Malakai Black is the new PROGRESS World Champion.
Black defeated Cara Noir in the main event of Sunday’s Odyssey Tour stop at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, England, on September 6. It’s his first PROGRESS World Championship, and it ends the second reign of the “Black Swan” with the promotion’s top title.
Noir had held the championship since May 3, when he beat Man Like DeReiss in a No Disqualification match at Super Strong Style 16. His reign ended at 126 days. Before facing Black, Noir retained over Charles Crowley in July and over Spike Trivet on August 31.
The win also closes out a long chase for Black. As Tommy End, he challenged for the PROGRESS World Championship on several occasions but never won it. Until now, his biggest individual accomplishment with the promotion had been winning Super Strong Style 16 in 2016.
The Manchester match was the third of three dates PROGRESS had announced for Black on the Odyssey Tour. He was booked against Dijak on September 4 in Edinburgh, then in a tag team match alongside Daz Black against Luke Jacobs and Tommy Tanner the following night in Leeds.