By @specficluchador

Following last month’s phenomenal High Stakes at York Hall, RevPro returned to London for their second Cockpit show of the year, presenting an ensemble of the finest talent from all over the world in yet another stacked card: newly crowned RevPro Champion Zack Sabre Jr face Will Ospreay, who looked to regain momentum following defeat to Marty Scurll in a number one contenders match that gained international acclaim. The new number one contender, Marty Scurll, faced the debuting Timothy Thatcher, Damo faced Mark Haskins, Pete Dunne defends his Cruiserweight Championship against Sonjay Dutt whilst Colt Cabana met Lord Gideon Grey in a grudge match. The sold out London Cockpit (a brilliant venue for wrestling, I may add) witnessed another spectacular show with great performances coming from top to bottom of the card as RevPro provided further proof why each show is can’t miss.

Contenders Division

Matthew Nathan vs Rob Lias (?)

Andrew Quildan introduced this match as a showcase of RevPro’s wrestling school in Portsmouth. Matthew Nathan and Rob Lias, both wearing young lion’s gear, had a very good back and forth match that allowed both men to have spells of offence. Lias secured the victory with a lungblower transitioned into the Last Chancery to submit Nathan.

Pete Dunne vs Sonjay Dutt

Crusierweight Championship

Pete Dunne’s stock is rising fast: he delivered another great match here against in the latest of what has been a string of incredible performances by Dunne over the past year. The early stages of this match were worked primarily on the mat as both men jostled for the upper hand. The match soon became a clash of speed vs power, as Dutt evaded Dunne’s offence to land a tornado ddt followed by consecutive moonsaults. Dunne gained the momentum following a ddt before blocking a sunset flip to score the pinfall with the assistance of the ropes to retain the Cruiserweight Championship. Dunne had a permanent look of viciousness written across his face as he worked throughout this match, bringing further intensity to a superb Cruiserweight division that features some of Britain’s finest prospects. With performances like this, it is clear that Dunne is an impressive talent that is destined for a huge 2016.

On another note, I had never seen Dutt before and was not disappointed. Although he was unsuccessful this time, I would love to see him return to RevPro in the future.

Zack Sabre Jr and Marty Scurll Confrontation

Zack Sabre Jr was introduced to the crowd as the new RevPro Champion before Scurll was introduced as the number one contender. Quildan referenced the Ospreay/Scurll match from High Stakes as match of the year chants broke out before Scurll stated that he had no desire to fight Sabre for the title as their friendship was more important. Fortunately, Scurll acknowledged the cheesyness of that sentiment before offering to reunite LDRS, Scurll and Sabre’s former tag team. Sabre accepted before laying a challenge out to the best tag teams in the world.

Josh Bodom vs Donovan Dijak

Now, from what I have previously seen of both Bodom and Dijak, I knew this would be good but this was much better than good. Both men worked with utter disregard for their bodies to produce an outstanding match. This was awesome. A cheap shot from Bodom before the bell rang did not provide him with the advantage he desired. Instead, Dijak delivered a series of brutal strikes around the ring before a big boot nearly took Bodom’s head off. Bodom spiked Dijak on the ropes before delivering a moonsault to the outside as they began to brawl up the bleachers. Bodom maintained the advantage, delivering an astonishing running senton down the stairs to ground Dijak on the outside. Moments later, Dijak, not to be outdone, fought back before landing a springboard twisting clothesline to the outside before following with a moonsault of his own. Back in the ring, Bodom reversed the Dijection into a frakensteiner before securing the victory with a facebuster though the ropes.

Both men worked incredibly hard to produce an excellent match that is must see. Performances like this only testify to both men’s ability and proves why 2016 will be such a big year for both.

Marty Scurll vs Timothy Thatcher

On a card full of potential show stealing matches, Scurll and Thatcher made their claim with a sublime mat based match that featured incredible grappling, mind-bending reversals and flawless psychology. I will preface this with one comment before I go further: I had been desperate to see Thatcher for a long time and he is God like to witness perform live. His facial expressions, or rather, facial expression, speaks more than a thousand words of Shakespeare’s poetry.

The match began with Scurll escaping every hold Thatcher applied before proceeding to mock Thatcher with his signature taunts. Scrull worked Thatcher’s arm before a thumb to the eye gave the ever nefarious Scurll the advantage before Thatcher retorted with a series of thunderous uppercuts. Thatcher proceeded to work Scurll’s arm before applying the arm bar as Scurll desperately grabbed the ropes to break the hold.

In an great sequence, Thatcher blocked the chicken wing, transitioning into the arm bar-Scurll attempted to break the hold with kicks to the head but Thatcher caught the leg, transitioning into the ankle lock before Scurll rolled out to snap Thatcher’s fingers. Scurll and Thatcher traded headbutts as Thatcher regained the advantage-Thatcher couldn’t lift Scurll for the dead lift gut wrench suplex due to the arm work throughout by Scurll, who reversed the suplex attempt into the chicken wing to force Thatcher to submit.

This was a great exhibition of both men’s exceptional grappling ability and is another match you must go out of your way to see. Thatcher and Scurll’s similar styles meshed seamlessly to produce an outstanding match as both men received raucous cheers before they took their leave. Scurll and Thatcher have long since broken out and are at the top of the pile due to consistently world class performances: this was no different.

James Castle vs Flash Morgan Webster

In a match that pit punk, James Castle of The Revolutionists, against mod, Flash Morgan Webster, it would be the mod who would reign supreme although he paid a heavy price.

Josh Bodom, who accompanied Castle to the ring, was sent to the back early on after an attempted interference before Flash Morgan landed a series of high paced offence that culminated in a moonsault. Webster appeared to have the match won as he headed up to the top rope to deliver a 450 splash. However, Josh Bodom, perennial thorn in Webster’s side, pulled Castle from harm’s way. Castle attempted a brainbuster but Flash Morgan reversed into a small package to secure the win against the odds. Post match, Bodom and Castle delivered a beat down to send a statement to Flash Morgan.

Damo vs Mark Haskins

Over the past few smaller RevPro shows, Damo and Mark Haskins have engaged in a series of fantastic big man/small man contests, the latest of which was arguably their best to date. As Haskins entered the ring, Damo smirked at the sheer temerity of Haskins entering his his realm. Haskins grounded the considerably larger man early on with a series of fierce kicks before Damo’s strength allowed him to gain the advantage. Now, a lot of big men tossing the smaller man from pillar to post can be largely tedious: Damo, through a combination of aggression and brutality, keeps these periods of the match compelling. He is one of the best big men in the business and has mastered the big man/small man dynamic: the difference between this David and Goliath match is that David can kick really freaking hard. Haskins was brilliant as the underdog in peril, refusing to quit after being on the receiving end of the brunt of Damo’s extensive power arsenal. Haskins fought back, delivering a series of kicks to the arm before landing a tornado ddt. Haskins applied an arm bar before Psycho Phillips attempted to interfere. Whilst the referee tried to dispel Phillips, Damo delivered a low blow before securing the victory.

After the match, Phillips attempted to form an alliance with Damo but received a fierce forearm for his troubles. Evidently, Haskins has unfinished business with Damo that will hopefully lead to another match.

Lord Gideon Grey vs Colt Cabana

Princess Unicorn chants plagued Lord Gideon Grey as he made his way to the ring. Supercilious as ever, Lord Grey stated that he was simply better than everyone in attendance before Colt Cabana emerged to exactly the opposite reaction that Grey received. Lots of fun antics early on with Cabana running away from Grey before presenting himself on all fours in the middle of the ring. A rake to the eye allowed Lord Grey to gain the advantage, who proceeded to deliver a series of blows to Cabana.

Cabana fought back with his trademark offence that culminated in the flying asshole. Cabana paid his usual homage to Dusty Rhodes with a series of jiving elbows before applying an inverted Boston crab. Cabana transitioned into a roll up to secure the victory before proceeding to humble Lord Grey in front of his subjects by smacking his bottom. This was a fun match that combined some good mat wrestling with some comedy spots.

Zack Sabre Jr vs Will Ospreay

Live at the Cockpit Six’s main event featured two participants that could headline shows anywhere in the world such is testament to their abundant talent: Zack Sabre Jr, arguably the best technical wrestler in the world, faced Will Ospreay, arguably the best high flier in the world, in a non title match that surpassed lofty expectations. The psychology of this match as phenomenal, the limb work impeccable and Ospreay’s flying out of this world as ever. The story of this match was that Sabre forced Ospreay to work his style of wrestling, grounding the high flier with an array of holds to prevent Ospreay from taking to the skies and in consequence frustrating him. Sabre targeted the brunt of his offence to the neck before Ospreay’s speed allowed him to land a series of offensive maneuvers. Ospreay followed a standing shooting star press with a Spanish fly before Sabre reversed a wheelbarrow position into a dragon suplex.

A series of near falls culminated in an attempted dragon suplex from the top rope that Ospreay blocked before delivering the patented cheeky Nandos kick followed by an ace crusher. Sabre raised his knees to a 630 before delivering a second dragon suplex. Sabre delivered a powerbomb before sitting on Ospreay’s head whilst stretching his arms to secure the victory with another wonderfully unique submission.

Post match, a frustrated Ospreay was complimented by Sabre, who stated that Ospreay is one of the best in the world before continuing to grant Ospreay a shot at the title whenever he desires. Sabre closed the show by stating that 2016 was going to be the year that British wrestling takes over the world and my word it is impossible to disagree. Sabre and Ospreay told a compelling story here and it was a pleasure to witness two of the best in the world share their craft.

Final Word: We truly are in a golden age of British wrestling and RevPro are at the forefront. The British guys are no longer British stars: they are international stars of the highest calibre. Each match delivered with Dunne/Dutt, Dijak/Bodom, Thatcher/Scurll, Damo/Haskins and Sabre/Ospreay all being excellent. RevPro continues to deliver can’t miss, must see events that provide some of the best wrestling in the world.