Pieces continued to fall into place ahead of the Copperbox, as JJ Gale and Luke Jacobs locked horns once more.
Quick Results
Zozaya pinned Leon Slater in 17:07 (****)
Ricky Knight Jr. pinned Jay Joshua in 11:41 (***½)
Mercedez Blaze pinned Ronnie Knocks in 4:22 (**½)
Chuck Mambo & TK Cooper pinned Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima in 11:58 (***¼)
Lizzy Evo & Safire Reed pinned Lucia Lee & Kanji in 12:01 (***¼)
Will Kaven pinned Robbie X in 11:50 (***¼)
Callum Newman pinned Connor Mills in 9:56 (***¼)
Luke Jacobs pinned JJ Gale in 15:40 (****)
— To watch this show, head over to RevProOnDemand.com
It’s the last 229 show before the 12th Anniversary show – but there’s a hell of a lot to get through before we hit the Copperbox. Commentary comes from Andy Quildan and a somewhat ornery Gideon Grey. One day, we’ll find out what happens when the crowd’s not ready…
Leon Slater vs. Zozaya
Since losing the Cruiserweight title earlier this year, Leon had built up a winning run – but two losses in June are threatening to undo that momentum. Meanwhile, Zozaya’s looking to recover from a loss to Ricky Knight Jr. in Stevenage last weekend.
Commentary played up Slater’s loss to Jordon Breaks earlier this year, noting Zozaya’s technical base could play into Leon’s Achilles’ heel. A shoulder tackle from Slater charges down Zozaya early on, while a rewind enziguiri had the Spaniard literally in the ropes ahead of a handspring back elbow. Time to move… as Zozaya spills outside for a plancha from Slater.
Back inside, Slater stays on Zozaya with strikes, before Zozaya got launched out of the corner… he quickly returned with a rolling thunder dropkick, then with shoulder charges into the corner and an overhead throw out of it.
Slater looked to get back in it, booting Zozaya in the corner before a front kick earned him a two-count. A side headlock from Zozaya restrained Slater briefly, before Zozaya found himself booted on the apron after he’d teased sending the pair of them to the outside. A springboard missile dropkick gets Zozaya a two-count… a double-jump stomp misses, but a follow-up superkick doesn’t, before a Blue Thunder bomb out of nowhere almost nicked it for Slater.
Zozaya’s hoisted up, but countered into a back-and-forth Victory roll for two-counts before an attempt at de Madrid al Cielo was countered into a cutter. A second cutter got Slater another near-fall. Hearts were in mouths seconds later as another handspring from Slater’s turned into almost a Samoan drop as Zozaya looked to be going for that death valley driver again, but it’s effective as Slater needed the ropes to stay in the match.
Going up top again, Zozaya looks for a superplex but got knocked to the mat by Slater… a swanton 450 misses, as did a follow-up dropkick before a leg lariat almost beheaded Zozaya. That over-the-ropes suplex sent both men from the ring to the floor as we finally got a breather…
Both men just about beat the count – I’d bitten and thought they’d gone to a double count-out – but they are quickly back with strikes, which Slater edged ahead on before Zozaya hit front kicks of his own. A leg lariat downs Slater for a near-fall, as did a double-jump springboard stomp, before a springboard plancha caught Slater as he went outside for respite.
Leon’s thrown back in, but goes to the well with an over-the-post dive… back inside, Zozaya caught Slater with a headbutt on the top rope, before the avalanche de Madrid al Cielo sent Slater flying… and despite a delay to the cover, Zozaya’s able to get the win and continue his bright start to life in Rev Pro. Those who watch know, but those who don’t really ought to get on board, as Zozaya’s having an extremely-under-the-radar run in Rev Pro. ****
Ricky Knight Jr. vs. Jay Joshua
It’s a Rev Pro debut for the current ATTACK! champ Joshua…
RKJ greeted Joshua with a slap, with one coming in return as shoulder tackles looked to be the order of the day. Joshua’s sent stumbling into the ropes though, where Ricky took advantage with some blistering chops before Joshua caught him with a slam and a back senton.
Dropkicks in the corner from RKJ send him through Joshua and into the front row, before he stacked up Joshua with a nasty-looking draping DDT for a near-fall. A hook kick and a springboard forearm to the back of the head keeps RKJ ahead, while a dropkick off the middle rope ensured the debutant remained on the back foot.
Faking out a chop sees RKJ go low, while a stalling suplex kept Joshua in deep water. In return, Joshua hits a death valley driver equivalent of the Millshot, before a wheelbarrow German suplex bridged RKJ for a near-fall. A spin-out back suplex keeps Joshua ahead, before RKJ laughed off some chops and eventually laid out Joshua with some elbows.
Down come the straps as Joshua’s chopped some more, returning with a rear spin kick and a clothesline to end that latest exchange. A double KO’s stopped as both men beat the count, but it’s Joshua whose elevated German suplex and a folding powerbomb almost took home the win.
A rebound German suplex off the ropes put RKJ back in it though, before a stomp and a Fire Thunder Driver finally put things over the line in a real slugfest of a match – and one that stretched RKJ’s singles run even further. He’s not lost one-on-one since Anthony Ogogo at High Stakes – but he’s still without an opponent for the Copperbox… ***½
Alex Windsor and her Cut Throat Collective – in the form of Mercedez Blaze, Safire Reed and Lizzy Evo – come out next. Amid some backslaps, Windsor claimed that the group was a result of Rev Pro “not taking care of the women’s division” – while Nightshade’s excommunication from the group was a result of her being seen as weak. All that led to Windsor issuing a 5-on-5 challenge for her and her group at the Copperbox, before we bled into our next match…
Mercedez Blaze vs. Ronnie Knocks
Windsor replaced Andy on commentary as Blaze jumped Knocks to get this one underway…
Blaze traps Knocks across the corner for a double knee drop to send her down, while some boot choking and a double underhook suplex into the buckles kept Knocks on the back foot. Fighting back, Knocks caught Blaze’s boot, then tripped up Blaze ahead of some headscissors that took Blaze down.
Knock’s offence is quickly shut down with a clothesline from Blaze, but it’s not enough to get the win, as Blaze added a running Meteora for another near-fall. A roll-up from Knocks keeps her in it, as did some knee lifts, before Blaze tripped up Knocks and followed up with a curb stomp.
From there, Knocks is draped onto the top rope for a nasty Tower of Blaze… and that’s your lot. Dominant. **½
Sunshine Machine (Chuck Mambo & TK Cooper) vs. Young Blood (Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima)
Sunshine Machine continue to have that self-imposed axe over their heads – but it’s something that’s given them their best winning run in the company since their days as champions.
Things got going with Oskar taking Mambo into the corner as he baited Mambo into a Test of Strength. It led to Mambo trying to go for a springboard armdrag out of a knucklelock, but Oskar pulls him into a clothesline before catching a leapfrog… with Mambo rolling out for a two-count.
Backslides from Mambo are escaped as TK tags in… and promptly chop blocked Oskar’s leg to help Mambo’s Reef Break land. TK and Mambo brought back the B Roll on Oskar, but a springboard splash from Mambo lands in Oskar’s knees before a roll-up and a big boot nearly put TK away.
Young Blood were showing more of an edge here, with Yuto Nakashima evidently having studied the Togi Makabe dialect of English during his time off, filling the swear jar as he threw rights at TK, before Mambo wound up Yuto… which didn’t go too well for him in the moment.
A bodyslam from Oskar drops TK for a two-count, before an attempted Samoan drop to Oskar led to TK falling flat on his face. Yuto’s back, but TK slips out of a suplex before he was met with some sweary kicks to the chest in the corner. TK’s flying forearm out of the corner knocked Yuto down, and bought him enough time to tag in Mambo, whose springboard crossbody took down Yuto ahead of a springboard back elbow out of the corner.
A Reef Break off the top gets Mambo a near-fall… a second springboard sees him hit a double Blockbuster, which was good for a near-fall on Yuto. A nasty knee from Yuto knocks down Mambo for a two-count, with a roll-up in return almost leading to a Bad Burrito. Yuto’s able to make the tag out to Oskar, whose running boot traps Mambo in the corner ahead of a bodyslam out of the corner for a two-count.
Oskar’s sleeperhold looked to strangle out Mambo, before Nakashima’s suplex dumped Mambo ahead of a camel clutch from Oskar. Yuto restrained TK on the floor, forcing Mambo to scratch and claw his way into the ropes for a break. Mambo’s able to escape a Fireman’s carry as the flying knee/F5 combo was waiting in the wings…
An Exploder from TK takes care of Yuto, while an axe kick has Oskar laying. Sunshine Machine looked for a Gutterball, but it’s countered as a high/low series of kicks looked to lay out Mambo ahead of the flying knee/F5… but TK took care of Yuto before heading up top as a Combo Meal to Oskar proved to be enough to get the win. A scrappy win for Sunshine Machine keeps them alive – but keep an eye on Young Blood, who’ll be looking to bounce back from their maiden defeat in Rev Pro. ***¼
The second half opened the surprise appearance of Michael Oku, fresh off of beating Anthony Ogogo last weekend in Stevenage in what looked to be his final title defence ahead of the Copperbox. Acknowledging that the title match with Luke Jacobs was now official, Oku mentioned he was marking a year as champion having racked up more defences in more places than any other champion. Arena Mexico. The (former) ECW Arena. Desamparados. Okay, two of those are more well known than the rest… but Oku’s worn the belt with pride, but he’s not resting on his laurels going into the Copperbox, as he’s got a returning Donovan Dijak in Coventry later this month.
Sadly the match is in Coventry, not Yorkshire, so I can’t say “they’ll be watching the match from t’bar” – but Oku got in a few references as he brought up how his first match in wrestling was on a card with Dijak… and they’re now in very different positions as Oku promised a memorable outing in Coventry.
Cut Throat Collective (Lizzy Evo & Safire Reed) vs. Kanji & Lucia Lee
Evo and Reed came out by themselves… which was against how that group’s run so far. Things start off badly for them as Lee and Kanji’s back elbow took care of Reed, while a crossbody to the back of Evo from Kanji had the collective on the back foot.
All four women scrap on the outside before Kanji and Evo got things going. A blind tag brought in Lee for a dropkick to the back of Evo for just a one-count. Evo recovers and tags in Reed, who quickly was met with a crossbody ahead of a high leg lariat in the corner and another dropkick for a two-count.
Reed lifts Lee onto the apron, but found herself distracted by Evo as a headbutt from Reed began a brief onslaught. Evo’s hooking clothesline stacks up Lee for a two-count, before Lucia fired back on a mouthy Safire, taking her down with a head kick. Kanji’s tagged in, but Evo distracted the ref – so it doesn’t count – as Lee ended up taking a double-team suplex for another two-count.
An O’Connor roll from Lee got her a two-count on Reed, before she finally fought free and tagged in Kanji, who cleared Reed onto the apron. Kanji avoids a slingshot shoulder charge and instead trapped Reed in the ropes for some kicks before a Northern Lights suplex dealt with an oncoming Evo.
Reed’s back, but got caught in the ropes with a Dragon screw as a follow-up missile dropkick gets Kanji a near-fall. An enziguiri from Reed sent Kanji into the corner, where Lee tagged herself in to hit a Saito suplex on Reed for a two-count. Kanji’s back, but a running knee from Evo nearly puts her away, while a flying stomp to Kanji in the ropes led to her getting dumped back outside.
Back inside, Kanji pulls Reed into a triangle armbar… while Evo’s caught by Lucia Lee, pulling her into a Cattle Mutilation until Alex Windsor and Mercedez Blaze ran out. They initially don’t get involved, as Reed instead broke the hold by moving Kanji onto her back, then falling onto Lucia’s Cattle Mutilation.
Blaze’s distraction almost created an opening, but Kanji remained resolute… only to dive onto Blaze on the floor, then go after Windsor. That distracts the ref as Lucia Lee had Reed beaten, only to miss the count and a hammerlock’d DDT from Blaze as Lee ended up eating a Shining Wizard from Reed, then a spear from Evo as the Collective got the win. A hectic end to a solid outing as the Collective win again. ***¼
Post-match, Windsor pulls up Lee for a spike piledriver, only for Kanji to return with a baking tray, clearing out Evo as the rest of the Collective scattered.
Cruiserweight Scramble Qualifier: Will Kaven vs. Robbie X
The cruiserweight title scramble’s looking to become a Copperbox fixture – or at least it’s heading that way! Unlike last year, Rev Pro’s holding qualifier matches to see who’ll challenge Neon for the title.
Kaven jumps Robbie X before the bell, as things got going with Kaven all over the former champion… but that hot start quickly fizzled with Robbie X taking control, knocking Kaven to the outside with a handspring kick before following up with a plancha.
Back inside, Robbie’s Finlay roll and a standing moonsault crashes into Kaven for a two-count. A trip up top ends with Kaven knocking Robbie off the top rope, before a neckbreaker against the top rope sent Robbie to the floor. Staying on Robbie, Kaven hits an elbow drop for a two-count, then a knee drop, before an Irish whip bounced Robbie X into the buckles… then to the outside.
A sarcastic call for a dive of course goes nowhere, as another neckbreaker greeted Robbie between the ropes as Kaven continued with that target. Fighting back, Robbie X’s elbows stunned Kaven ahead of a Pele kick, while clotheslines, a hiptoss and a cartwheel dropkick had Kaven down.
Robbie’s springboard missile dropkick gets him a two-count, before a missed kick into the corner allowed Kaven to hit back with a Dragon suplex and a Busaiku knee for a two-count. A tombstone attempt’s cradled out of by Robbie X, who heads into the corner for a Beyblade kick and a shooting star press… but Kaven got the knees up as he continued to come close.
A superkick looked to keep Robbie X in it, but an X-Claimation’s turned into a German suplex… before Robbie’s reverse ‘rana left both men laying. Another X-Claimation’s countered into a roll-up as we were headed to the home stretch… third time’s the charm, but Kaven gets a foot to the rope just in time to break up the pin.
Kaven’s low bridged to the outside and gets met with a moonsault off the apron… back inside Robbie looks to push on, but Kaven pulls the referee in front of him to avoid a flying Robbie X. The unsighted ref misses a low blow as a small package gets a near-fall… before the tombstone piledriver led to the upset. Another huge win for Kaven, as Robbie X won’t be going for the Cruiserweight title at the Copperbox… ***¼
Connor Mills vs. Callum Newman
Newman’s literally fresh off the plane, having won a qualifier’s tournament to be part of the G1 Climax. Meanwhile, Mills has been doing some travelling of his own, having had two matches already that day.
We’ve another jump start as Mills laid into Newman before the bell. Shaking it off, Newman hits the ropes and trucked through Mills with a shoulder tackle, following up with a plancha to the outside as the pair fought around ringside.
A monkey flip from Mills is caught as he’s Dragon screwed off the apron… before a dropkick to the knee back inside saw Mills fall into his usual playbook. A knee breaker from Mills leaves Newman in a heap, as commentary brought up Ethan Allen’s radio silence since Mills attacked his knee in Sheffield last week.
Torquing the knee some more, Mills rolls Newman into a Trailer Hitch… but it’s right by the ropes as a break was called for. A sunset flip gave Newman hope, before a leg sweep and a double stomp kept Mills on the deck… Newman stays on him with a corner dropkick and a PK, but the bad leg stopped Newman from following up any other way than just going for a pin.
Mills elbows out of a Tiger suplex, but got caught with a Pele kick… he’s sent into the ropes and comes back with a rebound lariat for a two-count, before going back to the leg of Newman. The ropes come to Callum’s aid again, but Mills’ kicks continue to knot up the leg… a roll-up gets Newman free, before he countered a rebound lariat into a Spanish Fly.
Newman’s Tiger suplex keeps the two-counts coming, but an OsCutter’s kicked away in the ropes as Mills went back to the kicks and the knee. A running boot in the corner almost puts Newman away, before Callum kicked away Mills’ OsCutter… backslides ensure, before a cradle roll-up snatched the win for Newman out of nowhere. A nice little match, with Mills getting caught for the finish. ***¼
Post-match, Mills pounce on Newman, kicking the leg before he wrapped it around the ring post. Another baking tray’s used as Mills smashes it off of Newman’s knee… and they really should have cleared out the Lykii’s goodies from the 229 by now.
Calling for a mic, Mills sarcastically told Newman should call Ethan Allen for “knee recovery tips” – before suggesting that he’d put Ethan back on the shelf, given that Rev Pro hadn’t put up a graphic for their Copperbox match… and match or not, he’d be at the Copperbox and would be the only thing people will be talking about by the end of it all. That’s got me thinking…
JJ Gale vs. Luke Jacobs
This is the fourth time these two have met one-on-one in Rev Pro – with Luke having won all three prior match-ups. Will the clean sweep continue, or is Gale going to be another banana skin on the way to the Copperbox?
For a change we’ve got no jump start as these two were more than familiar with each other’s games. Jacobs roughs up Gale in the ropes, but a missed slap allowed Gale to take Jacobs down and land a slap of his own. A boot quickly knocked Jacobs back down as Gale took the upper hand in the early stages, landing a shoulder tackle before Luke trucked him down with tackles of his own.
Jacob’s slam and elbow drop results in a two-count, before Gale’s attempt at a springboard was caught as Jacobs muscled him down and into a crossface. Luckily for Gale, it’s pretty close to the ropes for a break, but Jacobs’ running boot took him right back down, ahead of a back suplex for another two-count.
Elbows and chops from Jacobs trap Gale in the corners, ahead of some face-washing boots before Gale tried to fight back… only to get overwhelmed with another Violence Party from Jacobs. Things descend into back-and-forth strikes before another boot from Jacobs earned him a wheelbarrow into a stomp as Gale tried to stay in it.
Charging uppercuts from Gale in the corner led to a spinning heel kick and a German suplex, stacking up Jacobs ahead of a springboard corkscrew uppercut out of the corner. Jacobs bails but can’t avoid a tope con giro to the outside as the chairs continued to live a charmed life… while a senton back inside helped Gale on the way to a near-fall.
Gale tries to springboard around the place, but he’s caught with a snap powerbomb, then a sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall. Countering a clothesline, Gale finally finds a way in with a Destroyer, before a death valley driver almost got him his first win over Jacobs. Pushing on, right hands from Gale had Jacobs in trouble… but Luke’s back to trade nasty elbows ahead of a rolling elbow from Gale.
A Side Effect dumps Jacobs to the mat… but Luke’s quickly back with a brainbuster as he sought to finish things, trapping Gale in the ropes for a headbutt from the apron. Shaking it off, Jacobs looked to go up top, but Gale joins him in the corner for an avalanche Falcon arrow… which got just a one count?!
Gale keeps going with a torture rack slam – Made in Portsmouth, not Japan – before a Gale Force springboard twisting cutter… almost put Luke away! Another trip up top sees Gale roll through on a moonsault, only to get obliterated with a lariat… then with a Tiger Driver. Somehow Gale kicks out, but another clothesline to the back of the head, then one to the front proved to be enough to get the win in a brutal main event. ****
After the match, a victorious Jacobs took the mic and declared that he was done with JJ Gale, having racked up a fourth singles win in a row over him. Gale tried to get some more shots in, but he was beyond spent… as Jacobs then crowed about how next time Rev Pro return to the 229 (in September) he’ll be wearing the Undisputed British Heavyweight title. However… JJ Gale had one more thing to say – because he’s got something going on at the Copperbox as well. He’s got a match, and he’s going to do the one thing Luke Jacobs couldn’t: beat Tomohiro Ishii. Now THAT’S A MATCH.
Rev Pro love to call these run ins to big shows “superfight season” – and this certainly felt like a marker point of a show for the Copperbox as the card for August bank holiday weekend continues to firm up, with just three shows left before the Copperbox – including the freshly-announced Summer Sizzler at York Hall. It’s getting busy…