We’ve a lot of new faces on show as the first night of Rev Pro’s Trios Grand Prix got underway in Coventry.
Quick Results
Trio Grand Prix – Quarter Final: David Francisco, Goldenboy Santos & Damiao pinned Cameron Khai, Lio Rush & Leon Slater in 16:41 (**¾)
Trio Grand Prix – Quarter Final: Sito Sanchez, Joey Torres & Zozaya pinned TK Cooper, Chuck Mambo & Sha Samuels in 16:01 (***¼)
Trio Grand Prix – Quarter Final: Ultramantis Black, Frightmare & Hallowicked pinned JJ Gale, Zachary Wentz & Robbie X in 9:30 (***)
Mercedez Blaze pinned Chantal Jordan in 7:58 (**¾)
Will Kaven pinned Leon Cage in 10:35 (***¼)
Jay Joshua pinned Ethan Allen in 14:55 (***½)
Trio Grand Prix – Quarter Final: Joe Lando, Danny Black & Maverick Mayhew pinned Leland Bryant, Xander Bryant & Nino Bryant in 17:37 (***¼)
— To watch this show, head over to RevProOnDemand.com
We’re live via stream from the HMV Empire in Coventry for the first annual… inaugural Trios Grand Prix. Let’s go with Inaugural. That’s less committal! Commentary comes from Andy Quildan, flying solo…
Francesca Oliver announces before we get going that every trios match this weekend will have a coin toss beforehand to decide whether that match will be running under regular tag rules or lucha rules.
Trio Grand Prix – Quarter Final: Heróis do Mar (David Francisco, Goldenboy Santos & Damiao) vs. Men of the Hour (Lio Rush, Leon Slater & Cameron Khai)
Just make sure the results of the coin toss are known, okay? After the ref didn’t quite catch the coin, we’re told we’re under regular tag rules for this…
Andy has trouble with the name “Heróis do Mar” so ends up ditching it and eventually settled on dubbing Francisco’s team the “Portu-geezers” as we started with Khai and Damiao’s early barbs led to a stalemate as everyone looked to get to grips to Damiao. Leon Slater had more luck with Damiao, ahead of Lio Rush’s flying stomp to Damiao’s arm on his way to a two-count.
Breaking free, Damiao tagged out to Santos, who towers over Rush… but Lio’s speed caused problems before Slater and Khai came in to catch Santos unawares. We’ve our first dives as triple planchas laid out the Heróis do Mar… before they saved Francisco from a triple-team as the match turned on its head with the Heróis do Mar focusing on Slater in the corner for a spell.
Santos is back to chop through Slater ahead of a cravat from Francisco that’s fought out of… only for Santos and Damiao to pull Khai and Rush off the apron to prevent a tag. A rewind enziguiri to Damiao eventually got Slater free for the tag, with Lio Rush clearing house en route to a Rush Hour springboard stunner.
A regular stunner drops down Francisco, only for the Heróis do Mar to come back with a triple-team as a Last Ride from Santos set up for a flying double stomp from Damiao for a near-fall. Evasive again, Rush manages to break free, only to get laid out with a Midas Touch from Santos as the momentum continued to swing all over the place.
Everyone gangs up on Francisco, who ate a Final Hour from Rush, then a Pingshot Cutter from Khai… but Damiao breaks up the cover in the nick of time. Santos grabs the ref to stop Leon Slater hitting a plancha, and in among the melee we’ve a low blow from Francisco to Khai before a high knee from Damiao proved to be enough for Francisco to snatch the win. This one took its time to get going, with the crowd not exactly familiar with the Portuguese lads – but Francisco’s choice to not go for lucha rules proved pivotal in the end here. **¾
Trios Grand Prix – Quarter-Final: Sha-Shine Machine (Sha Samuels, Chuck Mambo & TK Cooper) vs. Viva España (Zozaya, Joey Torres & Sito Sanchez)
Zozaya’s from Madrid, but I guess he’s become “adopted” by the Barcelona Blacklist duo of Torres and Sanchez for this weekend…
Winning the coin toss, Sha was overruled in his wish to go all lucha, as we started with Sha looking to blitz through Zozaya, only to get caught with a rolling thunder dropkick in the opening moments. Tags bring in Joey Torres and Chuck Mambo, but it ended up being the Sha-Shine trio that pulled ahead after Torres got a little ahead of himself.
A cartwheel dropkick from Torres bought him some time before Sito Sanchez came in to help double-team Mambo, while a charging dropkick from Zozaya cleared the apron. Torres’ triangle moonsault nearly wiped out the front row before Sunshine Machine turned things around with Mambo’s rope-walk armdrag clearing the way.
Torres found himself trapped in the wrong corner as Sha came in to chop his way ahead, while a low dropkick from TK folded Torres in half on the way to a near-fall. Fighting out of a B-Roll attempt, Torres is able to mount some sort of comeback… only to get caught with the B-Roll moments later. I swear they were doing that move long before the Aussie Open rivalry…
Sha’s back for a change of pace, but Torres breaks free only to miss a dive for a tag… so Sha lights him up again with chops before Torres fought out of a Gutterball attempt as he finally made it to Sanchez in the corner. Running wild, Sanchez had Sha in trouble ahead of a Zozaya-dropkick-assisted German suplex to Mambo.
Zozaya’s legal amid a Parade of Moves as his shoulder charges pinned Sunshine Machine into the corners, leading to a release Northern Lights from Torres to Mambo before a pile-on pin was broken up. All six men stay in the ring as a hattrick of volleys laid out the Spaniards for a moment, only for TK to absorb a barrage of superkicks. You know the score.
Torres gets launched off the top into a Sha spinebuster as the Spaniards looked to be done, but the shooting star press from TK doesn’t get the job done. The tag champs go for a Designated Driver, but telegraph it as the Spaniards hit the ring, leading to a Spanish Fly from Zozaya to TK ahead of a flying stomp to a rope hung TK into a sit-out powerbomb – the Combi Completa – for the upset win! Torres and Sanchez looked good for the most part here – and that fall potentially sets up a big title shot for them down the line. ***¼
David Francisco joined commentary to combat the awkward silences…
Trios Grand Prix – Quarter-Final: Heart X Soul X Rascal (Robbie X, Zachary Wentz & JJ Gale) vs. Spectral Envoy (Ultramantis Black, Frightmare & Hallowicked)
You can’t have a trios grand prix without the former King of Trios winners. It’s the first time we’ve seen Robbie X in Rev Pro since he joined Bullet Club, and it’s quite a mish-mash of a trio here.
We’re under lucha rules for the first time tonight, starting with Ultramantis Black and Robbie X looking to one-up each other. A lucha roll-up gets Mantis a two-count before Robbie X bailed to the outside to capitalise on the lucha rules. Except everyone pauses, as they play it off as Robbie’s partners not being that keen on him.
Eventually JJ Gale comes in to dropkick Mantis away, prompting Hallowicked to come in for a snap wheelbarrow roll-up ahead of a big boot from Frightmare. A standing moonsault from Frightmare draws in Wentz to break up the pin, ahead of a corkscrew plancha to Frightmare and Hallowicked on the floor.
Robbie X pounces to pick up a two-count as Hallowicked was rolled back inside… before Robbie X accidentally chopped his partners as they worked over Hallowicked. There’s a blow-up from that before Robbie went after Mantis by the antennae, pulling him down for a two-count as the new Bullet Club man continued to direct traffic.
A turnaround has Gale opened up against Hallowicked and Frightmare, who hit a Go 2 Sleepy Hollow on him, then Wentz, before Robbie X made the save. Gale’s death valley driver on Hallowicked looked to have them ahead… but Robbie X just flips off the other two and walks out on the match, just because.
On their own, Wentz and Gale had some luck, coming close off of a spinebuster/uppercut combo on Frightmare before Hallowicked turned things around, squashing Gale in the corner ahead of a Cosmic Drop screwdriver from Ultramantis for the win. They kept this short, but it told the story it needed to as Robbie X undermined his own team here. ***
Mercedez Blaze vs. Chantal Jordan
Obviously some non-tournament action here as Blaze tries to get her own back after Jordan pinned her during the Revolution Tag match earlier in the month.
Jordan charges at Blaze at the bell, forcing Mercedez to scurry away from a face-washing knee in the early going. Drawing Jordan outside, Blaze throws her into the side of the ring, then choked her against the turnbuckle irons, before a neckbreaker back inside almost put Jordan away.
Blaze pulls Jordan into an elevated version of the Axel Dieter Special, but to no avail as Chantal broke free to hit a diving neckbreaker, then a flying Meteora out of the corner for a two-count of her own. Kicks from Jordan keep Blaze on her knees, before Mercedez hit back with a handstand ‘rana to catch Jordan off the top rope.
A shotgun dropkick from Blaze keeps her ahead, as did a butterfly suplex into the buckles, before a Ki Krusher from Jordan turned it around… but Blaze played possum and dragged Chantal into the buckles, before a spear off the middle rope almost got the win. In the end, a flash roll-up with a handful of tights sees Blaze steal the win – but Jordan came back for some afters as This Feud Must Continue. **¾
Leon Cage vs. Will Kaven
A non-title match for the debutant Cage, who’s been getting a lot of attention coming out of the New Wave school in Wales. That “07” on Cage’s jacket is his birth year, in case we all don’t feel disgustingly old yet.
Cage catches out Kaven with a moonsault to the floor during the latter’s entrance, and when we get going Cage looked to end things in a hurry with a 450 splash… but Kaven kicked out before he got caught with a knee strike from Cage seconds later. A spin-out Dominator keeps Cage well on top, but Kaven’s again able to kick out before Cage hung him up in the ropes looking for that flying stomp/sit-out powerbomb combo.
Just a thought, I know Cage went viral for that earlier in the year, but why are you booking two acts on the same show that do the same viral spot? It’s far from ideal for either…
Anyway, Kaven avoids the one-man-combi-completa and took control with a butterfly supex into the buckles as he began to impose himself on the debutant. Cage was restricted to hopeful roll-ups for a spell, before a half-and-half suplex caught Kaven unawares. A folding ‘rana almost nicks the win for Cage, before a springboard cutter was cut off with a knee strike… only for Kaven to come off the top rope and get caught with a powerbomb seconds later.
Cage goes for the stomp/powerbomb combo again, but gets pulled through the ropes as Kaven avoided the rebound powerbomb part. Kaven capitalises with a tope, before a flying stomp to the back of the head led to… a reversed brainbuster by Cage. Leon heads up once more, but he’s caught with a Dragon superplex. Some flying snot from Kaven fires up Cage, whose reverse ‘rana just about comes off… before a Phoenix Splash saw Cage crash and burn hard.
Kaven can’t quite capitalise with a diving knee to the back of the head, but a follow-up tombstone does the trick as Kaven survived one hell of a scare to leave with the win. This was a cracking debut in Rev Pro for Cage – and hopefully this isn’t the Rev Pro special of “one outing and we’ll see you long in the future” as Leon looked special here. ***¼
Jay Joshua vs. Ethan Allen
More non-tournament action here – and a rather muted reception for Joshua, who’s slowly establishing himself here.
The early feeling-out process from Allen and Joshua saw both men go for the others’ legs, looking to go after their historical knee injuries. Joshua’s chops light up Allen on the outside, before a playful poke to the eye earned Joshua some more kicks to the hamstring ahead of a trip to the ring post from the Young Gun.
Back inside, Allen got charged down off the ropes before he got caught with the Buzz Sawyer-esque powerslam… and a not-at-all-like-Buzz back senton for a two-count. A throat thrust out of the corner stuns Joshua as Allen fought back, only for Ethan to get taken into the buckles ahead of a pull-out back suplex that almost ended things.
Joshua got carried away… but manages to absorb a fiery response from Allen, at least until Ethan charged in with a front guillotine. It’s broken as Jay chucks Ethan with a release overhead belly-to-belly, before Allen finally made some headway with a bodyslam after Joshua’d been in control for a spell. Kicks from Allen eventually earn him a headbutt… but a flash roll-up just leads to a nice bridging wheelbarrow suplex from Joshua, who almost snatched the win right there.
A crossface from Allen has Joshua in trouble, but despite turning the hold into almost a Brutaliser, Allen can’t stop a rope break. Instead, he looks for an Allen Slam, kicking at Joshua to try and weaken him down… Allen collapses as he goes for the move though, and ends up having to go for the ropes to escape a Bully choke. Firing back, Ethan finally kicks Joshua’s leg out of his leg, only to run into a powerbomb before a lariat from Jay, then a Gotch piledriver got the win. This was a slow burner of a match, but in the end a definitive win for Joshua as Ethan Allen ended up getting overpowered here. There’ll be plenty more between these two, I feel… ***½
Trios Grand Prix – Quarter-Final: CPF (Joe Lando, Danny Black & Maverick Mayhew) vs. Flying Bryant Brothers (Nino Bryant, Xander Bryant & Leland Bryant)
CPF were out in jumpsuits – a homage to the SAT, but these days you’re probably not getting the Amazing Red with Jose and Joel Maximo…
The crowd boos the announcement of this being under regular tag rules, as you’re probably pondering why this is the main event as opposed to the Spectral Envoy. Easy answer: Robbie X and Zachary Wentz had bookings elsewhere on the same night!
Anyway, we get going with Nino working over Mayhew, trading wristlocks ahead of a spinning headscissor takedown out of Nino. That came from nowhere! All three Bryants triple-team Mayhew for a spell, ahead of a Butterfly Effect – the Meteora-aided crucifix – for a two-count to Joe Lando.
CPF begin to make inroads as Black and Lando double-team Xander, but Leland’s able to tag in and take down Danny with an armdrag as this turned into a backdrop for the David and Andy Wrestling Podcast. An elevated flip senton from the Bryants took out Black, but CPF hit the ring to make the save as this threatened to morph into lucha rules for a spell. Xander’s trapped in the corner for a spell by CPF, whose CCK-like elevated back senton to Xander almost sealed things as the referee was being very liberal with his five-counts.
Breaking free, Xander’s low-angle Quebradas crash into Mayhew for a two-count as Andy was left pining for Gideon Grey on commentary… Xander can’t capitalise as he’s again trapped in the CPF corner, before he found a way over them to make the tag into Nino. A sweet swinging DDT from Nino clears the way before he tagged in Leland as the Bryants blitzed through Lando in the corner. Almost, literally.
A double step-up flip senton from Leland wiped out CPF on the floor, ahead of a spear/neckbreaker combo as a 450 splash from Leland almost got the win. A quick turnaround from CPF saw them hit a backcracker out of the ropes before Lando’s cutter was caught and turned into an inverted death valley driver.
Black keeps the Parade of Moves going with a Clash Bomb, before Mayhew’s Awful Waffle to Xander kept things going. A running shooting star press from Leland misses, before Nino was caught with a deadlift German suplex. Lando takes one in return as we’re just throwing out the concept of the five count here as Lando’s cutter earned an instant attack as things were literally getting too quick to call.
A satellite DDT from Leland wipes out Mayhew… but there’s no follow-up as he instead cued for a springboard out of the corner, only to get dropkicked by all three members of CPF. Things get a little “messy and confused” ahead of a double-team cutter from CPF as the Bryants looked to give CPF a taste of their own medicine, hitting the Area 53 triple-team (Shatter Machine/cutter combo) as Danny Black just about broke up the pin in time.
Mayhew splats Leland with a standing Meteora as CPF looked to take over again, smashing through Xander in the corner before Leland was lifted up for a stomp-assisted double Made in Japan for the win to close out a good main event… even if you were left pondering why they’d go for a “regular” tag match only to work large swathes of it under lucha rules. ***¼
Post-match, David Francisco left commentary to distract CPF from the stage… as the rest of Heróis do Mar attack Black, Mayhew and Lando. Viva España – Sanchez, Torrez and Zozaya – run out to make the save, before the Spectral Envoy got their music and entrance to ensure the night ended with a four-way scrap. The semi-finals see Heróis do Mar take on Viva España, while CPF get the Spectral Envoy ahead of the finals at the end of night two – with the winners able to pick whatever matches they desire.
As an opening night, this was a solid show from Rev Pro as they introduced a lot of new faces to the Rev Pro audience (seven, by my count, were getting UK debuts for Rev Pro) – time will tell whether these were one-weekend shots, or whether these were the first steps of integrating these lads into the roster.