In 2016, UK promotion PROGRESS Wrestling made its maiden voyage to North America to team up with Toronto, Canada’s Smash Wrestling for the first-ever Smash vs PROGRESS summit. On Wednesday, August 7, the two companies unite once again for another big promotional showdown, as part of the SummerSlam week festivities in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While Smash tapes all their shows for inclusion on their Smash Wrestling TV show on Fight Network, due to recent new restrictions of NXT UK stars not being able to be filmed for broadcast, many of these matches will not make it to air. So if you’re in the Toronto area, you may want to see this card live to see the full card.
Preview: Smash vs PROGRESS (8/7/19)
Psycho Mike vs. Trent Seven
In an age that has seen a rise in comedic wrestling appreciation (with the likes of Joey Ryan, Orange Cassidy, Kikutaro and Best Friends leading the charge), there’s never been a better time for Canada’s Psycho Mike to make his big move. Psycho Mike, formerly of the Smash Tag Team Champions Well Oiled Machines, is now flying solo – albeit with a little help from a voice in his head that calls itself “Mike’s Conscience”. He’s going to need that extra push, as he’s facing former PROGRESS Atlas Champion and Tag Team Champion and NXT UK Superstar Trent Seven of Moustache Mountain in singles action.
Team Smash (Halal Beefcake (Idris Abraham & Joe Coleman), Sebastian Suave & Daniel Garcia) vs. Team PROGRESS (Chris Brookes, Travis Banks, David Starr & Paul Robinson)
Two teams representing each promotion will face off in an 8-man tag team match-up. Team Smash features one of The Pillars in “The Endorsement” Sebastian Suave. He’s joined by one of the top prospects out of Buffalo, New York in “Red Death” Daniel Garcia, as well as the current Smash Tag Team Champions Halal Beefcake, featuring Idris Abraham and Joe Coleman. The PROGRESS team looks strong on paper – Defiant World Champion David Starr, former PROGRESS World Champion and NXT UK star Travis Banks, former PROGRESS Tag Team Champion Chris Brookes (of CCK), and former tag champ Paul Robinson round out PROGRESS’ team in the match.
The Pillars (Tyson Dux & Brent Banks) vs. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
Two of the other members of The Pillars, Tyson Dux and Brent Banks, will make their claim as one of the world’s best tag teams when they face off against Aussie Open‘s Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher. Aussie Open are one of the UK’s scene’s most decorated tandems – 2x PROGRESS Tag Team Champions, 2x Defiant Tag Team Champions, RevPro Undisputed Tag Team Champions, 2x ATTACK! Tag Team Champions and wXw World Tag Team Champions. Tyson Dux is one of Canada’s most battle-hardened indie veterans, having spent time with ROH, IMPACT, and as part of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic in 2016. Brent Banks is one of Canada’s breakout stars of 2019 – he’s always been a top act in Canada the past few years, but this past year he’s made his UK debut and recently made his PROGRESS debut in England. But on Wednesday, he’ll be suiting up for his home promotion, Smash Wrestling.
Jordynne Grace vs. Alexia Nicole
PROGRESS Women’s Champion Jordynne Grace was originally slated to face KC Spinelli, but last-minute changes have seen Spinelli pulled from the match. But in her place is another rising Canadian indie star in feisty Alexia Nicole. Grace is 218-days into her reign as PROGRESS Women’s Champion but it’s against young and hungry upstarts that many champions meet their match.
Tarik vs. Jordan Devlin
Former Smash Champion Tarik makes up the fourth member of The Pillars and he continues to be one of Canada’s strongest indie stars. A complete package of power, speed, athleticism, and technical ability, Tarik has improved tremendously over the past few years in Smash and is arguably one of the top indie wrestlers in Canada at the moment. He’s getting a huge opportunity in facing one of the Irish and UK scene’s top superstars in former Over the Top (OTT) World Champion and NXT UK Superstar Jordan Devlin.
Jody Threat vs. Toni Storm
Another of Canada’s breakout indie stars of 2019 is Toronto’s Jody Threat, who also made her PROGRESS debut earlier last month in England. But like Brent Banks, she’s suiting up for Smash Wrestling on Wednesday. She’s got a tough battle, but one that could define and shape her career forever. On Wednesday night, she’s facing NXT UK Women’s Champion (and former PROGRESS Women’s Champion) Toni Storm.
Smash Champion Kevin Bennett vs. PROGRESS Unified World Champion WALTER
In a non-title Champion vs Champion match-up at Smash vs PROGRESS, Smash Champion Kevin Bennett will face off against the “Ring General” and PROGRESS Unified World Champion and NXT UK Champion WALTER. Kevin Bennett has been one of the main event heels for Smash for some time now and he finally won himself the Smash Championship recently. One of the infamous Buffalo Brothers, Bennett was part of a car accident earlier this year that saw his friends Kevin Blackwood and Daniel Garcia seriously injured. Bennett rebounded quicker than those two, but it’s great to see all four of them back doing what they love. Bennett certainly has his work cut out for him on Wednesday night though, as he faces an absolute monster in the ring in Austria’s WALTER. The reigning PROGRESS World Champion and NXT UK Champion has made small work of everyone he’s faced the past year, and Bennett could just be another chopping block for WALTER to leave his handprints on.
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