By @specficluchador

Despite the absence of several high profile names due to PWG and various promotions in the UK running the same day, Rev Pro’s third Cockpit show of the year combined some of the best young talent in Britain with some more established talents. As ever, RevPro delivered a good show with matches between Fleisch/Storm and ACH/Bodom being the highlights.

Rob Lias vs Kurtis Chapman

The Cockpit shows continue to be used as a vehicle for trainee’s of RevPro’s school in Portsmouth. At the Cockpit shows, the Contender’s Division, composed of the aforementioned trainees, is showcase for some of that talent. Both Lias and Chapman emerged from their debuts at the previous two Cockpit shows victorious. This was a very good match that was both technically sound and compelling. For such a young age, both Lias and Chapman worked well on the mat, with the turning point coming when Jackman missed a senton from the top rope. Lias took advantage, delivering a back stabber before applying the Last Chancery to submit Chapman. Impressive stuff.

Timothy Thatcher vs Joel Redman

As you already know, I am completely enamored by Timothy Thatcher. His facial expressions betray a near unparalleled intensity. I’ve seen Thatcher a fair few times over the past few weeks and the crowd was into him here more so than anywhere else. Joel Redman, former two time RevPro Tag Team Champion, was forced to work Thatcher’s grapple heavy style, something that I haven’t seen him do too often. Thatcher and Redman traded leverage on both arms and legs throughout, with Thatcher securing the win via submission after he applied the fujiwara arm bar. Real good, grapple heavy match. But that is a given considering Thatcher’s involvement.

Legion of Lords (Lord Gideon Grey & Rishi Gosh) vs McCluskey & Bruce

Legion of Lords received “princess unicorn” chants in reference to Lord Gideon Grey as they entered. Both Grey and Gosh were looking remarkably dashing, with Grey sporting his traditional attire whilst Gosh wore robes woven of the finest silk. McClusky and Bruce mocked Gosh’s robes before the match got underway. This was good fun, as Gideon Grey matches are. Every time McCluskey or Bruce would gain an advantage, Legion of Lords would cut them off with various under handed tactics. Bruce appeared to have the match won before Grey pulled him to the outside. Legion of Lords would secure the victory soon after, with Gosh applying a torture rack before an elbow from Grey sent McCluskey down for the three count. Real fun match that combined both good work and humour.

Jody Fleisch vs Jonny Storm

In somewhat of a throwback match to the mid 2000s, Jody Fleish faced Jonny Storm in an excellent match that did nothing if it didn’t prove that these men are incredibly talented and undervalued. This was like 2005 all over again. They tore the house down. Fleisch and Storm worked a Japanese style match, with the pace staring slow before building to an enthralling climax filled with high flying and near falls.Jody Fleisch secured the victory following a tornado ddt. This is well worth going out of your way to see. Fleisch and Storm haven’t lost it one bit.

Sha Samuels vs Charlie Garrett

Charlie Garrett, over the past year, has emerged as one of the finest emerging talents in the UK, working for the likes of PCW, ProEvo and Attack. Garrett is clearly very talented and it showed here in his RevPro debut. Samuels looked to control the pace to prevent Garrett from taking to the skies early on using a host of illicit tactics to gain the advantage early on. Garrett made his comeback, landing an ace crusher followed by a twisting senton from the top rope to secure somewhat of a surprise victory.

Post-match, an incandescent Samuels sought to assuage his rage by beating down Garrett and was soon joined by his fellow Tag Team Champion, James Castle. This produced a melee of bodies that rushed down to the ring, with a ten man brawl breaking out between The Revolutionists (Samuels & Castle), Fleisch and Storm, Redman, McCkluskey & Bruce and Legion of Lords. Fleisch and Storm cleared the ring. Heading forward, this suggests that we will be getting a multi-man match for the Tag Titles in the near future.

James Castle vs Wild Boar

Castle soon returned to the ring where he received various taunts regrading his choice of haircut. I can’t remember the last time that Wild Boar was featured on RevPro-if ever. This match was a brawl from the outset, with the fight immediately spilling to the outside of the ring before Castle gained the advantage with a scoop slam to the concrete floor. Castle continued to work over Boar’s back before Boar made a comeback with a spear. Castle reversed a package piledriver before landing a neck breaker for the win.

ACH vs Josh Bodom

In terms of discussions about the best young talent in the UK, Josh Bodom is up there as one of the most promising talents in Europe. For someone of such a young age, Bodom has an excellent understanding of both ring work and character. He was excellent here again, as he was last time at the Cockpit against Dijak. ACH made his return to the Cockpit, making his second appearance of the year for RevPro. This was a great back and forth encounter. Bodom had the better of the middle stages following a tope con giro to the outside of the post, scoring a number of near falls with the Bodom Breaker and a facebuster. Despite Bodom’s best efforts, he could not put ACH away. A senton met ACH’s knees before ACH followed up a brainbuster with the Midnight Star for the win.

Post-match, ACH stated that he was coming for Pete Dunne’s Cruiserweight Championship at Reading in April.

Final Word: Considering the absences, this was a really fun show that highlighted some of the younger talent in the UK as well as providing an excellent throwback match between British veterans Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm. Charlie Garrett was impressive on his debut and Bodom was fantastic again. The show will be available on RevPro’s new subscription service in the coming weeks; it is well worth checking out for the Fleisch/Storm and Bodom/ACH matches.

Additionally, Andrew Quildan announced that RevPro TV would be returning in two weeks time, which is great news considering the archive that has been built up over the past few Cockpit shows.