Rev Pro was back at The Cockpit after a rather underwhelming Cockpit show last time out. This time, the company was experimenting by broadcasting this live over its RPW on demand service on Pivotshare. Yes, there were some teething issues but nothing on the scale of the old ROH and Evolve iPPV. A success then? Well, only time will almost like with everything in wrestling. I'm sure once Rev Pro are confident they will run more live shows on there RPW on demand service. Hopefully, by Summer Sizzler or Uprising, they take the dive and host those shows live.
As for this show, Rev Pro again brought in two outsiders to headline the show as the King of Bros and then Progress Atlas champion Matt Riddle faced the best big man since Vader - Keith Lee. Also scheduled for this show was our favourite loveable loser Eddie Dennis facing Sami Callihan and #CCK (Chris Brookes and Travis Banks) put the belts on the line against contenders Josh Wall and Kurtis Chapman. So rather than me hype up the card anymore let's get right into the action. Singles Match: Angelico vs. Max Voltage Well, I was surprised to see Max Voltage back on the scene I haven't seen a former FWA Academy standout since 2005. Almost 12 years I assumed he had retired a long time ago but alas, like Luke Phoenix, he is back in BritWres obviously due to the recent boom. Next, it will be the UK Pitbulls who are back. Shame Max had lost his big red shiny gear (a staple of any indy wrestler back in 2005 who just wanted to be Amazing Red rip offs) and his big bushy hair. Anyway, it's good to see someone I haven't seen in so long. Max and Angelico early on did some solid work but then were interrupted by Zack Gibson. Gibson called Max and Angelico Will Ospreay. He added these two boys will never be as good as him and after some more talk by Gibson, this Match is made a 3 way. Winner: No Contest 3 Way Dance: Zack Gibson vs. Max Voltage vs. Angelico This was a decent enough opener. Everything was solid but nothing stood out as being special. It did, in all fairness, continue the strong push of Zack who continues to pick up wins and heat going forward. It was the smartest booking choice going forward as Zack has a hell of a lot of momentum heading into his Summer programme with Will Ospreay which will probably peak at this years Uprising show in the world famous York Hall. After 10 minutes or so of good action, Zack picked up the win with his Shankley Gates by locking it on Max who was forced to tap out. Winner: Zack Gibson RPW Undisputed British Cruiserweight Title Match: Josh Bodom (Champion) vs. David Starr The last time these two had a match was a bit critical of it for Josh's cheap heat antics in Florida during WrestleMania week. This time out both men seemed to click more due to Josh being more polished at getting heat and not going the cheap route to getting it. Early on, Starr dominated Josh taking the fight to the champion. Starr worked over Josh with chops in the corner and Josh sold them perfectly. Josh made a comeback with a double stomp and threw some nice stiff forearms. Josh began to target the knee and continued to work it over for the majority of the match. No cheap heat tactic here folks. Josh went the old route and targeted a body part to great effect and Starr sold it perfectly. Starr battled back with a Spanish Fly from the top rope for a near fall. Then a tilt-a-whirl slam for another near fall. Things were going along nicely as the two began to go home. Starr was unable to get Bodom up for a suplex and then Josh caught Starr in a half crab but Starr just reached the ropes. Bodom was really putting a beating on Starr and crowd really got behind the challenger, thanks to his expert selling of his bad knee. Starr then came close as you like with a big lariat to Bodom and they had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Starr went for a German but Josh battled out by kicking Starr in his knee. Starr charged Bodom who side stepped Starr and sent him to the over the top but Starr landed on the ring apron. Bodom then super kicked Starr in the knee as nailed Starr with a bliss buster for the three count. This was a very good match and another standout performance from Josh Bodom. Afterwards, the crowd gave Josh and Starr a standing ovation and both men really did deserve it. Winner: Josh Bodom (And Still RPW Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion) Tag Team Match: The London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch) vs. Dan Magee & RJ Singh This was a good enough match from an in ring point of view but in all honestly, I really didn't enjoy it. I think it's a good idea to have Magee (a contender) teaming with a BritWres legend in Singh. I'm sure Singh can take him under his wing and really help develop and teach the young man to become a better all round worker. After what seemed like a good 15 minutes the Riots gave Magee slingshot spear combo to finish off the young contender. Afterwards, a man wearing a black hoodie, hat and bandana jumped Singh and gave him a big boot and sprayed him with what looked like silly string. The crowd shouted RICKY (Rob Lias) but that was too obvious if I was to choose who this mystery attacker was, I would say it was James Castle. Winners: The London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch) Singles Match: Keith Lee vs. Matt Riddle This was a match I was most excited about going into this show. Yes, they've worked elsewhere but I was really hyped to see this match take place. Early on both men exchange hard hitting strikes then Riddle out of nowhere nails Lee with his big flying knee. You know the one that put down Trent Six...I mean Seven in six seconds at super strong style 16 but Lee is hardly rocked by the K.O. knee strike. Riddle nails Lee over and over again with running elbow smashes then Lee catches him, but Riddle fights free and chops the big mans chest. Lee no sells the chops and throws riddle all the way across the ring with an almighty German suplex. Lee follows it up with a beautiful looking hurricanrana. Lee works over Riddle in the corner with chops then tosses Riddle across the ring. Riddle tries to battle back but Lee cuts him off with a big clubbing blow and ten Lee stands on Riddle. Lee continues to work over Riddle with strikes then lifts him up into the air and as Riddle comes down Lee nearly KO's Riddle with a big forearm smash. Somehow Riddle battles back with a Pele kick ad then gives the big man a gut wrench suplex. Lee and riddle exchange big strikes and then riddle gives Lee the bro to sleep and a German suplex for a near fall. Riddle fires Lee with some sick kicks but Lee battles back with a massive forearm smash for another near fall. Riddle counters a DVD and gives Lee some hard knee strikes before dropping Lee with a fisherman's buster for another near fall. Lee comes back with a big elbow strike and a seated senton splash to Riddle for a two count. Riddle then does the same thing to Lee for a two count. Both men are battered and bruised now and are selling the beating perfectly. Lee then overpowers Matt with a side slam and a pounce (insert Monty Brown impression here) for a two count. Lee splashes Riddle over and over again in the corner but eventually, Riddle moves out the way and gives Lee a Spanish Fly into the corner. Again both men are down then they pull themselves up and exchange more stiff strikes. Riddle goes for a knee strike but Lee grabs Riddle and drops him with a pop-up powerbomb for the nearest of near falls. Lee hoists riddle up onto his shoulders but riddle rolls through and holds onto Lee for a three count. Another quality contest and an internet dream match that lived up to the hype. This was everything I like about pro wrestling. Stiff strikes, big bumps, insane power moves and near falls. This is certainly going on my BritWres MOTY list. Winner: Matt Riddle Singles Match: Sha Samuels vs. Rob Lias This match was built up rather good at the last Cockpit show and had some momentum going in. At long last, it's all good to cheer the East End Butcher and he's someone I always enjoy watching as long as it's not in a serious setting, of course. Anyway, this had the right finish and prolongs the feud between the two which ends hopefully with Sha losing clean to Lias. The crowd was red hot for this match again shouting RICKY at Lias as well as singing the only fools theme at Sha. The finish came quickly as RICKY I mean Rob grabbed Sha's braces and began to whip him with them. Referee Chris Roberts threatened to DQ Rob but then grabbed the braces. Then right in front of referee Chris Roberts, Sha low blowed Lias to force the DQ. Afterwards, Rob nailed Sha with a chair and beat down Sha to leave him laying. Rather than cut to the next match to show Lias dominance over the former RPW British Heavyweight champ and RPW British tag team champ, they decided to have Sha get up an nail Roberts with the chair and scream into the camera RICKY, you mug. Winner: Rob Lias Via DQ Singles Match: Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Dennis Our favourite lovable loser at BritWres Review was up next in his toughest challenge to date as he faced the current AAW Heavyweight champion, Sami Callihan. Eddie, who is on losing streak in RPW, is getting more and more over with a gimmick others may have had trouble pulling off. It really speaks to the man's talents that he's being able to pull it off and get more over with it. The match itself may have been Eddie's best to date in Rev Pro and was another stand out performance from the Pride of Wales. Sami and Dennis did lots of brawling on the outside early on along with lots of comedy which went down a treat with this hotter than hot crowd. Back in the ring, Eddie got a near fall with a perfect looking perfect plex. Sami followed it up with a face wash and a superkick to the back of the head for a near fall. Eddie missed a top rope elbow drop. Both men exchanged elbow smashes and big boots before Eddie nailed Sami with a big clothesline. Both men exchanged strikes on their knees then slugged it out on the feet. Sami then countered an MK Ultra into a code red and applied the stretch muffler, but Eddie somehow reached the ropes. Eddie came so close to his first win in RPW with an inverted DDT. Sami couldn't keep Eddie down with a number of kicks as Eddie fired up but a fifth big boot dropped Eddie and Sami applied the stretch muffler again, and this time Eddie was forced to tap out. Afterwards, Callihan reminded us he has unfinished business with Martin Stone the man who turned on him at the last York Hall show back in April and said he would get his revenge at summer sizzler on August 17th at the world famous York Hall. Another quality scrap and it only prolonging the eventual big win for Eddie. I seriously hope Eddie is booked on Uprising and he gets his first big win there. Winner: Sami Callihan Singles Match: Donovan Dijak Vs Dave Mastiff The last time these two met in Portsmouth, I wasn't a fan of the match they put on. In fact, I was a little disappointed they decided to go the route of a slow plodding 80's style match rather than give us the all out war I was expecting. Thankfully that was what we got here. As Dijak stormed to the ring and both men slugged it out before the bell even rang. Both men beat the crap out of one another similar to how Dijak did with Bodom back in May. Mastiff eventually settled in and targeted the elbow of Dijak working it over for the majority of the match (it's a Novel concept, a heel working a body part to get heat). It played into the story perfectly which probably wasn't better than the David Starr/Josh Bodom match from earlier, but still worked for this reviewer). Dijak sacrificed his finisher yet again in Rev Pro by letting Dave kick out of feast your eyes and also came close with a moonsault. A second moonsault attempt proved to be Dijak's downfall, in the end, landing on his elbow. Mastiff followed it up with a cannonball in the corner and covered Dijak for the 1,2, no as Dave pulled Dijak up with a certain three count. Dijak was out cold and Dave just toyed him until Dijak eventually pulled himself up onto his feet. Dave grabbed Dijak's arm and twisted his elbow but Dijak battled out but then Dave cut him off with a short elbow smash. Dave then gave Dijak a finlay roll and did three sentons in a row for a nearfall. Dave looked on in disbelief then emptied the contents of his nose onto Dijak. Dijak battled back and this time missed a sky twister press's falling directly on his elbow. Dave smelled blood and gave Dijak a maddie running cannonball in the corner to pick up the win. Afterwards Kieth Lee walked out and this reviewer marked out a little. Both men came face to face and it seems as both men will eventually meet at somepoint later on in the year in Rev pro. Finally these two delivered a great match After such a slow plodding brawl in Portsmouth this was the match I wanted to see these two in. Thankfully they paid off there feud with a war and going forward it only established mastiff more than he already is in Rev pro. Winner: Dave Mastiff RPW British Tag Team Title Match: #CCK (Chris Brooke's&Travis Banks) (Champions) Vs The Contenders (Josh Wall and Kurtis Chapman) It was main event time and how do you follow two hot matches well with #CCK obviously. Early on #CCK cut off the ring and exposed the contenders for the rookies they are. Brooke's and banks dominated poor old Chapman but he kept taking what #CCK were dishing out to him. It's a simple story and way of making a underdog babyface a character Sami Zayn plays so well become a star in one night. Not that im saying Chapman will ever be on sami zayns level but he was currently taken up a level here thanks to Brooke's and Banks. #CCK stretched and beat the hell out of Chapman like any old 50/60/70's established wrestler would to a rookie the only difference here was when Chapman made his comeback the established guys actually sold there asses off for the contenders. Chapman made the hot tag to wall a little early in my opinion as the crowd had just started to get behind him by chanting his name but oh well. Wall came in like a house on fire and fight spilled to the outside. Chapman even went up top and did a impressive looking shooting star ou onto banks, Brooke's and his partner wall. The contenders comeback sent the crowd a little quiet as i believe they really should have waited longer for the hot tag. Banks picked up the crowd by working over wall with a cannonball and a double foot stomp. Then wall ducked a travis tridal kick and travis accidently nailed referee Chris Roberts. Then suddenly the London riots showed up well Rob Lynch did and he speared both Brooke's and banks. Chapman crawled over to banks and pinned for the nearfall (the crowd and myself really bit on that nearfall). Chapman and wall worked over banks but he battled back with a Michinoku driver to wall. Chapman was on his own and the kid put up a good fight giving both banks and Brooke's a pair of cannonball splashes in the corner. #CCK eventually battled back with some sick double team moves but they still couldn't put away Chapman. This continued and continued but Chapman refused to stay down. Brooke's put on the octopus stretch the move that made Zack sabre jr tap out but Chapman refused to quit. So while Brooke's had the hold applied banks grabbed chapman's head and repeatably kicked him in the head over and over again. Brooke's released the hold and pinned Chapman for the one, two and three. Afterwards #CCK shook the contenders hands as the crowd have both teams a standing ovation. This match really exceeded my expectations. Going in I wasn't really up for it but they told a simple but effect story which really pulled this reviewer in. Yeah i had a grumble about a hot tag but I'm no worker so who am I to say i know better. It did wonders for the contenders team of Chapman and wall and going forwards I can only see big things for those two. Overall this was another solid #CCK outing but then it is the best boys after all and they always deliver right? Winners: #CCK (And Still RPW British Tag Team Champions) After a rather lacklustre cockpit 17 show Rev pro cockpit 18 show was back to its best. This show delivered from top to bottom even though jinny wasn't on it. There was probably only one dud and that was the riots match with RJ Singh and Dan Magee. As for the rest of the card it was bloody tremendous. It hoisted at least one match that will make my short list for BritWres MOTY in Kieth Lee Vs Matt Riddle and hell you could even argue that the main event, starr v Bodom, mastiff v Dijak and dennis v Callihan could make the list as well. Yep I was really high on this show and would highly recommend you go and check it out on RPW on demand through pivot share. Yet again I would like to tank you the dear reader for taking the time out of your day for reading this review and finish as always with see you at the matches. @Billy_Jay83
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