Rev Pro was back for its big York Hall show for the Easter spectacular on April 13th featuring a killer main event. As The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) made their way to these shores for four big matches. As you would expect, Rev Pro sold out the York Hall days after this announcement but it wasn't just about the main event featuring The Elite, as the under card featured Zack Sabre Jr. Facing NJPW Junior Heavyweight Ace KUSHIDA and 'The Villain' Marty Scurll took on IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion Hiromu Takahashi among other things on this stacked show.
It's your usual open and its right into the first match of the evening. RPW British Tag Team Title Match: #CCK (Travis Banks & Chris Brookes) Vs Sami Callihan and 'The Governor' Martin Stone This was a decent opener and featured some very solid action as you would expect from these four accomplished workers. The only problem I had with it was apart from an angle on TV to set up this match, why did this match exist? It only existed it seems to get all four men on the show and it felt very unimportant because of it. Of course #CCK looked like stars here, and Banks and Brookes had many better outings at Easter but maybe a rematch with Redman and Sterling would have been better? But then they wanted Stone and Callihan on the show so this match had to happen I guess. The finish saw Banks and Brookes hit the assisted Codebreaker and then a Superkick to pick up the win and retain their gold. Winners: #CCK (Travis Banks & Chris Brookes) (And Still RPW British Tag Team Champions) Afterwards 'The Governor' grabbed the microphone and said something but I couldn't really make it out due to the poor quality of the audio. Basically I would assume he put over Rev Pro, York Hall and thanked Sami Callihan. Then the two celebrated and out of nowhere Sami drilled Stone with a big boot and a cradle tombstone Piledriver. Sami then cut a promo on Stone and the audience. Again I'd like to tell you what he said but I could barely hear him due to the piss poor audio. Singles Match: Jay White Vs Angelico The hot streak continued as this was a good match but are you really surprised as these two are very talented workers? All the action was solid as well and the crowd actually seemed to enjoy unlike other Jay White matches which elected very little response from the York Hall crowd. I've actually not really enjoyed Jay White's mini push as I can't see it going anywhere. It's not like Rev Pro have a mid card title (I don't class the Cruiserweight title as a mid card belt). Which would be perfect for Jay at the moment in Rev Pro and Jay isn't over enough to earn a crack at the Rev Pro champion Zack Sabre Jr. unless they book it for a Cockpit show, but do you end Jay's unbeaten run in Rev Pro in 2017 on a Cockpit show? To be honest I don't know the answer. Anyway my only complaint about this match would be it felt long and only went about 13 minutes. After lots of back and fourth Jay white countered a hurricanrana into his Boston crab and Angelico was forced to tap out. Winner: Jay White Singles Match: Zack Gibson Vs Hirooki Goto/with Will Ospreay Finally Zack Gibson got booked against an NJPW regular and a real big name after a hot start to 2017 in Rev Pro and its richly deserved in this reviewers opinion. If Andy books you against an NJPW regular then it normally means you're in line for a big push which again I more than back Andy for doing with Liverpool's Number One! His work in Progress hasn't gone unnoticed by this reviewer and I'm a big fan. Zack got some good heat during his introduction and after Goto's entrance he cut his 'Liverpool Number One' promo which got monstrous levels of heat. I hope Rev Pro, Progress and ITV realise what a monster heel this guy could be and push him to the moon before his shtick actually starts getting him cheered because his in ring talents are so good he'll start get respected down the line in my opinion. Zack was more than solid here against Goto and wasn't carried in anyway whatsoever and Goto sold all of Gibson's offence which you would expect from a pro and solid hand like Goto. Gibson proved he was more than capable of the NJPW strong style with his strikes and in the middle of match built his heat well. Gibson came close to victory with a Codebreaker but only got a near fall and then wrapped Goto into the Shankley Gates but Goto refused to tap. This lead to Gibson grabbing a car stereo but Will Ospreay and Gibson got into a tug of war over the foreign object. Zack won the tug of war but Goto recovered and put Zack into a rear naked choke then Goto dropped Zack with a GTR to pick up the win via pinfall. A rather strange finish. You could argue the car stereo spot was too much comedy as it did elect a response of laughter during quiet a serious match. Overall I really liked this match obviously but I was a little disappointed in the car stero spot and the fact Zack Gibson is no longer undefeated but he couldn't have lost his undefeated streak to a better candidate and I hope Goto comes back later on in the summer for Rev Pro. Winner: Hirooki Goto Non title champion vs champion match: ROH World Tv Champion 'The Villain' Marty Scurll Vs IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi To start out the match Takahashi licks 'The Villain's' umbrella which doesn't seem to sit to well with Marty who proceeds to smash Takahashi upside the mouth with his assaulted umbrella. Sweet JEEZUS that looked liked it hurt. Referee Chris Roberts then rings the bell and Marty pins Hiromu for a two count. Marty then charges a dazed Takahashi in the corner but Takahashi gets his boot up and sends Marty to the outside. Takahashi follows it up with a clothesline to 'The Villain'. Dropkick by Takahashi gets a two count and then he applies a chin lock. Marty finds a way out but Takahashi grounds him with a knee to the back. Takahashi goes for a Suplex but Marty counters it and sends Takahashi to the outside. Marty then does his superkick off the ring apron spot and then the two brawl on the outside. Back in the ring Marty pulls at Takahashi's face then drops a knee across his face for a two count. Marty works over Takahashi with the Sanders special then begins to chop at Hiromu in the corner. Marty then poses and taunts the crowd for a bit as Takahashi sells Marty's chops. Takahashi battled back and sends Marty to the outside with a spear. Then Takahashi does his insane looking missile dropkick from the ring apron out onto Scurll. That spot still makes me wince every time Takahashi does it! ack in the ring Takahashi drills Marty with a cradle bomb for a two count. Scurll battles back with his "superkick...just kidding" and then Marty spikes Takahashi with a brain buster. Marty covers Takahashi for a near fall then signals for a Chicken Wing but gets cut off by Takahashi with a big slap and a German suplex for a two. Both men exchange forearms which sends Scurll onto the ring apron then Takahashi superkicks Marty but it only rocks 'The Villain'. Takahashi then goes for a sunset flip powerbomb from the ring apron but Marty blocks the move by raking Takahashi's eyes. 'The Villain' does some more taunts and poses before the two battle it out on the ramp way. Both men then go back and fourth teasing a suplex on the ramp which Marty eventually wins and drills Takahashi by the big screen. Another superkick by the villain on the stairs by the ring and then Marty takes a big run up and runs into another superkick by Takahashi. Roberts begins to count both men down and both men barely make it back into the ring. Both men exchange forearms in the middle of the ring while on their knees. This exchange goes on for a while but the shots look stiff and convincing. Marty grabs Takahashi's fingers and snaps them as the crowd call him a "sick fuck". Marty locks in the Chicken Wing and Takahashi has nowhere to go and eventually seems as if he has passed out but Takahashi battles out of the hold. Marty is in disbelief then makes a mistake as Takahashi recovers and gives Marty a German into the corner and follows it up with a double foot stomp. Takahashi then picks up Marty and clocks him with a big forearm and drives him into the corner with a Death Valley driver. Takahashi then nails Marty with a Ticking Time Bomb and covers him for one, two and three. Another quality contest which had more twists and turns than a country lane in Wales. You could argue the wrong man went over but seriously is a loss for Marty really going to hurt him at this point in Rev Pro? He's still one of Andy Quildan's most over acts in RPW so I can't see how this loss was a bad thing. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if this lead to a rematch between the two down the line as this match was really rather good! Winner: Hiromu Takahashi RPW Undisputed British Cruiserweight Title Unification Match: Will Ospreay (RPW British Cruiserweight Champion) Vs Josh Bodom (RPW Interim British Cruiserweight Champion) So here we go another bloody Josh Bodom match to review. So let's see if one of the most annoying and unreliable people in BritWres can win me over here! Bodom jumps Ospreay before the bell and beats him down on the mat. Will comes back with a leg grapevine but Bodom just makes the ropes. The two then battle on the outside and Will drives Bodom knee first into the ring post. The two exchange chops on the outside then brawl with one another on the outside. Will continues to work over Bodom on the outside then will goes for a dive but Bodom cuts him off and Will falls from the top rope onto the ring rope back first. Will who had a heavily tapped back looked very hurt indeed (in fact Will's selling was damn near perfect here). Bodom then did a flip dive put onto Ospreay, taking a page out of Ospreay's book. Bodom rolls Ospreay into the ring and gets a two count. Bodom works over Will's back and again Will is selling was damn near perfect. Rather surprisingly I'm about to put over Josh Bodom here as he was beginning to win me over with his psychology as he worked over Will's back in more and more vicious ways during the entire match. Will battles back by going back to work on Bodom's knee. Will applies a single leg crab but Bodom battled out. Will then comes back with a cheeky Nandos kick for a two count. Will follows it up with a phenomenal forearm smash then will goes for a Rainmaker but Josh counters it and eats a spin kick instead. Will nails Bodom with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall then goes back to the Boston crab. Will continues to zero in on Bodom's knee but Josh comes back with an enziguri to Will's lower back. Bodom hits a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Josh taunts Will and slaps him about then snapmares Will and kicks him square in the back. Bodom continues to talk trash which fires up Will and the two exchange kicks. Will goes for an Os-cutter but Bodom catches him and German suplexes will for another near fall. Will springboards up to the middle rope and comes off looking for a hurricanrana but Bodom counters it with a Bodom breaker. Bodom sells his knee and covers Will for another near fall. Bodom stomps on Will's back over and over again then begins to remove the tape from Will's back and continues to beat down Ospreay's back. Bodom is vicious here and I'm loving the fact he's doing this rather than the silly nonsense he normally does. Will counters Bodom and takes him down with a version of the sharpshooter. Zack Gibson hits the ring and distracts referee Chris Roberts as Bodom frantically taps out. Will is forced to break the hold and decks Zack off the apron. Bodom recovers and throws Will onto the apron and goes for a bliss buster but Will counters and kicks Bodom off into the middle of the ring. Will does a springboard 450 to Andy Quildan's delight but only gets a two count. Will follows it up with a revolution kick and goes for the Os-cutter once again but up pops Gibson who pulls Will's feet onto the apron and Bodom takes advantage hitting his bliss buster to the delight of the crowd for the one, two and three. If you've read my reviews before you will know I've been incredibly critical of Josh Bodom as of late but here I could I be he put in a hell of shift and proved to me what Andy quildan already knows and that is he's a incredible worker but I'll add when he wants to be. The cheap distraction actually worked for me here but Josh, please mate, don't do it every match that shtick was getting old very quickly. I think what made this match for me was Will's selling and Josh Bodom's perfect use of psychology by the way he worked over Will's back maybe it because he was told too by Will and Andy but whatever it was he was on fire on this night in the York Hall! So there you go folks, after six shows I've found something nice to say about Josh Bodom. Let's hope he continues to show me what he can really do and continues to have matches like these. Winner: Josh Bodom (And Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion) No DQ Grudge Match: Sha Samuels Vs James Castle After months of build the former tag team partners finally collided in the York Hall. I can't say I was overly looking forward to this and felt maybe they could have had a big bloody war on one of the Cockpit shows rather than rush it onto a card where people may not have been so familiar with the build to his one. I would be wrong as this was actually the perfect pay off to there feud and with its finish could go on and on for months. It was a hot start as the two begin brawling in the aisle way. The two brawl on the outside. Back in the ring Sha whipped Castle with his suspenders but James refused to stay down and showed some good fire here when no selling the suspender shots. Castle battled back and grabbed the chair he brought to the ring with him and began to clobber Sha with it onto his back. Back on the outside Castle grabbed an honest to God saw and teased killing Sha with it but obviously he had it taken away from him by the ring crew. Sha meanwhile went up top and moonsaulted out onto castle and the ring crew. Back in the ring Sha smashed Castle over and over again with the chair while referee Chris Roberts tried to step in to get Sha to stop. Sha was rather displeased this mug tried to step in and slapped him then went and slammed Roberts (it looked to me as if Roberts sandbagged Sha when he tried to pick him up for the slam but it wasn't on purpose of course). Castle came back with a low blow, brain buster and a double foot stomp for a two count. Castle, the babyface, was getting booed throughout his comeback for some reason. Sha came back with a double a spine buster to cheers. Then Sha grabbed the chair and took too long as he taunted the crowd and Castle got up and nailed Sha with a running knee smash which sent the chair back into Sha's face. Castle pinned Sha for the three as the crowd booed the triumphant babyface. Afterwards Sha nailed James with the steel chair and proceeded to beat the holy hell out of him with the chair to cheers. Sha pulls out a pair of scissors and begins to cut off castles massive green mohawk. At least this got some boos but seriously by this crowds reaction, it's best that Andy turns Sha face and Castle goes back to being a heel. Passable match which elected the wrong kind of reaction from this crowd. Shame as I rather enjoyed it. Winner: James Castle RPW British Heavyweight Title Match: Zack Sabre Jr (Champion) Vs KUSHIDA Up next was one of the matches I was most looking forward too as Zacky three belts took on the NJPW Junior Ace KUSHIDA. Not quite sure what made KUSHIDA the number one contender but I'll roll with it as this was a dream match in my eyes. Zack and KUSHIDA tie up and Zack immediately takes him down and grapple on the mat. Both men get up and go straight back into it by grappling on the mat. KUSHIDA applies a arm bar to Zack but he counters and both men get up and face one another to cheers. They lock up again and Zack has KUSHIDA in a full nelson. Again both counter and reverse the others hold and stand back up. KUSHIDA signals he wants the RPW title and Zack sheepishly laughs it off. Zack gets KUSHIDA in a knuckle lock and both men go back and forth on the hold. They both try to get the others shoulders onto the mat and then pop up back up again. Zack applies a head scissors but KUSHIDA comes out of it with a headstand but Zack wraps his leg back around KUSHIDA's throat. Zack transitions into a arm bar but KUSHIDA reaches the ropes. Both men face off and KUSHIDA goes for a single leg and takes Zack down and applies a arm bar. Zack counters with a snapmare and applies a chin lock but KUSHIDA counters into another arm bar. Zack rolls through and kicks KUSHIDA under the chin to break the hold. Zack goes for a headlock while raking the eyes then KUSHIDA executes a hip toss and a dropkick. The two grapple some more and KUSHIDA has the arm bar on Zack but the champ doesn't sweat it and reaches the ropes. KUSHIDA then stomps on Zack's arm and begins to go back to working over the arm. KUSHIDA kicks Zack in the arm then goes for a handspring off the ropes but Zack cuts him off with a kick to the back of the head. Zack removes the tape from his wrist then goes back to working over KUSHIDA by standing on his head. Zack takes down KUSHIDA with a single leg and applies an STF while grinding his elbow into KUSHIDA's face. Zack is putting on a masterclass here as usual. Zack works over KUSHIDA in the corner with forearms which only fires up the Junior Ace. Dropkick by Zack to the side of KUSHIDA's head an Zack goes back to the arm bar. Zack pulls back KUSHIDA hand and then stomps over an over again onto KUSHIDA's hand. Zack removes the rest of his wrist tape while KUSHIDA gets up and eggs Sabre on. Sabre unloads with some elbow and forearm strikes. Sabre then counters a bicycle kick by KUSHIDA and takes down KUSHIDA into an ankle lock and transitions into a leg bar and twists KUSHIDA's ankle in a number of different positions. KUSHIDA breaks free by kicking his way out of the hold and then leg grapevines Sabre's leg. Sabre reaches the ropes and the hold is broken by referee Chris Roberts. The two exchange kicks and KUSHIDA goes up top but Zack cuts him off and arm bars him while up top. KUSHIDA reverses into a Hoverboard lock an then leaps off the top while holding onto the hold onto the mat. KUSHIDA kicks at Zack's arm then dropkicks it. Sabre battles back with a European uppercut but KUSHIDA cuts him off and takes him down with an arm bar. Zack again just reaches the ropes. Sabre applies a Minuro Suzuki style sleeper and then goes into a guillotine choke. Sabre then drills KUSHIDA with a German suplex. Zack tries to follow it up with a penalty kick but ducks and rolls up Zack and gets him into the Hoverboard lock. KUSHIDA doesn't have it cinched in and Zack gets out of hold. Zack then nails KUSHIDA with not one but two penalty kicks and then takes a rest. Zack toys with KUSHIDA by kicking him in the face. Zack begs KUSHIDA to get up and the two exchange chops. Zack then goes for a triangle and transitions into a arm bar in the middle of the ring. KUSHIDA tries with all his might to make it too the ropes and does to break the hold. Zack stalks his pray and goes for a full nelson but KUSHIDA battles out with a forearm smash. Zack grabs KUSHIDA by the hair but KUSHIDA again won't stay down and kicks Zack and gives him a dragon suplex for a near fall. KUSHIDA goes for a moonsualt but Zack catches him in the triangle. KUSHIDA then counters into a Hoverboard lock and now Zack has nowhere to go. Zack goes for a escape but KUSHIDA holds on. Zack then counters into a roll up and gets a two count on KUSHIDA. Both men exchange uppercuts in the middle of the ring then KUSHIDA nails Zack with Pele kick and handspring elbow but Zack catches KUSHIDA. Zack has KUSHIDA trapped in a sleeper but he rolls over but then so does Zack who has KUSHIDA down on the mat and Zack gets the three count. This was a near 30 minute master class by both men by far my favourite match of the night. You better believe the hype because Zack Sabre Jr. is the man and is there really nobody better than him at the moment. KUSHIDA and Zack just clicked out there and delivered what this reviewer expected. By far my match of the night and by far my favourite Rev Pro match this year. Winner: Zack Sabre Jr (And Still RPW British Heavyweight Champion) MAIN EVENT Six Man Tag: The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) Vs 'The All Day Star' Ryan Smile, Lio Rush and 'The International King Of Swerve' Shane Strickland Finally it was time for the main event and the reason almost 90% of these fans were here and that was to see The Elite. The previous evening The Elite were in Scotland and now it was London's turn to see three of the greatest in ring performers of the last two years. The crowd gave Omega and The Bucks a heroes welcome. The crowd was super hot for them as you would expect and chanted their names very loudly even before a bell was rung. Unfortunately Strickland, Smile and Rush were just treated like faceless jobbers but that would change before the end of the match. Lio and Matt Jackson started out and circled one another around the ring as the crowd began to sing Lio rushes name. The two tied up and we got some honest to God wrestling early on. Both men exchanged strikes and then Lio gave Matt a hurricanrana. Kenny came in and was rather quickly sent packing with a kick by Lio and the same happened to Nick Jackson. Matt tagged Nick and he asked for Shane Strickland and in he came. The two worked an arm bar going back and fourth with one another. Nick teased a superkick but Shane was wise to it and then Nick did his suck it spot. Ryan came in and then everyone proceeded to miss a move on the other. Then all six all had the same thing in mind as all six went for a dropkick. The Elite then went for a superkick but Team Smile caught the kicks and spun them around and dropkicked them to the outside. Lio and Ryan went for a dive but Kenny pulled both men out of the ring. Shane was left and he went for a dive but the Bucks moved and as Shane landed he was cut off with a superkick. Kenny and Matt then gave Ryan and Lio a powerbomb onto the ring apron as Nick went up top and he dived out onto Lio and Ryan with senton splash. The Elite got in the ring and took in the applause of the crowd. Back in the ring matt worked over Shane with stomps. They then rammed Shane's head into Nick's boot in the corner. Kenny was in and he did the same but this time with all four boots. Basically The Elite did this spot all Easter and it was masterful how they got the crowd to react accordingly when doing it. Shane battled back with a big enziguri and he tagged Lio who took out all three of his opponents. Lio hit a handspring elbow smash to both Bucks an dived out onto all three members of The Elite. Lio, Ryan and Shane run elbow smashes over an over again into Kenny for a two count. Ryan missed a double stomp and ate a bulldog from Kenny. The Bucks then superkicked both Lio and Shane to the outside. The Elite then did the Terminator spot to a massive pop and chant of "Be Elite". Back in the ring the Bucks nailed Ryan and Lio with a superkicks then a double stomp to both Lio and Ryan. The Elite then applied a trio of sharpshooters to Ryan, Lio and Shane respectively while Too Sweeting one another. The Bucks then went for a Meltzer driver but Ryan battled out of it. Kenny came in and got superkicked by Ryan. Shane then gave Matt a sling shot cutter and then gave Kenny a reverse rana. Shane then jumped onto Matt's chest and moonsaulted out onto Kenny and Nick. Back in the ring Shane missed a double foot stomp and Kenny then nailed him with a jumping knee. Lio and Ryan returned and double teamed Kenny. Then Omega was hit with a Spanish Fly by Lio and Shane while Ryan came off the top rope with a frog splash. Lio then did a frog splash and Shane followed it up with a double foot stomp for a near fall which was broken up by a Nick Jackson swanton bomb. Matt did the punch and suck it spot to Ryan Smile and then Lio gave Matt a big superkick but Matt fired back with one of his own. Nick then gave Ryan a superkick and Kenny gave Shane the big running knee smash. Kenny went for a one winged angel and went to counter it with a reverse rana but Kenny held on and in came the Bucks who nailed Shane with a double superkick. Kenny dumped Strickland off of his shoulders and into the path of the bucks who superkicked him. Kenny then gave Strickland a dragon suplex. Shane was out on his knees and The Elite then began to argue over who should superkick Shane which lead to a nonsensical spot of Matt being blinded and low blowing Kenny. Anyway all three got on the same page and all three superkicked Shane for a near fall. Kenny tagged Matt (at this point did tags even matter?) Again the Bucks went for the Meltzer driver but Lio pulled Shane out of harms way and now Lio was in position for the five star move. Ryan came in but Kenny sent him to the outside. Nick did a moonsualt out onto Ryan as Kenny hoisted shane up into position for the meltzer driver as well and they hit a double Meltzer driver for the one, two and three. Well that was pretty damn good wasn't it? All six put in a great performance here and should be proud with that match. Is there really anyone better than The Elite at these crazy six mans? You could make the argument for will Ospreay plus two team mates or British Strong Style, but I would have to say I think that honour falls to The Elite. If you haven't seen this match then go out of your way to see it. In fact if you haven't seen other matches featuring The Elite that weekend then go out and see them. After seeing three of their four matches from Easter I think every match felt different but was exactly the same and that is why these three are such great performers at the moment. Winners: The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) I'll finish by saying this and that is this show was well worth the 8 bucks a month Rev Pro charge for their on demand service. So if you want to see it then go there and subscribe now. I'm still standing by opinion that Sabre vs KUSHIDA was the match of the night for me, but it my not be everyone's cup of tea. Then again, what was everyone's cup of tea is The Elite v Smile, Rush and Strickland. So that's it thanks for reading my very long review of Rev Pro's Epic Encounter 2017 and I'll use the line Bill Apter always does to finish his reviews, I'll see you at the matches! @Billy_Jay83
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