Wrestling Review // PROGRESS Wrestling Chapter 173: Stay Young & Invincible (Triller TV)
Watching wrestling has felt like such a strange journey for me because I used to be really into PROGRESS back before WWE had NXT UK, as I enjoyed the smash mouth style and punk rock attitude. But lately I've been slowly coming back from falling off of wrestling, maybe it was burnout. This felt like a big weekend for wrestling with GCW running the NGI but I was also excited about this show. I started getting back into PROGRESS when they offered up "The Devil On My Shoulder", which featured Danhausen, as a free stream.
It's taking a bit to get used to who is in PROGRESS now as there are some new faces (to me) but also some of the wrestlers who were there once before are back. So right now I do really enjoy how it feels like PROGRESS is this mix of names you'll know, names you might know and names that you probably don't know as a first time viewer, but everybody is bringing something unique to the table.
Then, in October, for Chapter 172- Werewolves Of London- PROGRESS began streaming on Triller TV. I had this idea that I was going to subscribe to PROGRESS On Demand, which is their streaming service, for 172 but the fact that this turned out this way just worked out even better. I am going to end up subscribing to their on demand service eventually though because I feel like that's how I can see DEFY.
"Stay Young & Invincible" opened up with the PROGRESS Tag Team Titles on the line as the Smokin' Aces (great movie) defended against Subculture. Between WWE and TNA, fans should recognize Subculture as they are Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews (remember when he was Mandrews?) but if you don't recognize Charlie Sterling and Nick Riley as Smokin' Aces it's okay because you will. Both of these teams just worked so well together, as teams, and that's what tag team wrestling should be about- two people working as one.
In the second match Myles Kayman defeated Connor Mills in what seemed to even surprise him. Connor Mills has this great striking game that I'd like to see up against the likes of KENTA, Kevin Ku, Matt Makowski or Kevin Blackwood. Even when GCW comes to see PROGRESS in January 2025, Connor Mills vs Speedball Mike Bailey would be a standout match without question.
One of my more favorite matches on the show saw Mothdog (which is Session Moth Martina and Gene Munny) defeat the team of Skye Smitson and Sam Bailey. Sam Bailey was a replacement tag team partner, but I still enjoy Session Moth Martina so much. I think she's one of those wrestlers you need to go out of your way to see, but if she's on a show don't just watch her match. Trust that the whole show will be good and watch it all.
What was arguably the match of the show (and maybe year) had Cara Noir going up against Charli Evans. This match put two of the best wrestlers in the entire world against each other but yet they have such different styles that you might not ever imagine them meeting. It worked though and at one point when Cara Noir was being stomped in the corner he bit the boot of Charli Evans, which doesn't seem like it would do any damage but was more of a way to just annoy Evans and that was one of those little things which just made this match so enjoyable.
After this match the show went to intermission so it felt like Cara Noir vs Charli Evans main evented the first part. In the second half there was a tag team victory from Lykos Gym (there are two Kid Lykos, which is something I am unfamiliar with) and then Emersyn Jayne defeated Natalie Sykes. I feel like a lot of my knowledge of women's wrestling in scenarios such as these comes from my time spent watching Pro Wrestling EVE and so I definitely feel like I need to subscribe to their YouTube again as well.
The main event saw Boisterous Behaviour defeat Young Guns as Leon Slater pinned the PROGRESS Champion Luke Jacobs. Between TNA and GCW, both Leon Slater and Man Like DeReiss should be known to fans who are watching those promotions (as I am) and while I am taking nothing away from Ethan Allen, I just feel like Luke Jacobs is one of those wrestlers who might not have that same name recognition yet as a Will Ospreay or a ZSJ, but I feel like eventually he will. It's a matter of when, not if.
Chapter 173 was everything that a wrestling show should be and if you're not currently watching PROGRESS but have Triller+ there isn't a better time to start watching. A show full of action and drama, but it also set up the title match between Luke Jacobs and Leon Slater for Chapter 174 which is this Sunday, November 24th 2025! Chapter 174 will also see Lana Austin return to PROGRESS and that also feels like the best reason to tune in. As we go into 2025, PROGRESS is this fast moving ride that you should definitely try and jump on now.
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