{{short description|British professional wrestling promotion}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox wrestling promotion |name = Progress Wrestling |image = ProgressWrestlingLogo.jpg |caption = Progress Wrestling's logo |acronym = Progress |established = 2011 |folded = |style = [[Professional wrestling]]<br />[[Sports entertainment]] |location = [[London]], [[England]] |owner = [[Damian Mackle]]<br />[[Nicola Glencross]] |founder = [[Jim Smallman]]<br />Jon Briley |parent = |sister = |formerly = |merged = [[DEFY Wrestling]] |split = |predecessor = |successor = |website = [http://www.progresswrestling.com ProgressWrestling.com] |image_size=280px}} '''Progress Wrestling''' (stylized as PROGRESS) is a British [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion]] that was established in 2011 by comedian [[Jim Smallman]], events and comedy promoter Jon Briley, and later, actor Glen Robinson (professionally known as [[Glen Joseph]]). Since 2026, the company has been co-owned by [[Damian Mackle]] (known as Big Damo) and [[Nicola Glencross]] (known as Nikki Storm).<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Former WWE stars Nikki Cross and ... |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-wwe-stars-nikki-cross-172006368.html |website=Yahoo Sports |date= |access-date=2026-05-26}}</ref>
==History== Progress was conceived by [[Jim Smallman]] and Jon Briley in 2011, who were both wrestling fans. Smallman is a fan of "[[strong style]]" wrestling, Japanese in particular, and Briley was Smallman's agent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rehal|first=Sumit|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/progress-wrestling--if-we-didnt-have-such-talented-guys-in-britain-then-the-promotion-wouldnt-be-doing-as-well-as-it-is-says-cofounder-jim-smallman-9436076.html|title=Progress Wrestling – 'If we didn't have such talented guys in Britain, then the promotion wouldn't be doing as well as it is,' says co-founder Jim Smallman|date=26 May 2014|access-date=14 August 2014|work=The Independent|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531014103/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/progress-wrestling--if-we-didnt-have-such-talented-guys-in-britain-then-the-promotion-wouldnt-be-doing-as-well-as-it-is-says-cofounder-jim-smallman-9436076.html|archive-date=31 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In 2015, Progress appeared for five nights at [[Download Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://downloadfestival.co.uk/news/progress-wrestling-set-wreak-havoc-download-2015 |title=Progress Wrestling set to wreak 'havoc' at Download 2015 | Download Festival 2015 |access-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105133/http://downloadfestival.co.uk/news/progress-wrestling-set-wreak-havoc-download-2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In December of that year, they began running regular shows at [[The Ritz (Manchester)|The Ritz]] in Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progresswrestling.com/chapter24news/ |title=MASSIVE Announcement Regarding Chapter 24 in December… on Sale Tonight! ‹ This. Is. Progress. |access-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701190248/http://www.progresswrestling.com/chapter24news/ |archive-date=1 July 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 30 September 2018, Progress Wrestling held "Hello Wembley" at [[Wembley Arena]]. Billed by the promotion as the largest independent wrestling show in England for 30 years, the event drew 4,750 people; making it the most attended event in Progress Wrestling history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/progress-wrestling-attendance-record| title=Progress wrestling attendance record|website=411mania.com}}</ref>
In 2016, the company began working relationships with other promotions. At Chapter 29 on 24 April in London, Progress hosted two qualifying matches for the [[WWE Cruiserweight Classic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Another Indie Promotion To Host WWE Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifying Matches|date=27 March 2016 |url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0327/609031/another-indie-promotion-to-host-wwe-global-cruiserweight-series/|access-date=2016-03-28|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331030111/http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0327/609031/another-indie-promotion-to-host-wwe-global-cruiserweight-series/|archive-date=31 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2017, Progress wrestlers such as [[Pete Dunne (wrestler)|Pete Dunne]], [[Tyler Bate]], [[Trent Seven]], and [[Mark Andrews (wrestler)|Mark Andrews]] participated in the [[WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament]], culminating in Bate being crowned the first ever [[NXT United Kingdom Championship|WWE UK Champion]].{{fact|date=December 2021}}
Smallman left Progress at the end of 2019 after Chapter 100. In June 2020, Progress reacted to [[Speaking Out movement|reports of sexual harassment]] in the British independent circuit. After several accusations had been circulating of behaviour at other wrestling promotions, Progress decided to no longer work with David Starr, Travis Banks, and El Ligero, as well as suspending indefinitely then- Tag team Champions Jordan Devlin and Scotty Davis, who vacated the titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/progress-updates-list-of-talent-departures-no-longer-working-with-travis-banks-and-ligero/|title = 411Mania}}</ref> Ring announcer and creative team member Matt Richards also left the promotion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/progress-ring-announcer-and-creative-matt-richards-leaves-company/|title = 411Mania}}</ref> On 21 June 2020, it was announced that Glen Joseph was stepping down with Michael Oku, Vicky Haskins and James Amner all taking prominent roles in the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ThisIs_Progress/status/1274809335240105985|title=When it comes to PROGRESS, huge change is needed and huge change has begun: Glen Robinson and Matt Richards are stepping away. @VickyHaskins is involved, @lucefromsocials is involved, @jamesamner is involved & I am involved. More on this tomorrow - Michael Oku|website=Twitter}}</ref> By the time the company returned to running shows, only James Amner would remain involved, and Amner played a key part in the future ownership of the company.
In 2021, Progress announced its return amidst the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], travelling to South London to set up a temporary home at Theatre Peckham for Chapter 104: Natural Progression on 20 February, eventually producing 23 shows behind closed doors which featured on the WWE Network. On 31 December that year, ahead of their return to live shows in January 2022, it was announced that Progress had been acquired by Lee McAteer and Martyn Best - taking over ownership from Briley.
On 9 February 2024, it was announced that PROGRESS Wrestling would merge with [[DEFY Wrestling]], an independent promotion based in [[Seattle]], Washington in the United States. It was created to bring a "global presence" to both brands and aid further expansion plans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Currier |first=Joseph |date=9 February 2024 |title=PROGRESS & Defy Wrestling announce merger |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/indies/progress-defy-wrestling-announce-merger |work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location= |access-date=}} </ref>
On 26 May 2026, it was announced that both PROGESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling were both purchased by [[Big Damo]] and [[Nikki Storm]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=lee |date=26 May 2026 |title=Big Damo & Nikki Cross acquire PROGRESS Wrestling - PROGRESS Wrestling - Watch on Hooked On Wrestling TV |url=https://progresswrestling.com/big-damo-nikki-cross-acquire-progress-wrestling/ |access-date=26 May 2026 |website=progresswrestling.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Demand Progress Plus== ''Demand Progress Plus'' is Progress' [[video-on-demand]] service that launched in 2023, replacing the previous service on Pivotshare.<ref>{{cite web|title=Progress Wrestling Launch Their On Demand Service|url=https://wrestleropesuk.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/progress-wrestling-launch-their-on-demand-service/|website=WrestleRopes UK|date=22 March 2015|access-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815070944/https://wrestleropesuk.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/progress-wrestling-launch-their-on-demand-service/|archive-date=15 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
January 2017 had seen the first episode of ''Freedom's Road'', a new series from Progress which would feature matches taped specifically for the show and have a heavy focus on characters and plots.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perry|first1=Ian|title=Progress Wrestling: Freedom's Road Debut Episode TV Report|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/107349/progress-wrestling-freedoms-road-debut-episode-tv-report.html?p=1|website=PWInsider|access-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815070500/http://www.pwinsider.com/article/107349/progress-wrestling-freedoms-road-debut-episode-tv-report.html?p=1|archive-date=15 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Championships== As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}. === Men's division === ;Singles {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:#fcfdff; font-size:85%;" |- !Championship || colspan=2|Current champion(s) || Reign || Date won || Days held || Location || Notes || {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- |[[PROGRESS World Championship]] |[[File:Cara Noir 16 Carat Gold 2020 N3 (4).jpg|90px]] |[[Cara Noir]] |2 |3 May 2026 |{{age in days|3 May 2026}} |[[London, England]] |align=left|Defeated [[Man Like DeReiss]] in a [[no disqualification match]] at Night 1 of ''[[Progress Chapter 194: Super Strong Style 16 Tournament Edition 2026|Chapter 194: Super Strong Style 16]].'' |<ref name="Noir2">{{cite web|last=Vetter|first=Chris|title=Progress Wrestling “Super Strong Style 16, Day 1” results (5/3): Vetter’s review of the Super Strong Style 16 tournaments, Man Like DeReiss vs. Cara Noir in a No DQ match for the Progress Title|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/03/progress-wrestling-super-strong-style-16-day-1-results-5-3-vetters-review-of-the-super-strong-style-16-tournaments-man-like-dereiss-vs-cara-noir-in-a-no-dq-match-for-the-progress-title/|website=[[Pro Wrestling Dot Net]]|date=May 3, 2026|access-date=May 4, 2026}}</ref> |- |[[Progress Wrestling Atlas Championship]] |[[File:Gene Munny, Discovery Wrestling October 2025 - 03.jpg|90px]] |[[Gene Munny]] |2 |15 February 2026 |{{age in days|15 February 2026}} |[[London, England]] |align=left| Defeated [[Saxon Huxley]] at ''[[Progress Chapter 190: In Brightest Day|Chapter 190: In Brightest Day]]''. |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pwponderings.com/2026/02/15/progress-wrestling-2-15-2026-chapter-190-in-brightest-day-results/|title=PROGRESS Wrestling 2/15/2026 Chapter 190: In Brightest Day Results|work=pwponderings.com|first=Scott|last=Mitchell|date=February 15, 2026|access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> |- |[[Progress Wrestling Proteus Championship]] |[[File:Paul Walter Hauser.jpg|90px]] |[[Paul Walter Hauser]] |1 |17 April 2025 |{{age in days|17 April 2025}} |[[Paradise, Nevada]] |align=left| Defeated [[Simon Miller (wrestler)|Simon Miller]], [[Effy (wrestler)|Effy]], [[Adam Priest]] and Charles Crowley in a [[Five-way match|Five-way scramble match]] at ''[[Progress Chapter 179: Progress Las Vegas|Chapter 179: Progress Las Vegas]]''. |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/04/18/progress-wrestling-chapter-179-progress-las-vegas-results-vetters-review-of-luke-jacobs-vs-michael-oku-for-the-progress-title-minoru-suzuki-vs-cara-noir-nina-samuels-vs-rhio-vs-vert-vix/|title=Progress Wrestling "Chapter 179 – Progress Las Vegas" results: Vetter's review of Luke Jacobs vs. Michael Oku for the Progress Title, Minoru Suzuki vs. Cara Noir, Nina Samuels vs. Rhio vs. Vert Vixen for the Progress Women's Title|work=[[Pro Wrestling Dot Net]]|first=Chris|last=Vetter|date=18 April 2025|access-date=19 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419133937/https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/04/18/progress-wrestling-chapter-179-progress-las-vegas-results-vetters-review-of-luke-jacobs-vs-michael-oku-for-the-progress-title-minoru-suzuki-vs-cara-noir-nina-samuels-vs-rhio-vs-vert-vix/|archive-date=19 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |}
====Tag team==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:#fcfdff; font-size:85%;" !Championship !colspan=2 | Current champion(s) !Reign !Date won !Days<br>held !Location !class=unsortable|Notes !class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- |[[PROGRESS Tag Team Championship]] |[[File:Jay-AA Tag Team Experten Wild Card Gauntlet Match (44).jpg|90px]]<br>[[File:Luke Jacobs in April 2025.jpg|90px]] |Young Guns<br>{{small|([[Ethan Allen (wrestler)|Ethan Allen]] and [[Luke Jacobs]])}} |1<br>{{small|(1, 1)}} |29 March 2026 |{{age in days|29 March 2026}} |[[London, England]] |align=left|Defeated Diamond Eyes ([[Connor Mills]] and [[Nico Angelo]]) ([[Jay Joshua]] replaced [[Connor Mills]] in the title match) at ''[[Progress Chapter 192: Cause & Effect|Chapter 192: Cause & Effectprogr]]''. |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pwponderings.com/2026/03/29/progress-wrestling-3-29-2026-chapter-192-cause-and-effect-every-action-has-a-consequence-results/|title=PROGRESS Wrestling 3/29/2026 Chapter 192: Cause And Effect – Every Action Has A Consequence Results|work=pwponderings.com|first=Scott|last=Mitchell|date=March 29, 2026|access-date=March 29, 2026}}</ref> |- |}
=== Women's division === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:#fcfdff; font-size:85%;" |- !Championship !colspan=2 | Current champion(s) !Reign !Date won !Days<br />held !Location !Notes !Ref. |- |[[Progress Wrestling World Women's Championship|Progress Women's Championship]] |[[File:Alexxis Falcon and Charles Crowley (cropped).jpg|90px]] |[[Alexxis Falcon]] |1 |25 January 2026 |{{age in days|25 January 2026}}+ |[[London, England]] |align=left|Defeated [[Lizzy Rain|Rayne Leverkusen]] at ''[[Progress Chapter 189: In Darkest Night|Chapter 189: In Darkest Night]]''. |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/01/26/progress-wrestling-chapter-189-in-darkest-night-results-vetters-review-of-rayne-leverkusen-vs-alexxis-falcon-for-the-progress-womens-title-man-like-dereiss-vs-cara-noir-for-the-progress-t/|title=Progress Wrestling “Chapter 189: In Darkest Night” results: Vetter’s review of Rayne Leverkusen vs. Alexxis Falcon for the Progress Women’s Title, Man Like DeReiss vs. Cara Noir for the Progress Title|work=[[Pro Wrestling Dot Net]]|first=Chris|last=Vetter|date=January 26, 2026|access-date=January 26, 2026}}</ref> |- |}
== Reception ==
Patrick Lennon, wrestling journalist for the ''[[Daily Star (British newspaper)|Daily Star]]'', has attended and reviewed Progress shows.<ref name="Daily Star Review">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/in-the-ring/317513/Every-Saint-Has-A-Past-Every-Sinner-Has-A-Fut-ure-show-is-a-winner|title=Every Saint Has A Past, Every Sinner Has A Future show is a winner|publisher=Daily Star|access-date=2013-12-08}}</ref>
Carrie Dunn, founder and main contributor of wrestling blog "The Only Way is Suplex",<ref name="The Only Way Is Suplex">{{cite web|url=http://theonlywayissuplex.wordpress.com/|title=The Only Way Is Suplex|publisher=Carrie Dunn|access-date=2013-12-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220131519/http://theonlywayissuplex.wordpress.com/|archive-date=20 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> published the book ''Spandex, Screw Jobs & Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling''.<ref name="Spandex, Screw Jobs & Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling">{{cite book|title="Spandex, Screw Jobs & Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling" Amazon listing|id={{ASIN|1909178462|country=uk}}}}</ref> Progress Wrestling features frequently in the book including opening a chapter regarding London based wrestling promotions.<ref name=PROGRESS>{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=Carrie|title=Spandex, Screw Jobs & Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling|publisher=Pitch|year=2013|pages=174–176|chapter=Chapter 11: In the spotlight - London calling|isbn=978-1-909178-46-5}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of major Progress Wrestling events]] * [[List of Progress Wrestling tournaments]] * [[NXT UK (WWE brand)|NXT UK]] - Brand of the U.S-based [[WWE]] from which several Progress talent have competed for.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commonscat}} *{{Official website|https://www.progresswrestling.com/}} * [https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=903 Progress Wrestling (Progress)] at Cagematch.net
{{Progress Wrestling}} {{List of major Progress Wrestling events}} {{navboxes |list1= {{Pro Wrestling Noah}} {{Westside Xtreme Wrestling}} {{WWE}} {{Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom}} }}
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