Thankfully rather than a full on DVD review this one features a live and DVD retrospective as I was there this time on my own but it was an excellent afternoon out at the graps yet again courtesy of Fight Club: PRO. This show was just as stacked as the Manchester show as it featured the semi finals and finals of the DTTI and another big Fight Club: PRO title defence as Travis Banks took on PWG, Evolve and Rev Pro Champion Zack Sabre Jr aka Zacky three belts.
Five Way Match: Omari Vs Chuck Mambo Vs Splits Mcpins Vs InstaGraham Vs Killian Jacobs This was a decent dark match that did the job in getting the crowd warmed up and ready to go for the main show. It was nice to see Chuck Mambo on the show having seen him most of the weekend working as part of the ring crew. Chuck was over here as well but I did notice a few PROGRESS hoodies, caps and tees and as he predominantly works there it would make sense he was so over with this crowd. Splits Mcpins is one of my favourite gimmick wrestlers. So I was happy to see him back in Fight Club: PRO. Omari, who FCP see big things for, went over clean with his O zone. Unfortunately this match being a dark match did not make it onto the DVD which is a same because it was a genuinely hot opener. Winner: Omari It's your usual DVD open as its a long shot of the crowd as some familiar music hits and out come British Strong Style. Six Man Tag: British Strong Style (Tyler Bate, Trent Seven and Pete Dunne) Vs 'The Villain' Marty Scurll, Jimmy Havoc and Sami Callihan BSS come out to Triple H 2000 theme and all three are about to do the water spit spot when Jim Smallman's music hits...I mean Sami Callihan's music hits and he comes out he is joined by his mystery partners who are 'The Villain' Marty Scurll and 'The King of the Goths' Jimmy Havoc. Havoc, Callihan and Scurll all hit the ring, the bell sounds and all six men brawl. Trent, Tyler, Havoc and Sami all go to the outside as PETER and Marty battle it out in the ring. Pete drops Marty with an enziguri and Sami is in who drops Pete with a big clothesline. Trent nails Sami with his cricket chop then Jimmy enters and he nails Trent with a big lariat. Tyler and Jimmy go back and forth and Tyler drops Jimmy with a German. Marty is in and he gives Tyler a back and chest rake before the two brawl to the outside then Trent, Sami, Tyler and PETER all do dives to the outside. Trent does his Chop to the post spot missing Sami in the process. While Jimmy, Marty, Tyler and Pete brawl. Marty mocks the ten count then Sami, Jimmy and Marty do the run around the ring and face wash their opponents. Marty then used a small child and throws him into Trent. Seven then chops the post again as all six men continue to brawl as BSS then get the upper hand and finally do the Triple H water spitting spot. Then they try to take aim at the babyfaces but all three get umbrellas up to block the water and nail all three BSS members with their respective umbrellas. Marty inserts the umbrella in a place the sun does not shine. After the madness Pete nails Sami with an X-Plex then Jimmy gives both Tyler and Pete an Acid Rainmaker. Big boot by Sami to Trent then Marty does the superkick...just kidding spot. Tyler then gives Jimmy a deadlift German and a standing shooting star for a near fall. Marty teases the chicken wing but Tyler blocks it. Scurll then snaps Tyler fingers and Sami hoists up Tyler into a tombstone while Marty and Jimmy jump from the middle rope and Sami drops Tyler with the indy taker for a near fall which was just broken up by Pete and Trent nailing Sami with a pair of umbrellas. Then all three babyfaces do the superkick...just kidding spot and all three tease a Chicken Wing but BSS cut them off with a low blow and drill all three with a Pedigree for the win. Afterwards all six did an entertaining promo dropping in as many references to other wrestling promotions they could. Then all six shook hands then Jimmy, Sami and Marty kicked BSS low and BSS did the same back to them. This all lead to all six raising each other's hands for some strange reason. This was a very strong opener and was probably better watching it live than on DVD. From a live point of view I really got sucked into the action and popped for every big spot but watching it back on DVD I felt they did far too much and too much was going on for to really take in what was happening. Winners: British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) DTTI 1st Semi Final Tournament Match: #CCK (Chris Brookes & Mondai Lykos) vs Hunter Brothers (Jim & Lee Hunter) This was a fun match which was worked well between the ropes and featured some very solid action. The crowd and myself ate up spots involving Lykos and the heat he got was insane at times. He seemed to be the most over man in the match in my opinion. Lots of people told him to "shut up" and chanted "Lykos is a shit wolf!" "if you all hate Lykos clap your hands!" as well as my favourite "na na na na na shit wolf!" (basically the Beatles Hey Jude). Brookes, Lykos and The Hunters were on top of their game here transitioning from spot to spot flawlessly. Their was some tremendous looking double team moves as well but then you wouldn't expect anything less from these four when it came to sick double team moves. The finish saw #CCK hit the assisted code breaker and seated senton to pick up the win. Winners: #CCK (Chris Brookes & Kid Lykos) DTTI 2nd Semi Final Tournament Match: Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero M & Fenix) Vs FSU (Eddie Dennis&Mark Andrews) The next DTTI semifinal was of course another good outing. Their was Some nice exchanges between all four men and I was really hyped live to see what Andrews and Fenix could do together and it was only a little tease but I really want to see a BritWres promoter book a one on one match between these two as I only got a little taster here and from what I saw I want to see more please! There was also a run in from Eddie Mysterio and I haven't seen that guy in a while. Eddie Mysterio never fails to entertain me and I bet Penta and Fenix got a kick out of it like myself and the crowd did. I suppose I had one gripe again and that was the over use of the Canadian Destroyer which reared its ugly head in this match as it was used three times and not once was it sold properly but then that happened all Easter weekend. After lots of back and forth and the over use of Canadian Destroyer and package piledriver for that matter were out of the way Penta and Fenix nailed Eddie with the package Piledriver double stomp combo to pick up the win. Winners: Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero M & Fenix) Fight Club:PRO Title Match: Travis Banks (Champion) Vs Zack Sabre Jr During the introductions both men are staring a hole into one another then square up to one another before the bell. When the bell rings both men grapple with one another on the mat trying to get an advantage over the other. Both men lock up and go down to the mat to work over the other. Both men stand up to applause from the crowd. They then go into a test of strength but Zack counters into a elbow lock. Zack takes down Travis and goes for a knee bar but Travis reaches the ropes. Zack works a headlock which Banks powers out of it and sends Zack Into the ropes and leapfrogs over Zack and goes for a buzzsaw kick but Zack gets out of the way. Both men trade stiff forearms and elbow shots and then Travis works over Sabre in the corner. A respectful hush falls over the crowd as they intently watch the action, much like a Japanese crowd. Both men trade chops then Zack gives Travis a single leg take down and applies a single leg crab. Travis again reaches the ropes to break the hold. Zack is called a tease unionist by someone in the crowd which even pops him. The challenger applies a headscissors and begins to work over Travis' ankle. Both men again trade forearm and elbow smashes then Travis drills Zack with a German. Both men again battle back and fourth and then Travis does his cannonball onto Zack in the corner. Sabre comes back with a kick to Travis' knee and then a penalty kick for a near fall. Zack goes for an armbar but Travis again reaches the ropes. Travis takes down Zack with a front face slam but Zack rolls through and has the arm bar back on. This time Travis escapes the hold. Banks comes back with a buzzsaw kick but then Zack comes back with another penalty kick and a sit down powerbomb for a near fall. Zack connects with a third penalty kick but from out of nowhere Travis nails his challenger with a cradle powerbomb for a near fall. Zack counters a bridging Suplex into an arm bar but again Travis battles out this time with a powerbomb. Both men stare at the other and while sitting down open hand slap the shit out of one another! Zack resorts to stomping on Travis over and we again. Travis battles back with a lariat for a one count to utter bewilderment of Travis who then counters a penalty kick and nails Zack with a tridal kick and applies the crossface and Zack is forced to tap out. Another really good outing by Travis and by both men who brought there a game. I was shocked that Travis won by tap out as well but then Zack has always been known to do what's right for business. In fact I would say it was by far my favourite match from Travis Banks that Easter weekend and that includes his tag match on the Thursday in Rev Pro and his outing in Lucha Forever against Shane Strickland. Winner: Travis Banks (And Still Fight Club:PRO Champion) Intermission Thankfully this intermission was much shorter than the Wolverhampton intermission. It was brisk only going 20 minutes or so. Giving me enough time to get a beer and look at the quality merch on sale upstairs. Triple Threat Match: Shane Strickland Vs Mark Haskins Vs Angelico What is the best way to get the crowd back up after a intermission? Well the answer is obvious. Give them a three way which was spot heavy, contained a shit load of dives, sickening bumps and all your usual tricks to get the crowd fired back up and Fight Club: PRO couldn't have chosen three better men to do it. Strickland looked the best he had all Easter weekend here (note his match the next day with Travis Banks at Lucha Forever was by far his best match on these shores and proved to this reviewer he can do a lot more than spot heavy multi man matches), Angelico excels in these types of matches and Haskins is such a solid performer. He can do these types of matches in his sleep. Yes in my opinion there no one more well rounded than him in BritWres at the moment. In fact it was no surprise Haskins went over clean with his arm bar yet again and Strickland was the man who was forced to tap out this time. Winner: Mark Haskins Singles Match: Will Ospreay Vs Jack Evans This was a surprise addition to the card basically the entire show had a mystery vortex fill it with no matches expect the DTTI matches, BSS v Callihan and two mystery partners and the FCP title match being announced ahead of time and what a surprise it was. I was actually quite hyped when Jack Evans came out and insulted Vicky Haskins and Will Ospreay. Being a big fan of Jack's style for almost a decade, I was pretty hyped to see this match. It was a dream match for me personally and the moment Jack started to talk shit about Will I was already marking out at the prospect of what these two could do with one another in that ring. After the trash talk Will sneaked out and then Jack began to back paddle on his comments. After lots of back and fourth early on. Vicky even got in on the action chopping Jack for insulting her earlier on. But something was off about this match maybe it was the fact I expected so much from these two that I was going to feel short changed after watching this even though it was a solid match. After going through their usual spots it all lead to Jack getting in the face of referee Shay Purser. TThey teased a confrontation then Shay unloaded on Jack which sent the crowd crazy. Shay nailed Jack with a twist fate then missed a swanton bomb but Jack didn't move when will caught him in mid ring off of a spring board with a Oscutter to pick up the win. That finish was something different and this crowd and reviewer ate it up! Afterwards an upset Jack challenged Will to a dance off and the DJ hit the Uptown Funkers tune and the dance off was underway. After the two served one another with some fancy break dancing moves. Will then went and grabbed the locker room who all came out to partake in a conga line around the ring. Also some fans got in on the act to end this crazy dance off! Winner: Will Ospreay MAIN EVENT DTTI Final Tournament Match: Lucha Bros (Fenix & Penta El Zero M) Vs #CCK (Chris Brookes & Mondai Lykos) Brookes came out throwing his water and spitting everywhere and boy do I hate this guy for getting me soaking wet as I wasn't paying attention as I was Tweeting results on @BritWresReview. I guess that will teach me won't it! To start out the match both teams square up to one another then out of nowhere #CCK throw powder into the eyes of Penta and Fenix. Brookes and Lykos then hit the ropes and run into a pair of superkicks by the brothers and it sends #CCK to the outside. Back in the ring, Penta works over Brookes while Fenix works over Lykos. Next Fenix nails Brookes with another pair of superkicks then hits a rolling thunder to Brookes. More double team by the Lucha Brothers who drill Lykos with a wheelbarrow code breaker. Lykos comes back with a Spanish Fly and then Magic Killer by #CCK to Fenix. Penta is back and he walks into a swinging DDT by Lykos. Brookes hoists his partner up into a powerbomb position and Lykos moonsualts off of Brookes down onto Penta for a two count. Lykos then does a sky twister press out onto the Lucha Brothers. Back in the ring Fenix ties Lykos in the tree of woe and Penta German suplexes his brother into Lykos. Brookes tosses Fenix to the outside and then drills Penta with a springboard cutter for a two count. Fenix returns with a superkick and a spin kick in the corner to Brookes for a two count. Lykos and Fenix trade elbow and forearm smashes in the middle of the ring. Then Lykos scores with a dragonrana for a two count. Penta returns and superkicks Lykos. Mondai mocks Penta and gets drilled with another superkick and package piledriver but Brookes just breaks up the fall at two. Enziguri by Fenix to Brookes then Penta nails Lykos with a Canadian Destroyer onto the ring apron. Back in the ring Penta hoists Brooke's up into a Gory Guerrero special and at the same time picks up Lykos into a package piledriver. Then Fenix holds onto Brookes and drops down while his brother does at the same time for a near fall. This Match is turning into something special. Another superkick by Fenix then the Lucha Brothers suffer from some miscommunication and Penta accidentally drills his brother with a Destroyer. Lykos dives out onto Penta while Brookes directs traffic in the ring. Brooke's calls for Lykos and they do their sick assisted code breaker senton combo spot for another near fall. Lykos nails another sky twister out onto Penta to knock him down again as Brookes hoists Fenix into the Gory Guerrero special position. Lykos springboards to the top rope and comes off with a neckbreaker to Fenix as Brookes drives Fenix into the mat for the one, two and three and #CCK are the first ever DTTI champions. Afterwards things get a little bit emotional as Brookes and Lykos are close to tears. Referee Joel Allen then presents them with the DTTI trophy and #CCK celebrate. Then both teams shake hands to the delight of the crowd and before Penta and Fenix handover the trophy to Brookes and Lykos. To end the show #CCK get to celebrate some more as the crowd cheer their favourite villains. This was one hell of a match to cap off a long Easter weekend of Fight Club: PRO shows. It was a worthy main event to end all of the insane action we had seen that Easter. I have to applaud Chris Brookes and Mondai Lykos for stepping up to the plate and delivering with a home run. After this match they really elevated themselves as stars. For instance the next day at Lucha Forever they were treated like stars and I was at IPWUK two weeks later and again even though they were heels were treated as stars and got a babyface reaction in there match against DND and I for one couldn't be happier for both of them. As much as I like to tell Lykos to shut up I now respect him and as much as I like to chant "If you all hate Chris Brookes clap your hands" I respect him even more now after these stand out performances. I can only see good things for both men going forward as a team or as singles stars. I must also applaud Penta and Fenix for getting playing big shots and refusing to lose to a team who was actually not their level but was brought up to their level. Thanks Penta and Fenix. Those two are smart and understand they have a built in rematch with #CCK anywhere around the world as every promoter will be scrambling to book this match now. Winners: #CCK (Chris Brookes & Kid Lykos) So after three long days the question you have to ask yourself is was Fight Club: PRO successful and did it draw a new fan base over the three shows? I would answer yes they did because as recently announced FCP is moving to a new home due to overwhelming support they were able to achieve not just that weekend, but over the last 15 months. This company has only grown stronger and stronger with consistent booking and making its shows feel special each and every show they promote now. Some people have compared FCP to the PROGRESS and I can see why they would say that but in my eyes it's FCP and it will continue to grow and grow as long as the booking remains consistent and they are able to maintain the buzz they've so far been able to gain over the last 15 months. As for this show it was another quality show. Yes I could moan about overkill of certain spots but then I would just sound like Rip Rodgers and I think I've pointed out enough times move the last three reviews why I don't like it. This show had a lot of good on it and every match delivered. So if you're still on the fence about buying these shows then go over to fightclubpro.bigcartel.com and order the DVDs or even easier, go to Vimeo and pay the low, low price of ten pounds to see it. Honestly you won't regret it. As always I'll thank you for reading my review and encourage you to leave a comment and tell me how wrong I am and will as always by ripping off my favourite wrestling writer Bill Apter by saying see you at matches. @Billy_Jay83
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Billy Johnson25 years of watching graps Archives
December 2017
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