Progress’ Chapter 130 kicks off a historic week for the British wrestling promotion, on 20th of March ROH World champion Jonathan Gresham faces Progress World Champion Cara Noir in a title vs title match, in what could be the biggest match in recent British Wrestling history.
On the 22nd Progress hold their first ever all women’s show “Who Run The World” followed up by their first ever all BAME show “Every Thing Patterned London” at the Dome in London. Then on the 25th of March Progress celebrate their 10th anniversary revisiting one of Progress’ most storied rivalries as NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov returns to face one of his toughest adversaries in Cara Noir back at the original home of Progress, the Garage.
It was on the 31st of December last year that Progress Wrestling announced they would be returning to live shows and would be doing so under new management as Martyn Best and Lee McAteer took over the reins. With the new management came a new host, as Progress announced that Simon Miller would taking over the hosting duties, we recently spoke with Simon Miller about his new role as well as previewing the upcoming Chapter 130.
Simon Miller speaking on his reaction to becoming the new Progress host:
“The way I keep describing it to people it was the most unexpected thing of 2022, I didn’t have it on my list, I always like to draw up a list of things I would like to get done, to achieve etc. and that wasn’t on my list, I did know Progress was going through a revamp of sorts, I didn’t know there was a change in management, but yeah when I did get the call and somebody asked me to do it I mean, you’re excited you’re pumped because any kind of British Wrestling fan is well aware of Progress’ place in the industry but then there is a little bit of trepidation, probably not the word, a little bit of anxiety a little bit of apprehension because you understand what has come before and that the group that had built progress from the ground up had a very good relationship with the fans or were at least around for ages they all had their roles, which they did well, so you’re like I hope people don’t get mad at me like whose this idiot? because obviously I am very different cup of tea to what had come before, but so far everyone has been really nice, I know I’ve certainly enjoyed myself at every single show fingers crossed we can continue define what ever this era of progress is and turn into something new, I mean never forgetting what the core values were but also to try and turn into something unique and new.”
Simon Miller on what is was like taking on the role of host;
Jim Smallman did an awesome job as the host for a long old time, and he is, I am 90% sure that basically in his other life he was a stand up comic so you know he can go in there and he could do something very very unique and specific, like I said he did very very well so most of the other hosting stuff that I’ve done a few wrestling things but most of the other hosting work that I’ve done was sort of my Business side of life, conferences and video games and such but obviously I’m quite knee deep in wrestling more these days so I sort of thought to my self that it is hopefully something that I can bring my take to the table but it’s just the nature of the beast right now some people are just not going to like change, I can totally understand that you know you get yourself into a groove you get your self a routine and then all of sudden there’s some bald bloke welcoming you to progress but the way I have always looked at it is that I am genuinely honoured for the opportunity and if people like me obviously that rocks but if people hate me that’s fine too, you cannot ever expect to be enjoyed by everybody so I think as long as you take the criticism, the constructive kind, and use it to try and be better at what you’re doing then it’s all good, it’s a great consensus for that kind of feedback and you just ignore the people that tell you to die.
Simon continued on dealing with nerves of taking on such a role;
I didn’t have any nerves about that, like I had nerves about how they were going to react to me and I always have nerves if I am going to do a new job, that’s just my nature, but yeah I started hosting stuff like ten years ago and from the first time I done it until today I absolutely love it I love the idea of there’s no net right when you do hosting if your live you know if something goes wrong you better fix it. I love all that especially in front of a wrestling crowd who are designed to chant things, I mean if your hosting a presentation at the euro gamer expo which I’ve done time and time again, if you screw up you my get a few giggles but no ones going to go you know you screwed up you moron where as at a wrestling show they do that but I like that, I like that kind of feedback, I like that kind of response you if you’re not quick on your feet it will certainly teach you how to be quick on your feet, so yeah I like the buzz and I like how it feels I enjoy stepping out my comfort zone too, so yeah we’ve had a few hecklers and I’ve enjoyed my back and forth with them you know I just think it’s fun and it’s just a laugh. You know to be involved with Progress at any level is something I’ve always would’ve wanted to do so it’s just cool to get my foot in the door,
Simon would then discuss on continuing the Progress tradition of interacting with crowd;
It’s great in my first show I tripped over the ropes I didn’t face plant thanks goodness but I did that little trip thing and it’s funny and they joined in, like anything if you take it in the right vein I just re emphasizes the relationship I kind feel like that’s my job, it’s not just my job right to gee everybody up and give people the information, there should be some sort of connection there you know I am one of you I just happen to doing this and we’re going to have fun for nest 3-4hrs however long it may be and it doesn’t need to go further than that, that also means you know they’ve been very kind with some nice chants but then if they want to do some, I’m not even going to call them bad chants, there just more of jovial chants you need all of that I think it makes for a good atmosphere and I think it makes for an interactive show which is what wrestling is all about how bad would it be if you did trip up and no one made a noise like don’t even care there not even watching so yeah I definitely want to keep that up I don’t want to do anything that Jim used to do because I think that would be an insult to him, but one thing I absolutely want to keep alive is that connection and that relationship with the fans because Progress was always built off of that and some people would debate it and that’s fine, this life is all about conversations, I think no matter what happens there was always a dialogue between the fans and the people running it and vice versa so if I can serve as some sort of conduit between all that then I think that’s part of my job and I’m more than happy to do it.
Simon would go on to discuss what it is like to be featured on the WWE Network;
I mean its ridiculous to be quite frank with you, we all have tent poles we try and aim for so it’s not exactly the way I thought I would end up on there in my dreams but it still counts right it’s still so cool I use that WWE network multiple times a week, be it with my What Culture stuff or just watching whatever and to know that there is now a section on there where not only will I be featured, but where you get the breakdown of the show there’s Simon Miller welcomes everyone to Progress and then you get people on the internet sending you screen shots of it which is always very nice always like a warm pat on the back so it’s one of those cool things where even if it all goes bad tomorrow, I got onto the WWE network I said I would make it happen and I got on to the network, as a fan it is the no. 1 wrestling streaming service you cant look past stuff like that and you’ve just got to enjoy it for what it is and I absolutely do.
We would then discuss if he is able to watch him self on the Network, Simon would tell us;
No, no don’t get me wrong I haven’t been able to watch, well I’ve watched the Progress Shows back but may jump over my sections, when my girlfriend wanted to watch it just left the room be it this or whatever else I do in my life I struggle a little bit watching myself back I will force myself to at times because that’s the only way you can get better and I will do it with the Progress stuff as well yeah I am not good at that at all in fact, I suck at it.
Full Interview available on the Bodyslam YouTube Channel via our Tea & Tights: A Great British Wrestling Podcast
Progress’ Chapter 130 Dodge Dip Duck Dive Dodge takes place this Sunday 20th of March at the home of Progress, The Electric Ballroom, Camden London. The show will be made available to stream on the WWE Network, Peacock Streaming service and Demand Progress shortly after the live show.
You can follow the Tea and Tights team on Twitter Andy @GBOtaku82 and Dan on @BigDaddyDanTT as well as Tea and Tights page @TeaandTightsPod
Written By Andy More Of The Tea and Tights: A Great British Wrestling Podcast
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