Another Rev Pro double-header wrapped up in Sheffield, as Michael Oku took on Seiki Yoshioka in a non-title main event.
Quick Results
David Francisco pinned Oskar Leube in 5:27 (**)
Nightshade pinned Lucia Lee in 10:20 (**)
Zozaya pinned Will Kaven in 10:45 (***¼)
Connor Mills & Chris Ridgeway pinned Robbie X & JJ Gale in 15:56 (***)
KUSHIDA vs. Jordon Breaks ended in a double pin at 14:13 (***½)
Ricky Knight Jr. pinned Mike D Vecchio in 19:42 (***½)
Michael Oku submitted Seiki Yoshioka in 17:38 (***½)
— To watch this show, head over to RevProOnDemand.com
We’re not even 24 hours removed from Epic Encounter in Stevenage as Rev Pro headed up the M1 to the Network in Sheffield. Andy Quildan’s flying solo on commentary once more…
David Francisco vs. Oskar Leube
This all started back at the Revolution Rumble… but Francisco didn’t help things in Stevenage with his attack on Oskar. Francisco claimed he was earning’s everyone respect backstage, and he’d earn Oskar’s too as well.
Francisco offered a handshake and got it… but Oskar didn’t let go and instead pulled him into a shoulder tackle at the bell. Oskar throws Francisco into the corner and stomps a mudhole in him, prompting Francisco to bail to the outside. Oskar’s smart to the cat and mouse chase and avoids an elbow drop, before he chopped Francisco on the outside.
My feed buffers, returning with Francisco dropkicking Oskar through the ropes, before a kick back inside picked up just a one-count. An uppercut from Francisco led to a neckbreaker for a two-count, before Oskar whipped Francisco into the corners. Oskar’s chop sinks Francisco from there as he followed up with shoulder tackles and a spinning slam, before an eye rake from Francisco got him free… and led to the roll-up with the feet on the ropes for the win. Way too short, but if they’re going for cheating finishes, I’d rather they keep it short. **
Post-match, Francisco’s chased to the back…
Nightshade vs. Lucia Lee
Nightshade’s gunning for Dani Luna’s title, while Lucia’s making her return after last being in Rev Pro in December 2022…
Nightshade takes Lucia into the corner to start before she looked to work over Nightshade’s arm… but Lucia’s pushed down with ease. A waistlock on Nightshade’s broken as she ends up getting kicked by Lucia, who just got punched out in return. A hip attack misses as Lucia scored a high kick on the apron, before a crossbody back in was caught and turned into a swinging side slam.
Stomps from Nightshade keep Lucia down, while a hiptoss chucks Lucia out of the corner. An Irish whip into the corner takes Lucia down, as a back senton as she was on all fours almost won it… a slam and a splash follows, as Nightshade rained blows from above down on Lucia.
Lucia tries to fight back, but a headbutt shuts her down as Nightshade continued to wear her down… charging splashes trap Lucia in the corners ahead of a slingshot suplex for a near-fall, before some Sole Food got Lucia an opening. An enziguiri helps, along with some kicks in the corner before Nightshade fought away a back suplex.
Instead, a dropkick takes Nightshade down to a knee for a Shining Wizard, but a clothesline just dumps Lee seconds later before a back senton led… to Nightshade pulling up the pin. Lee hits back with a stunner and a leaping crossbody for a near-fall as Nightshade was nearly made to pay, before a German suplex, some hip attacks and a choke bomb got the win. The crowd didn’t seem into this, not helped by Nightshade and Lucia not being regulars… **
David Francisco joins commentary again…
Will Kaven vs. Zozaya
After two crackers against Michael Oku, Zozaya’s got a much different proposition on his hands here…
Zozaya easily takes down Kaven to start, while a snapping series of Gator rolls and a spinning gutwrench took Kaven outside for some respite. Following Kaven outside, Zozaya’s met with a boot as things headed back inside… and it’s not long before Kaven had to grab the ropes to avoid the Spaniard’s takedowns.
A back elbow off the ropes gets Kaven a two-count, while a snap suplex bounced Zozaya into the ropes. Kaven clings onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick, but just ran into a rolling thunder dropkick seconds later, before a charge into the corner and a marching overhead throw drew a two-count.
Kaven’s neckbreaker in the ropes led to him taking Zozaya outside… only for Zozaya to return with a springboard missile dropkick. That takes Kaven outside for a springboard body press, knocking both men into the guard rails, before Kaven’s big boot back inside and a Dragon suplex turned things back around.
Kaven’s charge at Zozaya’s caught and rolled up into a brainbuster seconds later. An eye rake from Kaven buys him time before he hit the ropes to cut off a springboard from Zozaya. Kaven’s clothesline followed ahead of a spike tombstone for a near-fall, but Zozaya’s able to avoid a charging knee into the corner as he took Kaven up top for a headbutt.
Zozaya goes back up top for the Spanish fly, before cracking Kaven with a superkick… as a de Madrid al cielo death valley driver proved to be enough for the clear win. A good showing from Zozaya – and he’s gotten a connection with the crowd here as well, as the early days of his Rev Pro career look extremely promising to say the least. ***¼
Ethan Allen’s introduced to the ring next – reiterating what he said after the Revolution Rumble, how he had to re-learn how to walk twice after his knee injuries. He’s not cleared though… yet… but will be by May 12 as he’ll return at the 229 in London. Allen’s interrupted by Connor Mills, who poked the proverbial bear, saying that he’s “playing catch-up” with Luke Jacobs.
JJ Gale hits the ring as Ethan Allen exited… Chris Ridgeway makes his way out as well, and I guess we’re bleeding into the announced tag match.
Chris Ridgeway & Connor Mills vs. Robbie X & JJ Gale
Mills and Ridgeway take Gale into the crowd, but Robbie X’s shepherded out by Ethan Allen, diving off the stage (Robbie, that is!) as all four men brawled by the bar.
We finally hit the ring as Gale and Ridgeway start the match… Gale and Robbie X exchange quick tags to isolate Ridgeway in their corner early on, while a butterfly suplex from Gale picked up a two-count.
Ridgeway gets free as Connor Mills came in to light up Gale with a dropkicks for a two-count… Ridgeway gets involved as he choked Gale in the ropes, then again with some help from Mills as the referee was distracted. An armdrag and a dropkick from Gale gets him free as Robbie X tagged in to land a senton atomico, while Mills ended up taking a missile dropkick off the middle rope for another two-count.
Ridgeway grabs Robbie X mid-handspring as Mills capitalised with a dropkick, before Ridgeway tagged in and worked over Robbie’s left leg. The ringpost comes into play as Ridgeway wraps the leg around the post, then snapped Robbie’s fingers as he tried to fight free. Swatting JJ Gale away keeps Robbie isolated as Ridgeway and Mills continued to wear down the former champion.
Mills stomps Robbie X’s knees into the mat… then absorbed a chop before a shinbreaker left Robbie in Ridgeway’s clutches again as the post again came into play. Ridgeway comes in to take care of Gale as Mills trapped Robbie in a Deathlock, despite Robbie’s attempts to fight free. Eventually Robbie’s able to strike his way free, but Ridgeway’s able to tag in and go back to the knee, bridging over it as he was able to rake Robbie’s eyes as well for the hell of it.
A chop from Robbie X is shrugged off as Ridgeway targeted the knee with a low dropkick, spinning him down to the mat, before Robbie managed to buy himself enough time to land a Molly Go Round back in. Finally JJ Gale gets the tag in and hits a Whisper in the Wind into both Mills and Ridgeway as he was virtually having to fight a handicap match.
Gale’s German suplex dealt with Ridgeway, but Mills avoids it… and ended up taking a springboard uppercut out of the corner for a near-fall. Mills rolls out of a Side Effect for a two-count, then charged in with a front kick into the corner as a Ki Krusher almost got him the win. From the kick-out, Mills grabs a knee bar, but Robbie X hobbs in to try and chop the hold apart… only for Ridgeway to chop block the knee and apply an ankle lock.
Robbie’s eventually able to kick Ridgeway into the pile to break up the other hold, before he was tagged in. Mills and Robbie trade kicks and elbows, before a handspring was caught and turned into a Burning Hammer. It’s escaped, but Mills is able to hit a rebound lariat instead as Ridgeway came in to corner Robbie with a knee… following up with a Fisherman suplex out of it for a near-fall.
A Dragon screw takes Robbie X into an ankle lock… a German suplex followed as Robbie climbed the ropes to “safety,” before another ankle lock trapped Robbie on the mat. Robbie’s able to make it to the ropes, as Robbie dug deep for a standing shooting star. It’s good for a near-fall as the pendulum swung… Robbie misses a blind tag as his X-Claimation to Ridgeway was for nought, with the legal Mills hitting a PK and a Burning Cutter for the win. They’re clearly setting up stuff with Ridgeway and Gale here, but this match didn’t really land for me – with the flash start and the random teams taking a while to really land. It feels like Robbie X needs something to refresh things – if he’s not going to be around the title picture, this current spot on the roster simply doesn’t work. ***
KUSHIDA vs. Jordon Breaks
This is a non-title outing, and a huge test for Jordon Breaks…
Starting with grappling, Breaks looks for a cravat in the opening seconds before KUSHIDA took him to the mat, looking to work over the ankle. Heading into the corner, Breaks goes all World of Sport on us with a roll-up for a one-count, before KUSHIDA got grounded by Breaks and his double armbar stretch.
KUSHIDA tries to roll out, but Breaks reverses the reversals until KUSHIDA finally got his counter in. Targeting the wrist, KUSHIDA wraps Breaks’ arm around the rope before he tied up Breaks arms and wrenched back on them as he softened up the arm. A kick to the arm keeps the tactic going, preparing for an eventual Hoverboard lock before Breaks finally mounted a comeback with a series of European uppercuts.
Breaks keeps it going with an abdominal stretch, but KUSHIDA hiptosses free before he got caught with a Finlay roll. A Sharpshooter from Breaks follows, as did a bow-and-arrow hold, but KUSHIDA grabs the fingers to break it… only for Breaks to nearly snatch the win after grapevining KUSHIDA’s legs.
KUSHIDA goes back to the wrist as he kept Breaks at short range for a series of forearms… a backslide surprises Breaks for a near-fall, as did a Magistral as KUSHIDA was peppering him with roll-ups on the way to a cross armbreaker. Breaks blocks it as the back-and-forth ref-trolling pins continue.
Going back to the arm, KUSHIDA drops Breaks’ left arm across the top rope, then pulled him up top in the search for a flying Hoverboard lock. Breaks fights it off, but gets caught in the Hoverboard Lock anyway. Breaks tries to roll into the ropes, but KUSHIDA repositions… only for Breaks to counter into the Breaks Special. Another roll-up from KUSHIDA gets a near-fall, but in the end it’s a European clutch that leads to the finish, as Breaks got the three-count on KUSHIDA, but the ref reckoned Breaks couldn’t get his shoulders up, so it’s ruled a double pin. From this being presented as almost a title match, through to the confusing finish, the perhaps could have been better executed, but the stuff between the bells was as good as you’d expect. ***½
Ricky Knight Jr. vs. Mike D Vecchio
Business is about to pick up!
The opening lock-ups failed to create any headway before a headlock takedown saw Mike D take things into close quarters. RKJ’s headlock takedown keeps them on the mat, as did some back-and-forth roll-ups and armdrags, as they were playing a game of “can you top this.” That’s going to boil over quickly…
RKJ’s wristlock’s added to with a headbutt to the arm, forcing Mike D to the ropes as he tried to flip free, only to get pulled down to the mat. Mike’s fingers are worked over by RKJ, who’s taken down with an armdrag before the Belgian began to batter him with right hands. A front kick stops Mike in the ropes, before a shoulder tackle spun RKJ to the outside.
Mike D misses a plancha as RKJ caught him on the apron with a dropkick… following him outside for a suplex onto the side of the ring. Back inside, Mike D shrugs it off as he caught RKJ on the top rope… he’s shoved down for a missile dropkick, but returned with an O’Connor roll for a two-count. A clothesline dumps RKJ outside as Mike D added a pescado to the outside… then took RKJ back inside for a huge splash all the way across the ring for a near-fall.
RKJ picks up with a blistering chop to Mike D in the ropes, before the Vinny Jones caught Mike D unawares. A snap suplex chucks Mike D across the ring for a two-count, before a roundhouse enziguiri forced an opening for Mike D… who adds a springboard back elbow out of the corner, then a double-jump springboard moonsault for a near-fall.
Mike D rolls through a 450 splash and gets caught with a dropkick in the opposite corner… but RKJ gets a taste of his own medicine before he caught Mike D with a Jackhammer for a near-fall. Open-hand strikes from RKJ earned him a straight right from Mike D, whose springboard’s easily turned into a German suplex… a Bull lariat from RKJ gets added for another near-fall as they continued to swing for the fences.
Heading up top, RKJ’s caught with a gamengiri before a Spanish fly brought him down for a near-fall… things head back up top, then onto the apron as RKJ spiked Mike D with a piledriver on the side of the ring. A second one quickly follows on the floor, but Mike D again shrugs it off as he sprung up for a superplex. It’s countered into a flying DDT from RKJ before we’re back to the strikes.
We’ve a dropkick to the chin of RKJ before a springboard cutter planted RKJ into the mat… a 450 splash follows off the top for a near-fall, before Mike D’s lariat took down RKJ. An enziguiri from RKJ lands, but Mike’s back with a reverse ‘rana and a clothesline, before Mike went up for his shooting star press. It’s caught and turned into a cutter as RKJ then put him away with a Shell Shock. I mean this in a good way, but this was what some term “dumb jock wrestling” – with both Mike and RKJ bringing out the big guns from the start. It’s another loss for Mike D, but he won over the crowd here… and I hope this isn’t the last of him in Rev Pro. ***½
Post-match, RKJ put over Mike D as a highlight machine, and demanded he remain a part of Rev Pro. RKJ then called out Connor Mills for a fight right now, but Mills comes out through the crowd and low blowed RKJ instead. Shots from above from Mills left RKJ laying, before Ethan Allen ran out and sent Mills packing.
Seiki Yoshioka vs. Michael Oku
This one was absolutely non-title, and after the non-title upset last week, Oku’s a lot more tentative as he locked up with Yoshioka, taking him into the ropes.
A shoulder tackle takes down Yoshioka early on, but he kicks Oku in the midsection as Oku was running the ropes. A diving kick takes Oku down as Yoshioka blazed past him, before Oku’s able to hit back with a neckbreaker as he’d slowed down Yoshioka. Oku elbows away Yoshioka, but ran into a leg lariat seconds later, as a flurry of strikes led to a PK to the back with Yoshioka just lighting up Oku.
The misdirection knee from Oku lands, along with a springboard moonsault for a two-count, taking Yoshioka to the outside as Oku teed up for a Fosbury flop. Heading back inside, Oku measures up Yoshioka for a froggy crossbody, which gets a two-count, before Yoshioka ran into another elbow coming out of the corner.
Another flurry of kicks drops Oku as Yoshioka followed up by going up top for a crushing senton bomb. It’s good for a near-fall, before see-saw cradles almost got the win. Oku adds a discus forearm to Yoshioka, who nearly put his foot through the champion’s ribs with a mid kick as Oku was suddenly on the ropes.
Firing back with elbows, Oku and Yoshioka look spent here… Yoshioka still has plenty in him to throw some more kicks, but Oku begins to fire back with kicks of his own. Somehow, Oku’s able to edge ahead as he tried to kick Yoshioka’s leg out of his leg… the pace suddenly ratchets up until we reached a stand-off, which is broken with back-and-forth superkicks. An overhead kick from Oku just earned him a scissor kick and a Made in Japan for a near-fall… Oku’s misdirection knee forces an opening, following up with a huge dropkick into the corner, before a brainbuster and a frog splash almost put Yoshioka away.
From the kick-out, Oku rolls Yoshioka into the half crab, but Yoshioka got to the ropes – and unlike yesterday, it forced a break. Oku keeps going with dropkicks by the ropes, before Yoshioka looked to hit back with a Styles Clash… Oku grabs the leg and rolls through into a half crab, leaning all the way back to force the submission. The story here was that Oku wasn’t 100% – but when since has he been – as he continued to squeak out wins when it counted. ***½
A solid enough show coming out of Epic Encounter – one that perhaps didn’t land as you’d have expected, particularly with the Breaks/KUSHIDA finish. Rev Pro’s got a few weeks off – returning on May 12 for their (later-than-usual) monthly show at the 229 before they join up with CMLL for the Fantasticamania double-header a week later.