Revolution Pro Wrestling High Stakes – January 21st, 2017

January 21, 2017

From York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, England

Your hosts are Andy Quildan and Andrew Simmons

Interim British Cruiserweight Championship Match: Josh Bodom vs. Ryan Smile

The “Interim” title is a result of current champion Will Ospreay being tied up with his NJPW commitments so they decided to crown an interim champion and will unify the titles sometime in the future. Smile has his right shoulder taped up. They spend the first minute playing up to the crowd before aggressively fighting over a lockup that ends in a stalemate as the announcers put over the six-man tag match from the last show two weeks ago. They trade slaps then end around rolling around on the mat before spilling outside where they continue fighting. Smile is in the crowd where he runs and jumps over the barricade to deliver a clothesline to Bodom. Back inside, they trade uppercuts before working an Irish whip sequence that ends with Smile hitting a dropkick. Bodom rolls outside but avoids a dive attempt before running in to hit a tope. Smile pulls the ropes down on Bodom as he tried another dive then flies out with a tope of his own. Smile comes off the top but Bodom dropkicks him in midair then covers for two. Snap suplex gets two then Bodom works a chinlock. Smile breaks out but Bodom hits another dropkick and gets two off of that. Smile gets slapped a few times but comes back with a headbutt. Smile sidesteps Bodom and hits a tackle. He follows with an enziguiri from the apron then a missile dropkick as both men are down. Bodom rolls outside where Smile kicks him from the apron then hits an Arabian Press that did not quite work out as planned. Bodom rolls back inside as Smile is up top but Bodom goes back out where Smile takes him out with a tope con hilo in a risky spot. The crowd chants for Smile as he once again goes up top but Bodom rolls out of the way. Bodom hits a super kick after a knee smash then gets two with a standing shooting star press. Bodom catches a springboard attack and tosses Smile in the corner then hits a thrust kick for a two count. Bodom hits a powerbomb lungblower for two then gets pissed and immediately hits the Bliss Buster for the win (14:19) ***1/2.

Thoughts: Really good match and a great way to start the show. Bodom is really bulky and I have no idea how he is considered a cruiserweight but regardless, the fans seem to hate him and the action was fun. Smile is a good high-flyer and has some charisma.

Undisputed British Tag Team Championship Match: War Machine vs. Joel Redman & Charlie Sterling (c)

War Machine attacks after a handshake as they take control early. The War Machine completely whiff on a powerbomb spot as the champs are now the ones in control as they beat on Rowe. Redman gets two with a top rope knee drop as the champs keep using quick tags to neutralize Rowe. Sterling charges in the corner but gets caught and planted with an enziguiri as both men are down. Hanson tags and keeps hitting running corner clotheslines on his opponents as the fans go crazy. Some impressive stamina from Hanson there. Hanson continues to run wild until he misses a corner charge. Rowe is in now and hits Redman with a German suplex. He misses a charge in the corner but knocks Sterling down as he tried a float-over in the corner. Hanson hits Redman with a splash for two then goes back to beating him down. Redman dodges a dropkick from Rowe, who hits his partner, then catches Rowe with a spinebuster before making the tag. Sterling runs wild and even takes out War Machine with a tope con hilo. Back inside, Rowe ends up putting the champs on his shoulders but they escape and nearly get the win as Hanson makes the save. Hanson cartwheels to avoid a double-team attack as War Machine take over. They almost put Sterling away with a clothesline/wheelbarrow suplex combo then the match breaks down with everyone trading high-impact moves. Hanson wipes out Redman with a tope then after nearly getting the win the match breaks down again as Hanson gets dumped outside and the champs retain with a twisting tombstone/spiral tap combo (12:07) ***1/2. After the match, the crowd chants for War Machine as all four men shake hands. They leave then Chris Brookes (a really lanky guy who I’ve never seen before) & Travis Banks run-in and attack the champs and get cheered.

Thoughts: Another good match. War Machine was really over with this crowd and the champs, who are supposed to be the babyfaces, were booed by the crowd. The Brookes & Banks run-in makes it seem like they are going to start a program with Redman & Sterling.

Pete Dunne vs. YOSHI-HASHI

Lots of cheers for Dunne, one week after the WWE UK Championship Tournament. The match starts off on the mat with Dunne working the legs. He then stretches out YH some more and even works in a titty-twister just to be a dick. YH comes back with an armdrag after an Irish whip sequence and follows with a slam. YH follows Dunne outside and whips him against the guardrail a few times before the action heads back inside. YH lands a few kicks to the head but Dunne gets up and tells him to bring it before fighting back. They trade forearm smashes then Dunne works the arm and tries to bite the fingers but YH fights back. Dunne gauges the face then traps YH between the ring apron and ring skirt and knocks him down as he points at his head to tell us he’s smart. Dunne goes back to working the arm then works a surfboard for a bit. YH tries to fight back but Dunne sends him back to the mat with a forearm smash as that gets two. Dunne tries for a pumphandle slam but YH counters that into a DDT as both men are down. YH is up first and fires away as the crowd cheers. He drapes Dunne across the top rope then hits a running dropkick as that gets two. YH measures up Dunne but misses a charge and gets hit with a German suplex. YH comes back with an enziguiri then almost puts him away with a powerbomb. Dunne ites the fingers to prevent a reverse neckbreaker then hits an enziguiri and almost puts him away with a release suplex. They trade strikes then YH heads up top but Dunne gets his knees up on the swanton as Dunne hits the Bitter End but YH kicks out at the last millisecond. Dunne is in a state of disbelief as the crowd starts up a loud dueling chant. Dunne slowly sets up for a double underhook but YH counters into a victory roll for two. YH then hits a lungblower and heads up top for the Swanton but Dunne is able to kickout so YH hits the Karma for the win (14:14) ***1/2. After the match, Dunne shakes YH’s hand.

Thoughts: Started off a bit slow but turned into something really good by the end. I thought these guys had chemistry together and Dunne was great in this match. With the amount of cheers he got and the fact he actually shook his opponents hand without attacking him afterwards, you have to wonder if there is an eventual plan to turn Dunne babyface at some point down the line.

Marty Scurll vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

This match is billed as “Good Friends, Bitter Enemies” and has apparently been built up for quite some time. If anyone could let me know the specifics it would be greatly appreciated. More chants for Scurll, the heel, than Sabre here. They start off on the mat at a deliberate pace as the crowd is still chanting for both men. They try to gain an advantage but are unable to do so as they keep countering moves. Sabre gets booed as he works a Japanese strangle hold but Scurll backs him into the corner then slaps Sabre across the face. Scurll slaps Sabre again but gets hit with a few uppercuts as these two are getting more aggressive. Sabre resorts to using some of Scurll’s heel tactics but gets caught with a backbreaker as there are more dueling chants from the crowd. Scurll now works a rolling surfboard. Scurll perches Sabre up top and hits a superplex then heads outside to hit a super kick from the apron. Back inside, Scurll hits a powerbomb then follows with more kicks and knee smashes to the head. Sabre floats over on a backbreaker attempt then puts Scurll in a guillotine. Sabre then hits rolling Germans for a nearfall as he is in control of the match. Scurll fakes out Sabre then hits a low kick. Scurll screams at Sabre, who hits him back. They trade strikes and end up one on knee as they are starting to get tired but get up and hit each other some more until Sabre gets knocked down. Scurll hits some chops in the corner as the fans are going nuts but Sabre fights back and they work a mini rollup reversal sequence. Sabre gets caught in midair with an uppercut then pumps up the crowd but ends up getting slapped across the face before he could put on the chicken wing. Sabre doesnt get fooled by the low kick attempt and they go at it on the mat in a quick sequence where Sabre almost gets the win with his bridging rollup. Scurll is able to apply the chicken wing but Sabre quickly hooks his foot on the ropes to break the hold. They trade counters at a rapid pace until Sabre takes Scurll down and works the arm. They get up as Scurll blocks a slap and takes Sabre down with a cross armbreaker as he tries to break his fingers. Sabre turns that into a crucifix for a two count as both men are down as we are over thirty minutes into the match. Scurll then gets a bungee cord and uses it to pull back Sabre’s fingers then puts the finger inside of a hole in the steel cable that hooks the ropes to the ring post and jumps as the ref warns Scurll about being disqualified. While that happens, Sabre gets a roll of tape from underneath the ring and tapes up his hand. Scurll chops Sabre against the guardrail then heads inside where he slaps him down. Sabre then catches Scurll in an octopus hold but Scurll escapes and hits a tombstone but Sabre is able to kick out. Scurll goes back to breaking the fingers as Sabre is in agony. The ref is about to call the match but Sabre throws him down before he could do so as Scurll kicks Sabre low and hits a piledriver then a cradle tombstone. The ref gets up as Scurll covers but Sabre is just able to kick out as the crowd goes nuts. Scurll heads up top eventually but Sabre cuts him down. Scurll shoves Sabre off and on top of the referee then has his umbrella and uses it to whack Sabre. Scurll then holds the umbrella as he comes off the top but Sabre leaps and catches him in an armbar. Sabre lets go as he appears exhausted but puts it back in as Scurll breaks the hold and hits a powerbomb. Scurll covers but Sabre reverses for two. Scurll catches Sabre in the chicken wing but Sabre reverses into a bridging pin and gets the win (40:57) ****. After the match, both men get a standing ovation as Sabre rolls out and walks up the ramp.

Thoughts: I thought this match really built up to something great but after the second ref bump it got a little hokey. For example, immediately reversing a cover after getting hit with a powerbomb 38 minutes into a match is just ridiculous. Besides that, the crowd was red-hot for this match and it really did deliver and you have to assume that Sabre will now be in line for a future title shot.

Trent Seven vs. Trevor Lee

Before the match, Lee tells Seven that he has better dance moves and initiates a dance off to his theme, which is “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift. Lee dances then Seven follows but Lee attacks from behind then flips off the crowd as the bell rings. Lee stomps Seven in the corner then mocks his mustache and calls himself a “TNA Superstar” while the crowd boos. He kicks Seven from the apron before sending him into the guardrail. Lee continues to rough up Seven outside the ring and hits a back suplex on the apron then they head back inside where Lee stays in control. Lee gets two with a dropkick then rubs his forearm across Seven’s face. Seven gets up and asks Lee to hit him but ends up chopping Lee across the chest. Lee channels Matt Hardy and tries for a yodeling leg drop but Seven cuts him off and hits a superplex. Seven accidentally chops the ring post outside after Lee ducked. Seven is able to fight back and rolls Lee inside but gets cut off the top rope as Lee hits his own superplex but Seven gets right up and shocks Lee. Seven eats boot on a charge but is able to catch Lee with a clothesline. Lee then connects with a pair of super kicks and gets a nearfall with a German suplex. Seven comes back with a German of his own then hits a piledriver for a two count. Lee reverses a crossbody and gets a nearfall with that then heads up top where he leaps over Seven then hits a Twist of Fate but Seven gets his knees up on a swanton bomb and hits a clothesline before putting Lee away with a piledriver (11:35) **1/4. After the match, Seven sells his hand from when he chopped the post then waves to the crowd before leaving.

Thoughts: It seemed like both guys were wrestling different matches here. I’m not a fan of Seven’s work and his selling is not good whatsoever. Lee is at least entertaining though and I’d like to see more of him here as he got himself over as a heel.

Martin Stone vs. Jay White

They start off by trading stuff on the mat. White takes Stone outside with a dropkick then knocks him down with a baseball slide. White roughs up Stone outside but gets cut off with an uppercut while attempting a tope. Stone rolls White inside and covers for two then works a chinlock. White breaks out and gets two with a back suplex then stomps away in the corner. He puts Stone in an abdominal stretch then takes him over before stretching him out on the mat. White hits some chops but Stone fights back and takes him down with a drop toehold. Stone works a crossface fora bit then White fights back and hits a DDT as both men are down. White catches Stone with a back elbow smash then kips-up after a suplex but Stone pops up to hit a German suplex as both men are down again. Stone hits an avalanche then an enziguiri before sending White across the ring with a missile dropkick. White ends up fighting back and hits a tope that sends Stone into the guardrail. Back inside, White hits a missile dropkick of his own then gets a nearfall with an uranage. White fails to put Stone in a Boston Crab then Stone hits a cutter for a nearfall. Stone then hits a pop-up powerbomb and locks on the crossface after that as White eventually makes it to the ropes. They slug it out now until Stone gets two with a lariat. Small package gets two. Stone then uses a crotch grab and tries for a slingshot suplex but White rolls through and puts Stone in the Boston Crab as that gets the win (15:25) ***.

Thoughts: Good match but the crowd was quiet as this point in the show the crowd wanted to get to the main event. This was an upset win for White as Stone was a former Heavyweight Champion. White is young, has a good look and can work but I still feel like there is something missing with him. Stone is a solid worker himself.

Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship Match: Matt Riddle vs. Katsuyori Shibata (c)

The crowd is absolutely jacked for this match. Riddle offers a handshake but Shibata declines. They start off trading moves on the mat as neither man can gain an advantage as it ends up in a stalemate. Riddle sighs for relief after just avoiding a kick to the head as he slowly gets to his feet in the corner. Shibata works the arm on the mat but Riddle fights back and unloads in the corner. Riddle hits a senton then takes Shibata off of the apron with a springboard knee strike. Back inside, Riddle chops Shibata but they are of little effect as Shibata stares down Riddle, who returns by kicking him several times. Shibata then knocks Riddle down with a forearm as he is down on one knee. Shibata destroys Riddle with elbow smashes in the corner then follows with a dropkick as the crowd goes mental. Shibata gets two with a suplex but Riddle escapes from an abdominal stretch and they trade German suplexes with Riddle hitting two in a row as both men collapse on the mat. Shibata tries for a sleeper but Riddle escapes then hits a running kick to the chest for two. Riddle hits rolling gutwrenches then hits the Bro to Sleep but Shibata is able to kick out. Riddle lands some more kicks but Shibata tells him to bring it harder then Shibata locks on a sleeper and hits a suplex. He gets two with the guillotine kick then locks on a sleeper for the win (15:11) ****. After the match, both men shake hands and praise each other as the crowd applauds. Zack Sabre now comes to the ring as Shibata is inside and starts talking to him as Shibata puts the belt in his face as Sabre vows to reclaim the title.

Thoughts: Excellent match. The crowd was hyped and these two went all out in this intense affair. Riddle is just incredible and his facial expressions throughout the match were fantastic. I cannot believe how good Riddle is with his limited experience. This guy is star. Shibata was also fantastic in this match and a potential Shibata vs. Sabre title bout down the line should be great.

Final Thoughts: This was an excellent show. Two matches were **** by my account and nothing here was terrible. The also ended the Sabre vs. Scurll feud as they now appear to lean towards Sabre vs. Shibata for the Heavyweight Title. All of the outside talent did a great job here too. I’d really recommend this show to all fans. Currently, it is only available for those who have a monthly subscription to Rev Pro but when it comes out On Demand, I’d definitely give it a look. You can view it here

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with Lex Luger

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 7/29/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 6/3/82

Sunday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 7/29/89

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/30/89

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/5/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 76 1/27/17