to cling to their titles. Subsequently, F.S.U. and London Riots have been forced to team together in order to combat The Origin’s numbers advantage.

Nathan Cruz and El Ligero emerged, announcing that Mastiff and Gibson couldn’t make the show. Moments later, it was revealed that this was a ploy orchestrated by The Origin to gain the advantage early on as Mastiff and Gibson attacked Dennis and Davis to temporarily take them out of the equation. As ever with Ligero and Andrews, there was some great interactions between the two early on. As the match continued, The Origin worked over Mark Andrews and Rob Lynch with frequent tags until James Davis limped back to the ring. Davis ran wild, sending The Origin reeling before once again the numbers advantage ensured The Origin regained control. Eddie Dennis, moments later, returned to restore the four vs four dynamic. After tandem dives to the outside by Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis, London Riots secured the victory and the number one contendership following GBH. Really good match that had a great finish and built suspense in the near falls due to the collective will of 700+ people desperate for Origin to lose.

Marty Scurll (C) vs Tommy End

PROGRESS Championship

After emerging victorious from Chapter 27’s Thunderbastard, Marty Scurll, the PROGRESS Champion, declared that no one on the roster was worthy to challenge for his title at Chapter 28 in Manchester. Instead, the PROGRESS Champion offered a non title open challenge that was answered by Tommy End.One swift kick to the head allowed End to gain a crucial non title victory, dealing Scurll his first defeat as champion whilst ensuring he received a championship match at Chapter 29.

As demonstrated in their previous encounter in Manchester, End and Scurll have great chemistry and that was on display here again. Scurll and End built on their previous match, with Scurll even more determined to evade End’s strikes that have the potential to end a match at any given time: something he learnt to his detriment last time. As is common with all End’s matches, his strikes retain a veneer of legitimacy that few have in professional wrestling. In response to that, Scurll’s facial expressions whilst attempting to avoid the strikes were perfect, conveying a genuine sense of fear and desire to escape impending danger. Although certain sections of the audience are still determined to cheer him, Scurll has done a great job at ensuring the majority of fan boo him due to chicanary to gain an advantage in a match or breaking PROGRESS’ number one rule of not being a dick.

End appeared to have the match won following a roundhouse kick. The ballroom descended into darkness. When the lights went on, Mikey Whiplash stood in the ring, face to face with End. Whiplash struck Scurll with a chair to end the match in a no contest. Whiplash attacked End, claiming this was his time before fleeing, claiming this was supposed to be his time. End demanded to be entered into the SSS16 before stating that he would give the devil his dues.

Evidently, HHH got his hands all over the finish. Okay, so I’m being facetious but nonetheless the point remains. A no contest in the main event is something PROGRESS have seldom used in their three year history. Sure, there are merits to the finish: the Mikey Whiplash/Tommy End story adds an intriguing sub plot in the SSS16 but leaving a show feeling underwhelmed with a main event finish is a rare feeling at PROGRESS shows.

A good match that was robbed of being great by the finish.

Final Word: On paper, this had the potential to be one of the best shows in PROGRESS history. Although such heady heights weren’t reached, this was a good show that developed numerous story lines up and down the card. Despite the disappointment surrounding the conclusion to the main event, most of the matches ranged from good to great.

PROGRESS returns to Camden during the final weekend of May for SSS16 . We will have extensive coverage here at Kayfabe Today with profiles, previews, predictions, results and reports.

Current SSS16 participants announced so far:

Sami Callihan

Mikey Whiplash

Mark Haskins

Tommy End