Tag: progress

Dijak chats with PWI about winning gold in London, tangling with Hollywood actors, and why PROGRESS Wrestling is a big priority for him.

WHEN YOU’RE AS WELL-TRAVELED a professional wrestler as Donovan Dijak is, there are very few new experiences to unlock. For someone who has been a big-time player in ROH, WWE, MLW, and many other places, the man himself typically knows what to expect when he takes a booking. When he caught a plane to London recently for an appearance on a PROGRESS Wrestling show, not even Dijak could have predicted what lay in store. Then again, it’s not every day you fly thousands of miles to beat up a legit Hollywood A-lister.

PWI: You went into Chapter 199: Bonestorm and officially ended Paul Walter Hauser’s 556-day reign as PROGRESS Wrestling Proteus champion. Sure, 556 days is a long time … but some people might say that maybe he didn’t do a lot during that time. Going in there, the fans were obviously behind you, and I don’t think it’s unfair to say that they were desperate to see you dethrone Hauser for the belt. What were your thoughts going into the match? 

DD: I don’t know if they were desperate to see me dethrone him. I think they were desperate to see anybody dethrone him. They didn’t even know I was in the building until my music hit. I thought the build was absolutely tremendous. I haven’t been, you know, directly a part of the build. Obviously, Damo and Paul did a tremendous job … whether it was an intentional decision or unintentional decision around, you know, (Hauser’s) long absences and the lack of defenses, or whatever it happened to be. It created a moment where the crowd absolutely despised him. I’ve been around a lot of “heat” in professional wrestling, but that was some of the more sort of realistic feeling heat that I’ve experienced in my time. It felt like people were genuinely unpleased with (Hauser) and his attitude and his schedule and things like that. And it all just culminated in a wonderful storyline, an incredible build, an incredible reaction.

PWI: There was even an “if Hauser wins, we riot” sign in the crowd. Obviously, he plays that villain role very well, and he seems to “get it.” Speak just a little bit on that, and what you’ve seen his approach be.

DD: Well, to be fair, I think he plays every role really well. I mean, we’re talking about one of the best modern actors in the world right now. So, he’s obviously extremely talented when it comes to portraying multiple different characters. But in terms of professional wrestling specifically, yes, he does absolutely understand the nuances of, you know, storytelling, and good versus evil, and how that’s portrayed in a pro wrestling setting. So yeah, he’s just unbelievably prepared. He is unbelievably invested in everything, especially in this particular setting, because both he and I have known each other for a while now, and we’ve wanted this. You mentioned the sign. I guess it was more than a sign. It was a bit like a bed sheet or something like that. It was so big. After I won the championship, I made the decision to go up on the balcony and pose right in front of it. And God, I didn’t even know that was there. I just made a decision to go up on the balcony just on a whim. And where I happened to be just happened to be right in front of that sign, which, in hindsight, is really cool, because it adds some of those old ECW Hammerstein Ballroom vibes.

PWI: This year, PROGRESS Wrestling got new owners in Big Damo and Nikki Storm. Give us your insight on how fun it is to be a part of what they’re doing.

DD: (They have) an unbelievable level of commitment, dedication, and passion. And I don’t I just say these things lightly. Damo knows this: If he was half-assing it, I would just nod and be like, “Yeah, it’s going to be a great show.” I’m not going to do that with him. I’m a very, very, very upfront and honest person when it comes to these operations, because I think that’s extremely important. It’s extremely important for transparency. It’s extremely important for trust. And I think anyone who’s followed me trusts that when I make a recommendation or if I say something about something, I genuinely mean it. Damo and Nikki are doing an unbelievable job with PROGRESS. I see what they’re sacrificing. I see what they’re investing. I see their passion and dedication behind the scenes constantly. The level (of effort) that they’re putting into to continuing to build PROGRESS is genuinely unprecedented. And I’m so excited to be part of it.

PWI: The Proteus championship sort of lends itself to being allowed to be a bit more creative and to color outside the lines a little bit. Is there anything creatively that you’re looking to do as Proteus champion?

DD: I just found out, like legitimately at the merch table after the show. Because I knew I’d heard about this championship before. I’d heard different stipulations and things like that. But I found out from one of the fans that I was talking to, because I wanted like, a definitive breakdown. They told me that historically, the Proteus champion gets to decide what the match stipulation is every single time. I don’t know whether it’s going to continue to be that, but if it is, that’s awesome. I’m going to embrace it just like I embrace anything that’s unique. Or if the goal is just, “hey, elevate that championship,” then that’s my goal. You know, in my mind, this is the number one championship in all of PROGRESS right now, and I’m going to build it that way, and I’m going to defend it that way. I’m going to wear it at every single show that I’m on across the world. I want it to be represented well. I want it to be defended well. I want it to have unbelievable matches attached to its name. It’s the sort of sense of pride that I that I brought to the North American championship when I was in NXT. I never actually won the NXT North American championship, but I think anyone who’s a fan of NXT would kind of put my name up there as being synonymous with the North American championship. I was someone who worked endlessly to build that championship. And you know, anyone can be a champion, but building a championship takes time and heart and dedication and passion. So, that’s my goal right now for this championship. Whatever I’m told is the direction for the Proteus championship, I’m going to adhere to those guidelines, and I’m going to go above and beyond to make sure that it flourishes.

Damo and Nikki are doing an unbelievable job with PROGRESS. I see what they’re sacrificing. I see what they’re investing […] And I’m so excited to be part of it.

PWI: If You could say something to longtime fans of PROGRESS Wrestling, or even fans checking it out for the first time, maybe because of your match against Hauser, what would you say?

DD: I work for many companies all over the world. As an independent contractor, you have to make decisions (about where you’re going to work), and I can tell you unequivocally right now, PROGRESS is at the top of my list for what I’m prioritizing in 2027. In PROGRESS. I’m seeing people who are fighting and scratching and clawing to be the best presentation of themselves and of the company that they can possibly be. And I love that.