World Association of Wrestling

Last updated

World Association of Wrestling
AcronymWAW
Founded1994
Style Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Headquarters Norwich, Norfolk
Founder(s) Ricky Knight
Sweet Saraya
Jimmy Ocean
Owner(s) Ricky Knight
Sweet Saraya
Zak Knight [1]
Sister Bellatrix Female Warriors
Website https://wawuk.com/

World Association of Wrestling (WAW) is a British independent professional wrestling promotion founded by Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean in 1994 in Norwich, England. It is affiliated with the all-female promotion Bellatrix Female Warriors which is also owned by Saraya Knight. The promotion features British-style wrestling and uses British rules. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean formed WAW in 1994 in Norwich. [2] [3] Ocean left the business after approximately one year. [4] In 2005, Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya formed the World Association of Women's Wrestling, although the name was later changed to Bellatrix Female Warriors. [5]

In 2014, WAW ran more than 100 shows. [5] In September 2016, WAW began airing on Mustard TV. [2] American wrestler Scott Hall was previously a backstage agent for the promotion, working behind the scenes at television tapings and appeared in an on-screen authority role as WAW Commissioner. [1]

The promotion was featured in the 2012 Channel 4 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family about the Knight family. [1] It was featured in the film Fighting with My Family , which was based on the documentary. [1]

Former Norwich City striker Grant Holt and 2012 Olympics boxing bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo both began their wrestling careers with WAW. [6]

In 2020, WAW was featured in another documentary, this time on BBC Three. A four-part series, Step Into The Ring followed the lives of five young wrestlers battling against physical and mental health issues to pursue professional careers under the guidance of Zak Knight. [7]

WAW Academy

The promotion also includes a wrestling school, The WAW Academy. [3] [5] Trainees perform for both WAW and Bellatrix Female Warriors. [5] The academy trains wrestlers of all ages, including children. [5] Interest in the school increased after Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya's daughter Saraya-Jade was signed by the WWE in 2011. [5] Zak Knight and Sweet Saraya are the head trainers at the academy, but they also bring in guest trainers, as well. [1] Past guest trainers have included Scott Hall, Dave Taylor, Mr. Anderson, Steve Grey, Mal Sanders, Marty Jones, Jonny Storm, Dean Allmark, and more.

Championships

Current

ChampionshipChampion(s)PreviousDate wonDaysReference
WAW World Heavyweight ChampionshipSwede Roy Knight 23 November 2024138+ [8]
WAW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe Staff (Mr. Hayward & Sir Ryan Matthews)Vacant [Note 1] 17 August 2024236+ [9]
WAW World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipSir Ryan MatthewsMitchell Starr28 February 202541+ [10]
WAW European Heavyweight ChampionshipSwedeMitchell Starr26 August 2024227+ [11]
WAW British Heavyweight ChampionshipNathan Black RKJ 18 October 2024174+ [12]
WAW People's ChampionshipPJ KnightJust James18 October 2024174+ [13]
WAW Under-23 ChampionshipJaiden DocwraDillon Slade19 February 20221,146+ [14]
WAW Academy ChampionshipRocket RaistlinPatrick Patterson1 February 202568+ [15]
WAW Academy Tag Team ChampionshipThe YPC (CT & Carlton)The Ringmasters (Steven Willett & Oliver Campbell)16 September 2023572+ [16]

Retired

ChampionshipLast champion(s)Date wonDate retiredPrevious champion(s)First champion(s)Reference
WAW International ChampionshipBrody Steele22 September 20182019Aaron O'MalleyAaron O'Malley [17]
WAW Television Championship RKJ 5 May 20182019Alexander Young RKJ [18]
RQW World Heavyweight Championship Luke Hawx 19 March 201614 May 2016 Roy Knight Robbie Brookside [19]
RQW European Tag Team ChampionshipThe UK Hooligans (Zak Knight and Roy Knight)1 May 201514 May 2016K4 (King Kendo and Karl Kramer)Team Charming (Jack Storm and Dave Moralez) [20]
RQW European Cruiserweight ChampionshipMitchell Starr22 May 20165 June 2016Peter Nixon Bubblegum [21]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Staff (Mr. Hayward & Sir Ryan Matthews) defeated Brad Slayer & RKJ for the vacant titles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Evans, Aaron (April 30, 2017). "Zak Knight talks about the growth of WAW, Paige's future and The Rock falling in love with his family". Memorabilia Guy. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Hannant, David (August 12, 2016). "World Association of Wrestling set to hit the screens of Mustard TV". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "The History of WAW". WAW. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  4. ↑ "INTERVIEW: ZAK KNIGHT, SWEET SARAYA AND RICKY KNIGHT". The Student Pocket Guide. July 1, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murphy, Dan. "Europeans stars ready to shine at Bellatrix 8". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  6. ↑ "From Premier League player to wrestler, Grant Holt on his love of grappling, meeting Billy Gunn and WWE". Talksport.
  7. ↑ "BBC Three - Step into the Ring". BBC. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  8. ↑ "WAW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "WAW World Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "WAW World Light Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "WAW European Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "WAW British Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "WAW People's Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "WAW Under-23 Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "WAW Academy Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "WAW Academy Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "WAW International Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  18. ↑ "WAW Television Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  19. ↑ "RQW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ "RQW European Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "RQW European Cruiserweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
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