XWA (professional wrestling)

Last updated

X Wrestling Alliance
AcronymXWA
Founded2007
Style Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Headquarters Sudbury, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Founder(s)Greg Lambert
Owner(s)Dann Read
Sister Pro-Wrestling: EVE
Website http://www.xwauk.com

XWA is a British professional wrestling promotion, based in the English south east town of Sudbury, Suffolk, dealing primarily in the professional wrestling industry. The XWA was formed in March 2007, following the demise of the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, when Greg Lambert formed the new promotion from its ashes and continues to run quarterly events in Morecambe, using FWA titles, some former FWA talent and a lot of new, local, talent. XWA's business focus is on professional wrestling.

Contents

History

Formation and Closure (2007–2012)

Following the closure of the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) after FWA v IPW:UK Final Frontiers at Orpington Halls, Kent on 25 March 2007, Greg Lambert called a press conference announcing that he was unhappy with the circumstances of the FWA's defeat, blaming Robbie Brookside for interfering and costing Flash Barker the Losing Promotion Must Close match with IPW representative Martin Stone. Lambert stated that he intended to start a new promotion, the XWA. In reality, Lambert had wanted to change the name of the promotion from FWA to XWA so he could run the promotion as a storyline-based, family-friendly product centred on its British stars, rather than the more 'American indie-style' company geared towards young adults and with a heavy reliance on overseas imports which the FWA had always been. In summer 2006, Lambert and his business partner Mark Kay agreed to 'put IPW:UK over' in a promotion versus promotion feud to give IPW a boost, and also to give a storyline reason for the demise of the FWA so they could make a completely fresh start.

The new promotion was named 'XWA' because it was close enough to the original name to ensure some semblance of continuity for their regular fans in Morecambe. Lambert said when the promotion was formed that the XWA stood for high quality British wrestling featuring the cream of UK wrestling talent on shows in the best UK wrestling venue (The Morecambe Dome) in front of the hottest crowd in UK wrestling, and also stood for the desire to keep the name of the FWA alive.

To this end, Lambert and Kay continued storylines in Morecambe where they left off when they promoted the first ever XWA show, XWA War on the Shore, on 7 April 2007. The last FWA British Heavyweight Champion, Robbie Brookside, was recognised as XWA British Heavyweight Champion. FWA Flyweight Champion Ross Jordan was now recognised as XWA British Flyweight Champion. However, other former FWA titles did not fall under the banner of the XWA. The XWA has also continued with names of live events that were formerly used by the FWA, such as Vendetta, Goldrush and War on the Shore.

On 11 April 2009 at XWA War on the Shore V, former FWA owner 'The Showstealer' Alex Shane made his return to the Morecambe Dome after a three and a half-year absence. In an angle, British Heavyweight Champion Sam Slam handed Alex the old FWA Heavyweight Title belt which the XWA had continued to use as its main title belt ever since the XWA was formed. In exchange, Shane handed Slam the brand new XWA Title belt. This angle was conceived so Shane could once again take possession of the FWA Title belt ahead of the reformation of the FWA, which was announced a week afterward and also to 'pass the torch' to Slam.

In July 2012 the XWA lost an inter-promotional feud to the North-West promotion Grand Pro Wrestling after XWA roster member Joey Hayes turned on his XWA teammates Rockstar Spud, Jack Clarke, Jynx and XWA British Heavyweight Champion Johnny Phere, giving the GPW team victory in the final elimination tag team contest. The betrayal of Joey Hayes and subsequent loss of his second inter-promotional feud lead to Greg Lambert spiral into depression, cancel all future XWA events and vacating all XWA Championship belts in order to save them from appearing on lesser promotions events.

The cancellation of XWA events led to fans nationwide launching "Bring Back The XWA" Facebook groups, pages and petitions in order to convince the Powerslam journalist to bring back one of the UK's leading professional wrestling promotions but to no avail.

Revival (2014–present)

On 22 August 2014, Greg Lambert released a video of a telephone conversation between him and an unnamed person that revealed he had sold the XWA on and that the promotion was returning on 31 October. The conversation ended with Lambert stating not to mess it up for he'll be watching.

On 13 October, XWA released a video of Kay Lee Ray issuing an open challenge for XWA Please Don't Die on 1 November in Colchester. On 26 October The Suicidal, Suicidal, Suicidal Jimmy Havoc answered the challenge but added the stipulation of 'No Rules'.

On 31 October, XWA returned to The Delphi Centre in Sudbury, Suffolk for their first event in 2 years. Featured on this show was an 8-man tournament for the then vacant XWA British Heavyweight Championship. With Martin Stone defeating 'Loco' Mike Mason, Doug Williams defeating Jimmy Havoc, Damian O'Connor defeating Sam 'Slam' Naylor and James Castle defeating Lord Gideon Grey in a casket match. After the casket match, a dissatisfied Jimmy Havoc attacked James Castle taking him out of the title picture and entering himself back into the four way final. In non-tournament action, Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion Nikki Storm defeated Kay Lee Ray after interference from Jimmy Havoc. In the four way final for the XWA British Heavyweight Championship Damian O'Connor defeated Jimmy Havoc after Kay Lee Ray returned the favour by interfering in his match. [1]

At their next event 'Please Don't Die' on 1 November at the Liquid and Envy nightclub in Colchester, Essex. Nikki Storm successfully defended her Pro-wrestling: EVE Championship against Pollyanna, Damian O'Connor also successfully defended his XWA British Heavyweight Championship against both Paul London and Martin Stone and Kay Lee Ray defeated Jimmy Havoc in a No Rules match. [2]

On 29 November, XWA made its debut at the Evoke nightclub in Chelmsford, Essex for 'We Need A Hero' Damian O'Connor defended the XWA British Heavyweight Championship against Chris Hero and Rhia O'Reilly won the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship from Nikki Storm in a No DQ match. [3]

XWA returned to The Deplhi Centre in Sudbury, Suffolk on 6 February 2015 for 'Goldrush'. Damian O'Connor vs James Castle for the XWA British Heavyweight Championship ended in a no contest after Jimmy Havoc attacked both men with a chair. Rhia O'Reilly successfully defended the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship against Nikki Storm, And Jimmy Havoc won the Goldrush Rumble for a future championship match. [4]

Training centre

The XWA opened its first training centre at Regent Park Studios, Morecambe, in January 2009. The head trainer was formerly 'Deadly' Damon Leigh, who has stepped back from training due to responsibilities in his work as a Police Community Support officer. Training at the Morecambe school is now headed up by Dave Rayne who also teaches at the Manchester-based FutureShock School. The Centres are part of the British Wrestling Council. A second training school opened in Ipswich, Suffolk, in April 2009 under the management of Dann Read and head trainer Ashe.

DVDs

The XWA released its first ever DVD, XWA War on the Shore V, on 4 July 2009, featuring commentary by Greg Lambert and Stallion.

Most recently they have released the event 'Please Don't Die' onto DVD, which is available at shows or through their Facebook store.

Championships

Current champions

ChampionshipCurrent championDate wonEventPrevious champion
XWA British Heavyweight Championship Rhia O'Reilly [5] 17 February 2018XWA/EVE: Equal Fights Cara Noir
XWA Frontier Sports Championship Simon Grimm [6] 23 July 2017XWA 48Vacant [7]
Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship Rhia O'Reilly [8] 30 June 2019Pro-Wrestling: Wrestle QueendomSammii Jayne
XWA Flyweight Championship Vacant28 July 2012XWA vs GPW Vendetta Spud

Other accomplishments

AccomplishmentLatest winnerDate won
Goldrush Cara Noir [6] 11 March 2017
Best of the North WestDeclan O'Connor4 July 2009

See also

Related Research Articles

Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) was a professional wrestling promotion in Britain. Established in 1993 as the Fratton Wrestling Association it soon became the Frontier Wrestling Alliance six years later and until 2007 when it lost a scripted inter-promotional feud with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. As a result of losing the promotion was forced to close and the company XWA was founded, largely based on the old FWA with some old staff and wrestlers as well as some championships. However, in 2009 the FWA brand was relaunched again as a separate promotion to the XWA, running for three more years before folding again in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Storm</span> British professional wrestler

Jonathan Whitcombe is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jonny Storm. He has worked for many independent promotions across the United Kingdom, including the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, Real Quality Wrestling and One Pro Wrestling. He has also worked in the United States, for promotions such as Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as well as working in Japan.

The British Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the XWA. The championship was originally created and contested for in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) but moved to XWA when the former company became defunct. It has also been contested for in Ring of Honor (ROH) due to a working relationship between them and FWA.

The IPW:UK All-England Championship was a professional wrestling championship which was originally contested for in Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) and subsequently in International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW:UK) after FWA's closure. The title was established in 2001 and existed for eight years until it was unified with the IPW:UK Championship in September 2009. The IPW:UK Championship and the All-England Championship were de-unified in 2012 through until the company closing in 2017.

The Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested for in the British Frontier Wrestling Alliance promotion. The title was only contestable by male tag teams and in tag team matches. Being a professional wrestling championship, it was not won legitimately; it was instead won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. The title was active between March 2000 and December 2006, just before the company folded in March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Simmons</span> British professional wrestler

Andrew Simmons, better known by his ring name Andy Boy Simmonz, is a British professional wrestler. He is currently working in the independent circuit in the United Kingdom for several promotions. Simmons' most high-profile work in the UK came in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance under the face gimmick of Simmons the Butler. Simmons later returned to the FWA under the ring name Andy Boy Simmons but remained face. He is the current CWL Heavyweight Champion in the Championship Wrestling League.

Alexander Daniel Spilling is a British professional wrestler and professional wrestling commentator who is best known by his ring name "The Showstealer" Alex Shane. Spilling also works as a promoter, wrestling coach and television producer.

The British Flyweight Championship is a British flyweight professional wrestling championship currently defended in XWA. It was created in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA), a promotion that was closed in 2007. In 2009, FWA announced plans to reopen and initiate a Flyweight Championship tour; it is unknown how this will affect the status of the current British Flyweight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake Maverick</span> British professional wrestler

James Michael Curtin is an English former professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE as a writer on Raw. During his time as an on screen performer in the company, he worked under the ring name Drake Maverick. He has also worked for Impact Wrestling, under the ring name Rockstar Spud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom</span> British professional wrestling promotion

International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom was a British professional wrestling promotion, founded by Daniel Edler. The company was established in 2004 and predominantly promoted events across Kent and the south-east; notably in Orpington, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge, Swanley and lastly Rochester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Redman</span> English professional wrestler (born 1987)

Joel Pettyfer, is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Joel Redman. Pettyfer is best known for his work on the independent circuit in the United Kingdom, where he is a former Unified British Tag Team Champion alongside Mark Haskins in International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom and Real Quality Wrestling and was a regular competitor in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance. He is also known for working in WWE's developmental territory NXT under the ring name Oliver Grey, where he was one half of the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions along with Adrian Neville, often collectively known as British Ambition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Burch</span> British professional wrestler

Martin Harris is an English professional wrestler best known for his time with WWE, where he performed on the NXT brand under the ring name Danny Burch. He is a former one time NXT Tag Team Champion with Oney Lorcan. He has worked in the British independent circuit under the ring name Martin Stone with promotions such as Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA), and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW:UK).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Tighe</span>

James Tighe is a semi-retired English professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with Frontier Wrestling Alliance. He currently competes around the United Kingdom.

Stevie Knight was an English professional wrestler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Haskins</span> British professional wrestler

Mark Haskins, is an English professional wrestler currently signed with Ring of Honor. He is known internationally for his time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as well as his appearances in Progress Wrestling, Revolution Pro Wrestling, Dragon Gate, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Havoc</span> British professional wrestler (born 1984)

James McAhren is a British former professional wrestler best known under the ring name Jimmy Havoc. He is known for his work with Progress Wrestling, Defiant Wrestling, Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), Major League Wrestling (MLW) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Havoc is a former Progress World Champion.

Thomas McGowan is a Scottish professional wrestler, better known by his ring name B. T. Gunn. Gunn is a Wrestling Coach at the GPWA Glasgow Asylum. He also wrestles for numerous promotions in the British independent circuit but is best known for his work with Insane Championship Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killian Dain</span> Irish professional wrestler

Damian Mackle is an Irish professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Killian Dain. Since his departure from WWE, he has reverted back to his ring name on the independent circuit, Big Damo.

Jeremy Barron, better known by the ring name Dr. Reginald Heresy, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, manager, promoter, and trainer. A mainstay of the New England independent circuit, Barron has wrestled in the East Coast, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States since his debut in 1996.

The Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the British professional wrestling promotion Pro-Wrestling: EVE. On 9 April 2011, Britani Knight became the inaugural champion after defeating Nikki Storm in the finals of an 21-woman tournament. Since then, there has been 19 reigns shared among 13 different wrestlers. Alex Windsor is the current champion in her first reign.

References

  1. ↑ "XWA Wrestling 'Revival' Results *NEW CHAMPION". November 2014.
  2. ↑ "XWA Wrestling 'Please Don't Die' Results". Wrestle Ropes. November 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "XWA Wrestling 'We Need A Hero' Results *NEW CHAMPION*". Wrestle Ropes. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "XWA Wrestling 'Goldrush Rumble' Results". Wrestle Ropes. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "#Results: XWA X EVE (@XWAUK @ProWrestlingEVE) "WrestleFriends: Equal Fights!" *Title Change*". 17 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  6. 1 2 "#Results: XWA (@XWAUK) "45: Saturday Night Wrestling" *New Champion*". 12 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "XWA Wrestling 'The Summer SuperShow' FULL Results". Wrestle Ropes. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Results". cagematch.net. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.