PROGRESS Wrestling under new ownership

[ANuclearError]

(London, England) PROGRESS Wrestling, the world’s leading independent professional wrestling company confirms that they will return to live shows in 2022 under brand new ownership, heralding an exciting new dawn in the history of the UK’s most exciting wrestling promotion.

PROGRESS Chapter 127: “ … and the word was PROGRESS” will take place at the spiritual home of PROGRESS, The Electric Ballroom in Camden, London on Sunday 23rd January 2022. The show will be main-evented by PROGRESS World Champion, Cara Noir defending his coveted title against Liverpool’s Chris Ridgeway in a first-to-three falls bout.

This return to live shows will come with new owners at the helm of PROGRESS Wrestling. The company has been purchased by Lee McAteer and Martyn Best, directors of English Football League Two stalwarts Tranmere Rovers FC. McAteer and Best will bring their wealth of business and sporting experience to bear to ensure PROGRESS returns strongly to live events and builds upon the success of the past.

Full statement: progresswrestling.com/blogs/news/progress-wrestling-returns-in-2022-with-new-ownership

The Coronavirus pandemic brought a dark cloud over British & Irish wrestling, causing a lot people like myself to become disillusioned with the scene. However, I was still intrigued by this news, especially considering the new owner's will be leveraging their experience at Tranmere Rovers for this. They definitely have a tough challenge in rebuilding goodwill in the current landscape.

I am interested in how this will impact their relationship with WWE, I was under the impression that WWE had an agreed option to buy them or ICW for an already agreed upon amount.

[eJm]

Didn’t they try the new ownership thing before and it backfired badly?

But at the very least, it’s people outside the business so the less chance of them being wrapped up in wrestling stuff.

I also think the stuff with UK promotions under WWE deals never really got proven so if anything, this entire thing rules the ownership stuff out completely.

[CeilingFan]

I hope they are willing to open the Forbidden Door.

[Alice Syndrome]

Dec 31, 2021 15:35:49 GMT -5 eJm said:

Didn’t they try the new ownership thing before and it backfired badly?

But at the very least, it’s people outside the business so the less chance of them being wrapped up in wrestling stuff.

I also think the stuff with UK promotions under WWE deals never really got proven so if anything, this entire thing rules the ownership stuff out completely.

It was still owned by Jon Briley before, but managed by several other people

[eJm]

Dec 31, 2021 15:48:11 GMT -5 Alice Syndrome said:

Dec 31, 2021 15:35:49 GMT -5 eJm said:

Didn’t they try the new ownership thing before and it backfired badly?

But at the very least, it’s people outside the business so the less chance of them being wrapped up in wrestling stuff.

I also think the stuff with UK promotions under WWE deals never really got proven so if anything, this entire thing rules the ownership stuff out completely.

It was still owned by Jon Briley before, but managed by several other people

Ahh, gotcha.