Wrestlers on the card :-
• "The Stallion" Chris Bronson
• "The Main Character" Prince Phoenix
• "The Silverback" Saime Sahin
• "The English Lion" Eddie Ryan
• Nadia Sapphire
• "The Hossfather" Curt Atlas
• JD Knight
• Toby St. John
• KT Electra
• Alex Campbell
Before starting with the review, a quick note - I've recently started a YouTube channel for independent wrestling content in the UK. It has near-daily 15-second videos I've dubbed "Smackdown Showcase", it has match highlights (some of which are embedded in this review), and more. The purpose of the channel is to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent we have in the UK. Memorable moments, memorable matches, hard-hitting action...if you'd be so kind, please could you check out the YouTube channel. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!
With that being said, let's dive in...
Writing about Brit King is starting to feel ever-increasingly exciting. The ground swell of chatter around the company appears to be at an all-time high. I would estimate that the crowd in Emersons Green had increased by 30-40% between the last show (June) and this show. This is largely due to the reputation that the company is generating as the go-to place for Professional Wrestling in the south-west of England.
While I'm on my soapbox, I just want to highlight - yet again - that the south-west is on an absolute TEAR right now. Wales has genuinely never had a better wrestling scene (largely thanks to Brendan White) and various other companies in the region are kicking ass too.....Brit King Pro, New Wave, South West Wrestling, Attack! Pro, Chaos, Evolution, No Mercy...if you're a fan of wrestling and live anywhere near the south-west, I am emploring you to get involved. I'm not just saying this to help local companies (although that's nice too!), I'm living it! Myself and my Wife, Susie, went to New Wave in Cardiff on Friday, Brit King in Emersons Green on Saturday, and Attack! Pro in Bristol on Sunday in the totally unique Loco Klub under Temple Meads train station! We've got SWW and Brit King back-to-back in less than 2 weeks as well! Frankly, the in-ring action can sometimes be every bit as good as you see on TV with WWE or AEW, only the tickets are a fraction of the cost of when they come into the region. Do yourself and your families a favour: check it out!
Moving onto why we're here: Brit King Pro in Emersons Green! This was our 2nd show in this venue and like I alluded to above, the crowd had grown significantly since the first one - and that's off the back of no matches being announced in advance! Brit King really are firing on all cylinders. Swindon was packed, Thatcham was packed, I always see pictures of Cardiff being packed....good for them. Furthermore, for the 4th show in a row, I had people in the crowd telling me that they bought tickets after reading my reviews, which is really cool and really humbling.
One salient point about this show is that the crowd was really hot! It was an entertained, lively, energetic crowd all night, which isn't easy and most certainly isn't always the norm for live wrestling. The difference between a good match and a great match can sometimes be nothing more than the noise level of the crowd in my experience, so everything felt so much cooler because of it.
Match 1: "The Main Character" Prince Phoenix vs. "The English Lion" Eddie Ryan
One thing I'm loving about Brit King lately is that Phoenix is wrestling heavyweights. Not as a gimmick, not by necessity, but because he has earned it. Earned it with his time in the gym this year. Earned it with his focus on nutrition. Earned it with his character work. Earned it with his ever-improving wrestling repertoire. He deserves to be there and it's only a matter of time before he lifts the Heavyweight Championship in my humble opinion. If he's nearly caused multiple riots this year as Junior Heavyweight Champion, imagine what he'll do as Heavyweight Champion!
Comparingly, Eddie Ryan has been a Professional Wrestler for close to 20 years now. Having first seen him wrestle live 15 years ago, I feel like I've been on most of this journey with him. His in-ring work is so crisp, so clean, such perfection. He still looks phenomenal, he still moves around the ring spectacularly, and he still clearly has the hunger to compete.
The match itself was very good. Phoenix looks natural in the ring with experienced heavweights. Phoenix's impressive heel abilities coupled with Eddie's distinctly likeable babyface persona is a recipe for success. As mentioned above, the crowd was loud and engaging throughout - helped by the fact Phoenix was arguing with people in the crowd for a couple of minutes before the bell rang to start the contest! One particular highlight was Phoenix powdering from the ring and then using me as a temporary seat so that he could catch his breath and recouperate! I gave him some words of encouragement (quietly of course - he's a heel, I don't want to ruin the gimmick!) and the jock pat on the abdomen...just as Emma Meek took a photo!
(Photo Credit: Emma Meek Photo)
I particularly enjoy the scared reaction of the kid a few seats over and the shocked reaction of the kid on the row behind!
You can also tell that Phoenix has been training with his "The Kingdom" stablemate Chris Bronson (#PrinceStall) as he took a particularly impressive back-body drop during the match. Eddie Ryan's chops were awesome and thundered around the venue. I was also particularly happy to see Phoenix working on the knee and lower leg of Eddie. Simple storytelling that is often missed in today's fast-paced, spot-fest wrestling landscape.
At one point, I thought Phoenix had cracked it...
...But(t) even with help from Bronson, Eddie Ryan was able to defeat Prince Phoenix with the dreaded roll-up of death.
Match highlights! :-
Match 2: JD Knight vs. "Headshot" Alex Campbell
Alex Campbell was a new name for me. I believe he's one of Eddie Ryan's students from Lion's Den Pro in Plymouth. It was a really smart move to put the rookie in the ring with the wily veteran that is JD Knight. I've said it before and will continue to do so: JD Knight's facial expressions and mannerisms are some of the best in the UK right now. The acting and theatre work that he's been doing recently playing Thor with Mythos Theatre is obviously paying dividends. I liken his facial expressions to William Regal, which is a high compliment.
Campbell looked good. He's clearly well trained, has the fundamental down, and is creating a moveset that is tailored to his natural abilities...and he is naturally talented. At one point he was balanced on the turnbuckle...upside-down...fully straightened out...for over 5 seconds. Impressive.
Some other memorable moments were when Alex Campbell went to baseball slide JD Knight on the outside and JD wrapped him up in the ring apron and slapped the shit out of him, JD's kick-to-the-nuts to Campbell while he was in the corner, and Campbell's beautiful spinning wheel kick to JD's face. It was a classic veteran vs. student match, with the student trying flashy moves to stun the veteran, while the veteran uses savvy and ring awareness to chop the legs out from under the student.
It was a solid match. After referee Drew pushed JD into the ropes while Campbell was on the turnbuckle - or so JD would have you believe - JD was able to get the upper-hand and defeat the promising young rookie.
Match highlights! :-
Match 3: "The Hossfather" Curt Atlas vs. Toby St. John
Once the two competitors were announced, I had high expectations for this match. Toby St. John is an incredibly athletically gifted young man. Very likeable, fantastic smile, great physique, easy to root for, agile, with an impressive display of moves whenever he wrestles. As soon as The Blockbusters' music hits ("Excitable" by Def Leppard), whether it's Toby, Jordan Sparkes, or both of them teaming together, I know it's going to be an entertaining match.
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When I mentioned earlier in the review that the Welsh wrestling scene is the best it's ever been, Curt Atlas is a big part of the reason why. Brendan White is the tip of the spear, but people like Nico Angelo, Danny Jones, James Ellis, Curt Atlas, and many others make up the rest of that driving force. Curt has taken the braids out, let the hair go wild, gotten into fantastic shape, and is ever more impressive every time I watch him wrestle live. When you combine the two competitors together, it should be a great match...and it was!
Right from the start the crowd was engaged. Curt and Toby took it in turns to go to the turnbuckle to give the crowd an opportunity to boo or cheer. Once the in-ring action started, it was athletic and hard-hitting straight away. Toby showed the grace of a gymnast as he flipped and rolled all over the ring before delivering crisp offence to Curt. Comparingly, Curt was the powerhouse. Very Jim Neidhart in his offence and fluidity - slams galore!
(not sure what Toby is implying about Curt there...)
Particular kudos to Toby as well as he'd already wrestled earlier that day, then driven to Emersons Green and wrestled again. It takes dedication and strength to wrestle once in a day, let alone twice. He's clearly passionate about wrestling and is desperate to succeed. We love to see it.
A top rope Frogsplash from Toby was enough to get the job done. Three good, but very different matches thus far in the night.
Match highlights! :-
Match 4: KT Electra vs. Nadia Sapphire W/Prince Phoenix
By this point in the night, the children in the audience were ready to riot when Phoenix returned to the ring. Couple that with Nadia's natural ability to generate heat and fireworks were about to go off. "The Kingdom" stable of Phoenix, Nadia, and Bronson are heat-seeking missiles. I've been to a lot of local indie wrestling shows for many years and I can scarcely remember a group of people that can get crowds as riled up as these three. Phoenix has almost had punches thrown at him multiple times this year and Nadia/Bronson are consistently booed out of the building. If Brit King are smart they'll keep the group together and keep the babyfaces chasing them for a while longer as the melting pot of rage from the crowd is bubbling away nicely.
(the gentleman that is Drew keeping his eyes up!)
For all the praise I gave JD Knight for his facial expressions, Nadia is the female equivalent. Her reactions, mannerisms, and interactions with the crowd are great fun. She can't go near a microphone without instant anger from the paying customers.
Nadia's opponent for the night was the loveable KT Electra. Fresh off a trip to Ireland, KT looked focused and genuinely happy to be in front of a live audience. While I have watched KT wrestle live once before, she is still newer to me, so I'll be keenly watching how she grows and develops over the coming months and years.
The match was great fun...before the match even began Phoenix was arguing with a behemoth in the crowd. Nadia then got involved and pie-faced the fan. Classic heel work. Phoenix, Nadia, and Brit King in general are so good at using old school 80's and 90's storytelling to propel the matches and stories forwards. Flips and high-spots mean nothing if the audience doesn't care about the combatants. Make them know you, make them love or hate you, then do the big moves. After that a lot of the children in the audience got up from their seats and started arguing with - and pushing(!) - Phoenix as well. The gall of kids these days is crazy! I would never have had the balls to do that to a grown adult at 9 or 10 years old.
(we don't judge Phoenix for stealing Nadia's ring attire)
A front handstand clothesline from KT was a standout moment, alongside Phoenix's heat-generating attack of KT behind referee Drew's back - a woman in the crowd yelled "YOU'RE DISGUSTING!" at Phoenix so loudly after he hit KT! A powerful spinebuster from KT was almost enough to put Nadia away, but Nadia was able to kick-out and get KT in a beautiful looking crossface. KT tapped out and Nadia was declared the winner.
Match highlights! :-
Post-match Nadia got on the microphone to gloat and then introduced the crowd to the Heavyweight Champion, "The Stallion" Chris Bronson...
Match 5: British Kingdom Pro Heavyweight Championship Match - "The Stallion" Chris Bronson (C) W/Nadia Sapphire & Prince Phoenix vs. "The Silverback" Saime Sahin
For those keeping count, that's 3 out of the 5 matches on the card that Phoenix was involved with. Definitely the M.V.P. of the event. While waiting for Chris Bronson to make his entrance, the kids in the audience went to the edge of the ring to yell at Phoenix and Nadia. The match hadn't even started yet and people were ready to throw punches at The Kingdom. While punches weren't actually thrown, some people did throw rubbish into the ring at them.
Attack Of The Kids 2: This Time It's Personal!
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(THE best heel stable in the UK right now for my money)
Getting back on my soap box for a minute, I truly believe Chris Bronson is the best all-rounder in the UK right now. He can cut a promo, his in-ring wrestling is flawless, he looks the part, he acts the part...there are other great wrestlers on the UK indies, but I don't think anyone else is quite on Bronson's level. He is criminally underrated...you can see why Mexico wants "The Stal" and Phoenix back in December after their first trip over in the summer. Two people with bright futures ahead in the sport.
The night before this event, I saw Chris Bronson tear the house down with Jay Joshua at New Wave in Cardiff. The YouTube short where Bronson and Jay go blow-for-blow is currently the most viewed video on my fledgling YouTube channel...
After the brutality of the match the night before, you could forgive Bronson for taking it easy the next day, but that's not his style. He went all out in this match with Saime. For everything that has been said about The Kingdom and their ability to generate genuine heat, the opposite can be said for Saime. He is the most beloved babyface in the company. A 13-year veteran of Dave Sharp's 4FW and Brit King Pro, Saime has seen it all and done it all. He is the pride of Swindon, "The Silverback", and absolutely adored in every venue that Brit King step foot in. On top of that, he is amazingly agile for a man of his size...or any size for that matter!
The main event certainly had a "big fight" feel to it. The crowd was really into everything Bronson, Saime, Nadia, and Phoenix did. They were desperate to see Saime topple the dastardly champion, Le Stallion. I will say that the main event "style" of Brit King is unlike anything else on the UK indies right now. Their main events are absolutely top notch every single time. You never leave the show feeling disappointed. This match was no exception. Want an over-the-top-to-the-outside dive from Saime onto Bronson and Phoenix? You've got it! Want Bronson and Saime smashing through audience chairs right in front of you? You bet! See some of the chaos below...
For those paying attention, myself and Susie had to move pretty quickly when Saime requested it so that Saime could spear Bronson into the chairs. What a spot! Equally crazy was everyone running over to mock Bronson after the spot (which you'll see in the main highlights video below)....they even nicked Phoenix's baseball cap when he tried to intervene and protect Bronson from the crowd...bloody good stuff. Other highlights included Saime chopping Bronson while Bronson was sat on the lap of someone in the crowd. The chair broke and both Bronson and the audience member crumbled to the floor. It's hard to describe in writing, but everything Saime and Bronson do looks beautiful. Their timing, chemistry, crisp striking, flawlessly executed moves, and pristine selling are really remarkable. Two men at the absolute peak of the craft. I'm absolutely stunned companies like WWE, AEW, and NJPW aren't knocking down the door to sign both of them.
But that wasn't all! We had a turnbuckle crossbody from Saime to Bronson, we had a powerslam from Bronson to Saime ("The Stal" lifts, bro), and we had a scary moonsault from Bronson off the turnbuckle to the outside onto Saime.
After a ref bump, Bronson and Phoenix used the Heavweight Championship to hit Saime in the head...but it wasn't enough! Saime kicked out! So Bronson and Phoenix got the chairs. The con-chair-to missed. Saime ducked. Saime sent Phoenix flying out of the ring...and cracked Bronson in the head with the chair! You don't see that often in 2025! Very memorable spot. After Saime speared Bronson through the audience chairs, he managed to crawl back into the ring before the 10-count, while Bronson did not. Saime was the winner! However, as it was by countout, the Heavyweight Championship remains around the chiseled waist of "The Stallion". Post-match The Kingdom attacked Saime. Saime was saved by Eddie Ryan, and the night ended with Eddie Ryan raising Saime Sahin's hand as the audience roared their approval. Fantastic night, wonderful event.
(Stal laying down on the job...again...)
(Bronson does claim shady refereeing from Drew though)
After the event concluded, it was time for the usual meet-and-greet, which I'd strongly recommend everyone goes to. It's always a great way to cap off an awesome night. I got JD to sign a picture of himself as Thor from Mythos Theatre, chatted to Saime, chatted to KT, chatted to Toby, got to say "hi" to Alex Campbell for the first time, chatted to Curt Atlas, and finally had a long catch-up with Prince Phoenix, which is always a pleasure.
Thanks to Dave and Brit King for another amazing night! We'll be back at Brit King on Sunday the 26th of October in Thatcham for "Imperium", where Curt Atlas will be taking on Eddie Ryan, Prince Phoenix will be taking on former WWE Superstar Brian Kendrick, and Chris Bronson will be defending his Heavyweight Championship against Saime Sahin yet again, only this time it's TLC! We cannot wait!
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