Kid Lykos will be out for revenge after ‘losing his identity’ when he was unmasked by Spike Trivet back in November [Progress Wrestling]

TWELVE years ago Progress Wrestling was hosting training sessions in Somers Town for wannabe wrestlers, teaching them how to get to grips with a whole host of new skills that would help them reign in the ring.

It was a fledgling company with a very bright future.

Fast forward to 2024, and the organisation is now preparing for their 163rd “chapter” – or show – at their “spiritual home” at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town.

Oh, and the biggest news of all is that they’ve just joined forces with Seattle-based DEFY in a major merger that will see wrestlers from both outfits compete on each other’s shows both here and in the United States.

Martyn Best, who acquired Progress Wrestling with Lee McAteer in 2021, said: “Lee and I really welcome Jim Perry and Matt Farmer [from DEFY] joining us at Progress, this is a major step in our wider plans for more international collaborations.

“We previously had a strong content partnership with WWE, and we have a developing relationship with Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH. With DEFY joining us, I am sure that our many combined fans will be very excited to see what happens next.”

Closer to home, when the stars from Progress return to the Electric Ballroom next Sunday the action and drama promises to be so intense that it’s going to have to be contained in steel.

The organisation’s next big show, Twisted Metal, will be only the second time in their history that Progress will hold a cage match.

Challenger Kid Lykos is hoping that it’s third time lucky in his bid to get his hands on the World Championship belt when he takes on the ultimate bad guy in Spike Trivet.

There is more than just the belt on the line: Kid Lykos will be out for revenge after “losing his identity” when he was unmasked by Spike Trivet back in November in front of a captivated crowd at the same venue.

There will be no shortage of body slams and suplexes with eight matches in store, including the Smokin’ Aces looking to hold on to their Progress tag team titles against the supreme force of SAnitY, while Women’s World Champion Rhio will take on Emersyn Jayne.

Counting down the days until the show on Sunday, February 25, Martyn said: “In a word, it’s going to be emotional. Fans are going to see Kid Lykos’ final attempt at winning the title in a steel cage match, there promises to be lots of twists and turns.”

With a 700-plus crowd expected to watch as the drama unfolds, he added: “The Electric Ballroom is our spiritual home, it’s a great venue with a wonderful vibe. We’ve been hosting shows there since 2014 and the atmosphere is always fantastic.

“We love putting on a live action show.

“We really want the fans who come along to feel the energy in the venue, and the emotion. We want them to care about the wrestlers, their backstories and who is going to win and lose. It’s pure entertainment and drama.”

• To book tickets for Twisted Metal, visit www.progresswrestling.com