PROGRESS Wrestling returns this weekend with their three-night, annual Super Strong Style 16 tournament taking place in London. The headline is the return to the organization of Will Ospreay but deeper than that is a strong bracket featuring some of the biggest names in British Wrestling joined by a couple of names from further afield. Here I will look into the announced first-round matches and predict where the tournament may head in the later stages.
Match graphics: PROGRESS Wrestling
Will Ospreay vs. Tate Mayfairs
Kicking off with the match likely to main event night one, with the aforementioned Ospreay, a former stepping into a PROGRESS ring for the first time since 2019. He takes on Tate Mayfairs who has risen through the PROGRESS ranks as of late and enters his first Super Strong Style 16 this year, and as the self-proclaimed “Greatest Professional Wrestler To Ever Walk Planet Earth” he plans on winning the tournament. He has potentially the toughest test right off the bat however, taking on former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and perhaps more pertinently in this scenario, former PROGRESS World Champion, Will Ospreay. Ospreay will be a favorite to win and in a pre-tournament promo (which featured a cameo from former TJPW International Princess Champion, Alex Windsor) was very dismissive of the field, but this is undoubtedly the biggest match of Mayfairs’ career and he will be motivated more than ever, in order to throw a spanner (wrench. But it’s a British promotion so let me use weird British phrases!) in the works of the highly anticipated return.
Big Damo vs. Kid Lykos
An intriguing match-up between Belfast’s Big Damo (fka Killian Dain) and Kid Lykos. Damo is a powerhouse with surprising agility and Lykos is a man (or a wolf) that is capable of wrestling a number of styles and is one of the most consistent high-level performers in the UK. This is a standout first-round match on paper and is one that fans are particularly excited about.
Robbie X vs. Nick Wayne
Seattle’s Nick Wayne is the name that will jump off the page in this field as the only American import taking part this year but his opponent is one of the top cruiserweight wrestlers in the UK in Robbie X. This is one of very few first-round matches to have taken place previously, as the two men battled at PROGRESS Chapter 136 in July 2022, in what was the PROGRESS debut of Wayne. The third-generation “Prince” got the win on that night so not only will Robbie X be looking to advance in the tournament but will also be wanting a measure of a revenge, and therefore relishing another opportunity to compete against the son of Buddy Wayne on Saturday at The Dome.
Nathan Cruz vs. Maggot
The first-ever PROGRESS World Champion returns to the company as Nathan Cruz competes in a PROGRESS ring for the first time since Chapter 50 in June 2017. This is an intriguing matchup as he takes on former wXw Shotgun Champion, the “Son of Nothing”, Maggot whose unique look, mannerisms, and charisma has made him a favorite with PROGRESS fans who are excited to see him return to London for the first time this year.
Mark Haskins vs. Leon Slater
Another man returning to the company, and another former PROGRESS World Champion is Mark Haskins. One of their most popular wrestlers of all time, he has not stepped into a PROGRESS ring since 2019. He has an interesting test ahead though as he faces 18-year-old super prospect Leon Slater. As one of the most hyped young wrestlers in the world, Slater will be looking to take a huge step in his career not only with a win over a veteran in Haskins but to stake his claim at the top of the PROGRESS ladder.
Danny Black vs Charles Crowley
A rematch from the PROGRESS 10th Anniversary show last year will take place in the first round as one-quarter of the Close Personal Friends, Danny Black, will take on the “Spectacular T*at”, Charles Crowley. Black will be looking for revenge fifteen months in the making, but to do so he will have to defeat not a man, but a God, as Charles Crowley’s rise to his apotheosis in recent months has been something to behold, meaning in addition to the wrestling ability, the mind games of Crowley are at an even higher level than before, which means a tough task for anyone in the field to overcome.
Shigehiro Irie vs Man Like Dereiss
This match is a pretty damn fun one on paper, as wXw’s Unified Champion Shigehiro Irie makes the trip from Japan (or Germany) for his second PROGRESS appearance of the year, after taking on Fuminori Abe at Gene Munny’s Daft Lad Emporium a couple of months ago. He faces one of the most popular wrestlers in the UK, Man Like Dereiss, who himself will be looking to make a statement in this tournament after coming up short in multiple title opportunities. Whilst his tag team partner, Dan Moloney, is competing in the Best of the Super Juniors, Dereiss has a tournament of his own to focus on, but Irie will prove to be a tricky opponent to begin with if he has any hopes of moving on. Also, the comedy potential of this match is VERY high.
Rampage Brown vs. Luke Jacobs
Finally, we come to the BIG MEATY MEN SLAPPING MEAT portion of the first round, as well as what is the fourth PROGRESS return in this tournament in the form of Rampage Brown, in his case, after being let out of the warehouse in Enfield known as NXT UK. This one just seems fun. Two men are going to batter each other from pillar to post with no care in the world that there are two more days to follow and I cannot wait. One of the Atlas Champions of the modern PROGRESS era takes on the first-ever Atlas Champion. This is going to be a war. Luke Jacobs’ pale chest will be red, possibly with a hand print. My excitement for this knows no bounds. And if that wasn’t enough, later in the day Jacobs will face Irie for the Unified Championship. Talk about a rough few hours.
In addition to the tournament matches, also announced for the weekend are matches for the PROGRESS Women’s and Tag Team Championships. Lana Austin will defend against Millie McKenzie, and Sunshine Machine (TK Cooper and Chuck Mambo) will face off against the Smokin’ Aces (Charlie Sterling and Nick Riley). We will also see Alexxis Falcon take on Nina Samuels in a Clock Strikes Midnight Match that has months on tension behind it, a Clock Strikes Midnight Match meaning that at random intervals the stipulation will change.
The tournament bracket is as seen below:
Predictions:
Big Damo def. Kid Lykos
Nick Wayne def. Robbie X
Nathan Cruz def. Maggot
Will Ospreay def. Tate Mayfairs
Mark Haskins def. Leon Slater
Charles Crowley def. Danny Black
Shigehiro Irie def. Man Like Dereiss
Luke Jacobs def. Rampage Brown
Nick Wayne def. Big Damo
Will Ospreay def. Nathan Cruz
Mark Haskins def. Charles Crowley
Luke Jacobs def. Shigehiro Irie
Will Ospreay def. Nick Wayne
Luke Jacobs def. Mark Haskins
Will Ospreay def. Luke Jacobs
WINNER: Will Ospreay
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