By @specficluchador

PROGRESS returned to Manchester for the second time in 2016 on 04/10: Chapter 28, Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want, a reference to The Smiths’ track, delivered yet another excellent Chapter show that hit its stride in the second half whilst developing several new storylines throughout the course of the show.

The show began with a tribute to Kris Travis as pink lights illuminated The Ritz as CKY played.

Moustache Mountain (Trent Severn & Tyler Bate) vs The Dunne Brothers (Pete & Damian Dunne)

Tyler Bate and Trent Severn, known as Moustache Mountain for their impressive hipster facial hair that would not appear out of place in Camden, made their PROGRESS debut as a team against the ever impressive Dunne Brothers. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate were both excellent, with Bate out wrestling Dunne early on before Dunne gained the advantage through nefarious tactics. Pete Dunne excels at eliciting a reaction from a crowd for someone so young: presumably, that’s the reason why he sports a top knot. Facetious comments aside, Pete Dunne is one of the top young talents coming through in Europe and someone that is poised to break out in a big way over the next couple of years. There was some fun spots here, too, particularly when Damian Dunne battled Tyler Bate on the shoulders of their partner. As the match broke down, everyone hit their finish before Pete Dunne took advantage of a turned back to secure the victory for the Dunne Brothers following a pump handle facebuster. Considering the disbanding of Sumerian Death Squad at Chapter 27, the tag division is in need of further depth: both teams would be excellent additions to the division and provide a number of fresh match ups. Fantastic start here for both teams that will probably be featured heavily over the next couple of years.

Damon Moser vs Ashton Smith

Natural Progression Series Semi Final

Damon Moser, product of the ProJo academy, faced Ashton Smith, Manchester local, for the right to face Pastor William Eaver in the final of the third Natural Progression Series. The work here was solid for the most part, with no clearly defined roles for either competitor but the crowd backed the local, Smith. Ashton Smith delivered most of the offence, taking every opportunity to take to the skies with Moser looking to keep Smith to the mat. The finish fell flat, though, with those not familiar with Moser not expecting the finish from the running knee strike.

Post-match, The Pastor emerged for a stare down with his Natural Progression Series Final opponent, Damon Moser.

Jinny (w/Elizabeth) vs Toni Storm

From the moment she arrived, this match was about Jinny, the Armani Princess: not only has the appearance of a star but, most importantly, she carries herself like one, soaking in the ire of the crowd. Jinny controlled the majority of the match, cutting off every attempted comeback. For someone relatively new to the business, Jinny is a master of keeping her heat segments compelling: Jinny humiliated Storm, wrapping her adversary in a bin bag whilst smudging lipstick over Storm’s face. Storm, animated by the crowd’s support, ripped the bin bag off Hulk Hogan style before Jinny secured the victory thanks to her assistant, Elizabeth, causing the distraction. Jinny, unsatisfied with the indignity already caused, beseeched Elizabeth for further assistance to continue the assault.

However, Elizabeth, following months of repressed rage, slapped her boss in the face before Toni Storm delivered a piledriver.

As Jinny came round, incandescent with rage, humiliated, she tore apart The Ritz, tossing chairs and shrapnel around as she threw her toys out of her pram in embarrassment at the humiliation caused by Elizabeth.

Mark Haskins vs Flash Morgan Webster

Both Haskins and Flash Morgan Webster delivered impressive performances in the last chapter’s ThunderBastard but ultimately fell short in their efforts. This was an exhibition, prefaced and punctuated by a handshake, with no real significance hinging on either outcome. Haskins worked slightly more aggressive than usual early on, with his strikes peppered with more spice than usual. Haskins sought to ground Flash to prevent him from flying, with his transitions, as ever, being on point. Haskins evaded a splash from Flash before going for his opponent’s arm for the finish-something he hadn’t worked on all match. Haskins rolled up Flash for the victory in what was a solid match that could have delivered more. Perhaps the inconclusive finish leads to another match between these two, with a position in WWE’s Global Cruiserweight Tournament at stake.

T Bone vs Big Daddy Walter

ATLAS Championship Tournament

Group A

First, the rules of the ATLAS Championship tournament; competitors, over 205 lbs, are in two groups of four; the basis of the tournament is a round robin, with two points scored for a win and one for a draw (there is a 15 minute time limit). The winners of both groups will meet in Brixton on the 25th September.

The first match witnessed the Chapter show debut of T Bone and the return of Big Daddy Walter, who is adept at working numerous styles. However, Walter only worked one style here: HOSS. These big lads went hard, striking each other with fury, trading power spots and slams that shook the core of the earth. T Bone secured the victory following a splash from the top rope. Really great start to the BIG LAD Division that has set high standards for the rest of the tournament

Marty Scurll’s Non-Title Open Challenge

Scurll reminded everyone how he was responsible for the success of PROGRESS, making the PROGRESS title a World Title in Dallas during WrestleMania weekend. As ever, the fans wanted to cheer Scurll but this was such a fantastic promo he gave the fans no opportunity to cheer him thanks to this promo. Scurll claimed the over 205 pounders created their own division because they feared they couldn’t beat him, which is an interesting point that suggests the heavyweights won’t be able to challenge for the PROGRESS Title following the inception of the ATLAS Championship. Scurll proceeded to demand an opponent for this non-title match as no one on the roster was worthy to challenge for his title.

Ominous music resounded.

Out emerged Tommy End, stoic and menacing, underscored by chants of “you’re gunna get your fucking head kicked in” directed at the Champion, who appeared incredulous at End’s temerity .

From the moment End emerged, the crowd was hot. Scurll was brilliant here, cowardly evading End’s ferocious strikes at all costs and only looking to deliver offence through chicanery, working the arm in preparation for the chicken wing when opportunity presented itself. Following an incredible exchange of reversals, Scurll laid out End with a couple of uppercuts before taking a moment to call for the chicken wing. Such a lapse of concentration proved costly, allowing Tommy End to regain his senses before KOing the PROGRESS World Champion with a roundhouse kick to secure the victory.

End picked up the title, laying it over Scurll’s face before leaving to raucous cheers. This was a great match that saved that extra gear for the probable rematch for the title at Chapter 29.End’s kicks are so legit, Scurll had a genuine look of concern on his face throughout which really played into how intimidating End is. As demonstrated from this match, End and Scurll have great chemistry and will tear the house down whenever they meet again, presumably at Chapter 29.

The Origin (El Ligero & Nathan Cruz) (C) vs F.S.U (Eddie Dennis & Mark Andrews)

PROGRESS Tag Team Championship Match

No DQ

The Origin have clung to their tag championships through hook or crook since gaining the titles at Chapter 23. Following their latest -and arguably most impressive- victory against Zack Sabre Jr and Tomasso Ciampa at Chapter 28, The Origin asserted their dominance over the tag division by attacking the first ever PROGRESS Tag Champions, F.S.U., backstage. Management determined that, due to The Origin’s propensity for cheating, they would face F.S.U. in a No DQ match in Manchester.

From the first bell to the last, this was brutal, with both teams utilising chairs, ladders, tables and thumb tacks among various other weapons to inflict as much punishment as possible. Such was the level of brutality in this match, The Origin, the most universally despised faction in PROGRESS, had earned the respect of the fans through their fearlessness that translated into duelling chants. Chris Roberts, the ref, attempted to stop Dennis and Cruz striking each other (for God knows what reason) before the adversaries momentarily put aside their differences to send Roberts into a chair. FSU appeared to have the match won after Mark Andrews landed a Shooting Star Press but there was no ref to count. Out came the second ref, which El Ligero pulled to the outside to prevent the conclusion of The Origin’s title reign. The finish came when The Origin powerbombed Dennis through a table before Cruz delivered a tombstone on to a chair to Mark Andrews, who had fought admirably to stay in the match, before eventually being pinned.

A huge ovation reverberated around The Ritz as a sign of respect for both teams. They beat the crap out of each other.

El Ligero and Nathan Cruz are incredibly diverse performers, transitioning from top babyfaces in other promotions in the UK to top heels when working in PROGRESS: both have the crowd at their mercy whether it be through denying the fans what they want to see or by genrally being despicable. Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis, too, were equally impressive and the perfect foil for The Origin: this was a match well worth going out of you way to see. All four men deserve major props for this.

Final Word: Although the first half of the show had its moments, Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want hit its stride in the second half, with two excellent matches punctuated by a phenomenal main event. Heading into Chapter 29, Tommy End appears to be first in line for a title shot, the Hoss division will continue with the start of Group B and The Origin seek new challengers for their titles.

PROGRESS continues to deliver can’t miss, must watch shows that serve to illustrate why they are the hottest ticket in Europe.