It’s the last stop before Uprising – and David Francisco’s threatening to beat the current champion having pinned Michael Oku a week ago.
Quick Results
Jay Joshua & Connor Mills pinned JJ Gale & Cameron Khai in 15:17 (***¼)
Millie McKenzie pinned Anita Vaughan in 10:48 (**¾)
Danny Black, Joe Lando & Maverick Mayhew vs. Sha Samuels, TK Cooper & Chuck Mambo ended in a no-contest after 10:05 (**½)
Robbie X pinned Leon Cage in 18:14 (***½)
David Francisco & Damiao pinned Luke Jacobs & Ethan Allen in 14:57 (***)
Zozaya pinned Liam Slater in 12:53 (***¼)
Safire Reed, Lizzy Evo & Nina Samuels pinned Lucia Lee, Chantal Jordan & Kanji in 17:09 (**¾)
Michael Oku pinned Chris Ridgeway in 21:11 (***¼)
— To watch this show, head over to RevProOnDemand.com
For the final time this year, we’re coming live from the Network in Sheffield – maybe next year these shows will graduate to getting numbers rather than just “Live in Sheffield – month”? Commentary comes from Dave Bradshaw and Leyton Buzzard… and they’ve gotten rid of the guard rails and moved in the bigger ring after issues last time out.
Connor Mills & Jay Joshua vs. JJ Gale & Cameron Khai
This was the first official time Gale and Khai had teamed up – if you exclude the tag gauntlet in Coventry – and it looks like we’re loosening up on the Khai/Buzzard combo.
Mills and Khai got us going as commentary pondered whether Mills and Joshua were gunning for a tag title shot. I thought that was pretty clear after what happened in Coventry with Joshua… Mills controlled Khai from the off with almost a Young Boy Killer, forcing Khai into the ropes, before a bow-and-arrow hold was flipped out of as Khai was having trouble getting in any offence.
Avoiding a PK, Khai’s able to connect with a roll-up, only for Mills to dropkick out his knee before tags brought in Joshua and Gale. Gale tries a clothesline, but it’s charged through as a shoulder tackle from Joshua found its mark ahead of the Buzz Sawyer-like powerslam and a not-at-all Buzz Sawyer back senton. A double jump ‘rana and some dropkicks carved an opening for Gale, but Joshua just takes things into the corner for Connor Mills to have a go.
Khai’s quickly back in with a blind tag as the ring filled up… Khai and Gale pull ahead with a wacky wheelbarrow into an enziguiri ahead of a tope from Khai that’s caught as he’s instead dumped onto the side of the apron. Back inside, Mills stays on Khai’s knee, with some help from Joshua as almost a double Stretch Muffler caused big problems – with some ensuing antagonism drawing in JJ Gale to provide an accidental shield for some double-teaming.
Eventually Khai’s able to force an opening as he took down Joshua with a DDT, before finally making the tag to Gale, who cleared house with a Whisper in the Wind. There’s a German suplex to Mills, then a Slingblade to Joshua for a two-count, before a quick turnaround saw Mills lay in a rebound lariat to Khai for a near-fall. Khai’s forced to escape a double Burning Cutter in order to stay in it, before Gale tagged in to hit a senton on Joshua for a near-fall of their own.
An attempt at a Gale Force almost proved to be his undoing as Mills caught him… then rolled through into an ankle lock. Gale escapes, but a second Gale Force is met with a rising headbutt from Joshua ahead of the double Burning Cutter for the win. This was a heck of an opener – Khai and Gale had a few moments here, but the momentum behind Mills and Joshua proved to be way too much for the newer of the two tandems here. ***¼
Millie McKenzie vs. Anita Vaughan
Second time’s the charm – remember, this was meant to have happened at the 229 a fortnight ago; and we’ve got the threat of a new Cut Throat Collective member hanging over this show.
A slow start eventually sees McKenzie take Vaughan down to the mat, before Anita returned the favour with a shoulder tackle ahead of a charge into the corner. Anita stays ahead with a fallaway slam and a suplex as Millie was finding herself on the back foot, only to return fire with a dropkick and a spinning neckbreaker.
Anita tries to take things into the corner, but Millie beats her to the punch – almost literally – before a chinlock looked to force out a submission. Breaking out of the hold, Anita’s able to take Millie down with another shoulder block, then land a Ki Krusher for a near-fall, before a second crack at the fallaway slam was avoided.
Millie’s superkick and a spinning back suplex stacks up Vaughan ahead of a sit-out Pedigree… but Anita’s able to hit back with a powerslam, before a swinging sidewalk slam almost got the job done. Out of nowhere, Mercedez Blaze came out with a Kendo stick to provide a distraction, and it works as a German suplex and a spear got the win for Millie. **¾
Post-match, Mercedez Blaze announced Millie as the new member of the Cut Throat Collective… with McKenzie putting on the t-shirt before the pair hugged. Well, at least there was no swerve there, but the crowd weren’t really into this it seemed.
CPF (Joe Lando, Maverick Mayhew & Danny Black) vs. Sha-Shine Machine (Sha Samuels, TK Cooper & Chuck Mambo)
This could have been a match over the Trios Grand Prix weekend, had Sha-Shine Machine not crashed out at the first hurdle. Harry Milligan was dragged out as a mascot for this, willingly or otherwise.
When we get going, it’s Sha Samuels and Danny Black in the ring, leading to Sha almost winning this in a minute with a wild lariat off the ropes. Joe Lando’s tag in helps create an opening thanks to some double-teaming, but they lose track of Sha, who makes the tag out to Chuck Mambo as we got a wacky take on the Gutterball as Black and Lando were thrown into each other.
Some triple-teaming from CPF wiped out Mambo as Maverick Mayhew remained in thee to try and keep Mambo grounded. Fighting off another triple-team, Mambo’s able to hit a springboard double Blockbuster before bringing in TK Cooper, whose leg lariat wiped out Mayhew for a two-count. Sha’s back too as CPF were on the receiving end of a triple-team, before Sha Samuels ran into the crowd and forced Harry into the match.
TK keeps the ref distracted as Harry was thrown into Mayhew in the corner… but it backfires as CPF took over again. TK’s able to escape that FIJ finisher, instead laying out Mayhew with a backpack knee to spark a Parade of Moves, leading to a trio of volleys to the backs of CPF. Except they Hulk up from it, leading to a trio of superkicks to the impervious TK, and a response in the form of headbutts the other way.
Mercifully, this match gets some juice as Connor Mills and Jay Joshua run out to drag Harry Milligan away… Sha Samuels chases them to the back, leaving Sunshine Machine out there against all three of CPF, leading to an Awful Waffle from Mayhew to TK for a near-fall. Mambo breaks up the pin, but gets turfed outside as Will Kaven, Mark Trew and Kieron Lacey hit the ring… and we’ve got a no contest. That’d explain why this was meandering… **½
In the end, Trew, Lacey and Kaven leave CPF laying, stealing their trophies as they went… while Mills and Joshua snatched Sunshine Machine’s titles. I guess we’ve formally laid the groundwork for two matches at York Hall here, but the crowd didn’t seem to have bought into much of this.
Robbie X vs. Leon Cage
Leon Cage is still looking for his maiden win in Rev Pro, while Robbie X is all but nailed on to have the worst losing record in the promotion this year. That switch to the Bullet Club should help make that a distant memory though…
Robbie looked to rough up Cage early on, before Robbie cartwheeled out of a headscissor attempt from the 17-year old. Second time’s the charm for Leon though, only for Robbie X to quickly return with a reverse suplex, then a running dropkick to take things outside. There’s no dive from Robbie, who just rolls outside to throw some chops ahead of a delayed senton atomico back inside.
Robbie’s measured approach began to take hold as he scored with snapmares and kicks to the back, before he switched it up with a low superkick for a two-count. Leon’s able to make find a way back in as he stacks up Robbie on his head with a half-and-half suplex, following up with a brainbuster for a two-count, before a trip up top was stopped by Robbie.
Cage’s chops are stopped by Robbie’s teeth, but the enziguiri finds a way through before Robbie’s springboard was caught and turned into a cutter. Robbie bails outside, but can’t avoid a moonsault to the floor, before a 450 splash back inside almost got the… upset? From there, Leon looks for the Stomp into the Future, but Robbie escapes it and came right back in with a Molly Go Round for a near-fall.
Leon avoids Robbie off the top again, but the ensuing tit-for-tat ends with a wheelbarrow into a snapping armbar as Robbie X pulled further ahead, landing the Beyblade kick and a standing shooting star press. An attempted X-Claimation’s countered into a backslide, before a diving enziguiri from Cage led to another near-fall…
On the apron, Cage clotheslines Robbie back into the ring, before he’s caught up top with wheel kick as Robbie X tried to change things around, eventually landing a spider Northern Lights suplex. Cage returns to dump Robbie on his head again, before a Pedigree Destroyer and the spin-out Dominator – the Uncaged – took him agonisingly closer…
We’re back for another crack at Stomp Into the Future, but Robbie X flips away, hitting back with an X-Claimation for a near-fall. Yet another head drop follows as Robbie X took a reverse ‘rana… but he’s able to avoid the Phoenix Splash as Cage ends up falling to a diving kick in the corner. Leon’s still yet to win, but he’s building up a catalogue of long matches against established names in a bid to show he’s got more than “something” – but it’ll be the new year at least before things fully click, it seems. ***½
Heróis do Mar (David Francisco & Damiao) vs. Young Guns (Luke Jacobs & Ethan Allen)
Fortunately, Sheffield isn’t Southampton…
We start with commentary theorising that Francisco pinned a former heavyweight champion last week, and “what if” he pins the current one here. I’d be stunned. Allen and Damiao start us off, with Ethan working the arm before Luke Jacobs tagged in. Damiao, to his credit, didn’t back down… at least until he was chopped, as he flailed into the corner to tag in Francisco.
Jacobs resists shoulder tackles before he was pulled down by the hair as Francisco ended up getting punched into the ropes. Allen’s back to help with some double-teaming as the Young Guns pulled back in front… my feed drops, and returns with Ethan Allen getting charged into the side of the ring by Damiao, before a dropkick through the ropes proved to be the cue for Francisco to get involved again.
Damiao gets his shots in as he wrapped Allen’s leg around the ring post, then handed him back off to Francisco as the Portuguese pair slowly wore down Allen… who eventually broke free and make the tag out to Luke, who blitzed through Damiao and Francisco with German suplexes. A uranage dumps Damiao onto Francisco before a pop-up powerbomb almost sealed the win for Luke, before Allen came back into the fray.
An Allen Slam dumps Damiao, before a trip in the ropes from Francisco, then a powerslam allowed Damiao back in with a flying stomp off the top. Francisco tries to pick at the fallen Allen, but Ethan’s able to crack him in the head with a kick for a two-count before tags brought us back to Jacobs and Damiao… with the latter eating a big lariat from the champion.
Francisco quickly tagged back in as the Young Guns went back to work with some double-teams, leading to a Doomsday Device for a near-fall. Hawk wouldn’t take that. Damiao’s Shining Wizard cuts off Allen as Francisco almost stole the win with a roll-up. Seconds later, Francisco shoves Ref Harv into the path of a Jacobs powerbomb, as Damiao ended up taking out the ref… and with no ref, Francisco cuts corners, grabbing Jacobs’ title belt from ringside. He gets it superkicked into him though, before Michael Oku charged out to superkick Ethan Allen. There’s another superkick to the bloodied Francisco as Oku then bailed… only to get throttled by Jacobs. Francisco’s in to capitalise with a roll-up, and hell’s somehow frozen over as Francisco’s gotten away with the win, albeit with the huge Oku-shaped asterisk next to it. Stunned. ***
Liam Slater vs. Zozaya
It’s a Rev Pro debut for Slater, who’s the proxy for Leon Slater ahead of Zozaya’s big match next weekend.
Opening with a handshake, we’re quickly in with some grounded action as Slater and Zozaya trade see-saw pin attempts, albeit to no avail. A waistlock from Slater takes things into the corner as he then proceeded to bully Zozaya in a bid to keep him off guard. Some misdirection led to Zozaya getting taken outside as Slater faked out a dive… which the Spaniard bit hard on.
A switcheroo sees Zozaya take out Slater with a plancha… then mock Leon’s poses before Liam took over back inside, focusing on the injured shoulder of Zozaya. The Spaniard tries to get back in it, eventually connecting with a dropkick ahead of the shoulder charges and the walking overhead throw… except Slater counters it with a roll-up!
Zozaya’s able to move a step ahead with a roll-through suplex moments later, only for a Blue Thunder bomb from Slater to stop him in his tracks seconds later. Slater pounces on the arm and shoulder with a crossface, turning it into a Bully choke of sorts, only for Zozaya to roll through. Again, his shoulder’s proving problematic as Liam comes back with a folding powerbomb.
A second Blue Thunder bomb stacks Zozaya onto his shoulders as Liam then teased going up top. He’ll get a nosebleed. Zozaya stops him before that happens, bringing him down with his take on the Spanish Fly, before a roundhouse enziguiri got the win. This was somewhat understated, but Liam was more than just “Leon’s proxy” here… I’d love to see him back in a more prominent role, as he’s exactly the kind of guy who’d fit Rev Pro like a glove. ***¼
Cut Throat Collective (Nina Samuels, Lizzy Evo & Safire Reed) vs. Kanji, Chantal Jordan & Lucia Lee
Millie McKenzie didn’t come out with the trio here, opting to stay in the back…
A jump start catches out the Collective as the match spills outside at the bell, settling down to Reed and Kanji in the ring trading shots. An O’Connor roll from Kanji gets her a two-count… and a shot from Nina Samuels on the floor after the kick-out, before Lizzy Evo tagged in and put the boots to Kanji in the corner.
Breaking free with a neck twist, Kanji brings in Lucia Lee, who keeps things going before Chantal Jordan took down Nina in the corner for some face-washing knees. A follow-up dropkick to Nina in the corner’s good for a two-count… but a turnaround sees Safire Reed hurl Jordan into the buckles as the Collective began to build up some momentum.
Evo’s back in to get in Kanji’s face – and provide a cover for some chicanery behind the ref’s back as the match began to feel a little flat as Jordan continued to take a beating. Reed keeps it going as Kanji and Lee’s arguments again distracted the ref, before Kanji finally got the tag in and began clearing house.
Reed avoids a misdirection kick in the ropes from Kanji, but couldn’t get away before Kanji trapped her and Evo in the ropes for chops. Breaking free, Kanji charges towards Nina Samuels with a dive that almost went horribly awry, before she refocused on Reed, tying her up for some elbows to the head. Nina Samuels eventually comes in to break up the submission attempt, before Kanji and Jordan combined for a near-fall with a kick-assisted Snow Plow.
Evo’s back in to nail Jordan with a German suplex, a Virgil Van Strike knee and a DDT… but Kanji breaks it up as things again go flat. Lucia Lee tries her arm, landing a wheelbarrow roll on Nina for a two-count, then a back suplex, before Reed shoved Lee off the top rope to put the Collective back in charge. A kick-assisted ushigoroshi from Nina, then a flying stomp from Reed to an elevated Lee finally gets the win in a match that just felt so flat at times. Perhaps not having the team opposite the Collective feel like they’ve constantly been beaten like a drum would help, but that’s just a small part of the issues. **¾
Post-match, the Collective continue to put the boots to Lucia Lee before Mercedez Blaze and Millie McKenzie were called out… Millie’s given a Kendo stick to use on Lee, but she turned on the Collective and laid them all out with the stick, leaving Evo in the ring to take spears and German suplexes as Lizzy was left behind. So all those weeks of baiting in Millie was for that bait and switch in the end? At the very least, you either have the turn before the acceptance, or have Millie as part of the group with some obvious “I’m only playing along” undertones, rather than yet another speedrunning. I guess it’s to make Millie the focal point against the Collective in 2025, but when the rest of the division have been drummed out… I feel there’s a LOT of work to be done here.
Chris Ridgeway vs. Michael Oku
This was Ridgeway’s first outing for Rev Pro since a loss to Connor Mills in Sheffield back in June… and I guess a close proxy for Luke Jacobs as Oku’s final match ahead of Uprising next week.
Oku’s got a pair of singles wins over Ridgeway, having beaten him in the run-up to the Copperbox, but he’s cheapshot by Ridgeway at the opening handshake as we quickly break down into back-and-forth overhand strikes between the two. A headlock takedown has Oku on top, but headscissors from Ridgeway quickly put the former champion in trouble – not helped as Ridgeway methodically picked away at Oku, dumping him into the ropes before putting the boots to him.
Oku’s forced to dig deep to beat the ten-count after getting thrown outside, as Ridgeway proceeded to sarcastically clap Oku’s attempt at a comeback. His cockiness got the better of him, as he expected a chop from Oku and instead ate a superkick, taking Ridgeway to the outside ahead of the follow-up Fosbury flop.
Back inside, Oku’s kicks get him a near-fall, as did a springboard moonsault, before a telegraphed half crab was kicked away by Ridgeway… who returned with a suplex and a running knee as he proceeded to rack up near-falls of his own. A Dragon screw from Oku jars Ridgeway’s knee, but a seatbelt pin from Ridgeway surprises the former champion ahead of a trapped Stretch Muffler… only for Oku to manage to roll the pile into the ropes for a break.
With Oku’s ribs having been continually targeted, Ridgeway piles on the pressure with a pair of German suplexes, before Oku tried his luck with a half crab… only to lose grip as his midsection “gave way.” Ridgeway stays on Oku, measuring him up for some vile kicks before he got shocked with a brainbuster as Oku made one more comeback, adding a dropkick before fighting off Ridgeway on the top rope. It’s turned into a half crab on the top rope, before he took Ridgeway down to the mat for a frog splash… Ridgeway tries to cradle Oku after the impact, but Oku shifts his weight just enough to counter it and snatch the pin when Ridgeway thought he’d won it. As a story, Oku going long against Chris Ridgeway – and taking a beating in the process – was effective, particularly with the closing image of a bloodied up Oku. ***¼
Post-match, Oku took the mic and called out Luke Jacobs for sending someone else “to do his work for him.” That’s the cue for Luke to come out for the show-closing spot, with Oku running his mouth only to get laid out by Jacobs after accusing him of “representing no-one but himself.” Referees and contenders hit the ring to try and make the save, before Chris Ridgeway stopped them… so he could join in in stretching out Lee Dawson with a hattrick of simultaneous holds.
Amira’s dragged into the ring, but they relent as referees hold her back as Jacobs, Ridgeway and Allen stood over Oku’s fallen body to close out the show.
So the go-home show for Uprising started strong, but tailed off badly towards the end, especially in terms of crowd reactions. While it’s not a “raise panic alarms” situation, there’s something feeling off with the Rev Pro output in the past couple of months, and while it’s easy to point to “the women’s roster was getting repeatedly beaten by the Cut Throat Collective” or “pretty much every division has spent some time on ice in 2024,” the upcoming break for the promotion couldn’t come at a better time. Get past Uprising, rest, recharge, and hit the ground running in February.