PROGRESS Wrestling Chapter 3: Fifty Shades of Pain (FSM 88; Dec 12)

Information - DVD Region: All Regions - Distributor: PROGRESS Wrestling - Price: £10 - Other info: 138 mins - Release: Out now - Weblink: www.ProgressWrestling.com

Both previous PROGRESS Wrestling DVDs received very favourable reviews in these pages. However, both were also dogged by a problem that we may as well start with here, as it's the only downside to Chapter 3: Fifty Shades Of Pain. Indeed, the camerawork still needs to be addressed; on the hard camera, not only can we see equipment at the bottom of the screen, including a remarkably distracting monitor, but also the occasional back of a head. Other camera shots suffer from very poor focus, and exhibit a very distinct drop in quality. Three shows in, this is approaching inexcusable.

Making it worse, in some ways, is that this DVD offers another fine event that expertly balances strong characters with a unique UK twist on hard-hitting grappling.

Noam Dar lights up the opener with a fine bout with Paul Robinson. There's plenty of character work by the cocky Scotsman here, while Robinson acquits himself well, winning over the Islington crowd in the process. Xander Cooper also shows off his ability to agitate the faithful, in a battle with Mark Andrews that has the audience in full song. RJ Singh takes on Rob Cage in a showcase for his gimmick, while Stixx demolishes Lion Kid in a bizarrely long squash.

In the first doubles act, The London Riots (Rob Lynch and James Davis) square off with the remarkably-named Bastard Squad (Darrell Allen and Danny Garnell). This is a real brawl, complete with some super-stiff moments and notable feats of strength.

The main event, though, is different class, as Nathan Cruz and El Ligero battle Greg Burridge and Dave Mastiff in a fine example of four of the UK's best being placed in a scenario that really brings out their individual characteristics.

Rewinding just a touch, the best scrap of the evening comes in the middle of the show, as the intensity is turned up high for Jon Ryan's initially technical outing opposite Jimmy Havoc. As a "no-blood, non-hardcore" tussle, the story revolves around sticking to sportsmanship, until Ryan introduces a frying pan as a weapon. The remainder of the bout is quite the spectacle, offering both a bundle of fun and a bucket of blood. There's some horrific use of thumbtacks to wince your way through, in addition to a genuinely terrifying table bump.

All in all, PROGRESS' short history has seen them put on some excellent shows, but as of yet, they're a step or two away from capturing that essence on disc.