As noted on Tuesday, WWE Network and Peacock are set to end the airing of non-WWE indie content soon. This goes for PROGRESS Wrestling, ICW, and wXw. You can click here for our original report, with more on the availability of the programming.
In an update, a new report from Fightful Select points to how PROGRESS does not seem worried about losing the exposure from WWE. It was noted that in many ways, a lot of restrictions are being lifted off the companies.
PROGRESS in the UK issued the following statement on the matter, noting that WWE and PROGRESS fans will benefit from new digital media strategies being pursued by the companies.
PROGRESS also revealed that they are in talks with “a number of high profile global digital media and streaming options” for the future, while also plugging their return to the United States for WrestleMania 39 Weekend in Los Angeles, and the new sponsorship with WrestleTours.
PROGRESS co-owners Lee McAteer and Martyn Best also provided comments in the statement. They thanked WWE and wished them the best in the future. You can see the full statement below:
PROGRESS Wrestling‘s first show of 2023 was named START SPREADING THE NEWS for a very clear reason, and they can now confirm that its very positive and long-standing partnership with WWE Network is coming to a harmonious end.
After six years and nearly 50 shows, both promotions are pursuing different digital media strategies, and fans of both WWE and PROGRESS are going to be the beneficiaries.
As one chapter closes, so they say, another one opens, and PROGRESS management can confirm that they are in discussions with a number of high profile global digital media and streaming options.
PROGRESS own an unrivalled video library containing more than a decade’s worth of the best of independent wrestling, showcasing many household names that have wrestled at PROGRESS over the course of the past 11 years.
Wrestlers such as Pete Dunne, Toni Storm, Walter (current WWE Intercontinental champion, now known as Gunther), Adam Cole, AEW World Champion MJF, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay and Matt Riddle, to name just a few, have competed and enhanced their careers at PROGRESS Wrestling during this period.
This extensive content library has more than 650 hours, featuring 170 shows, which resulted in PROGRESS Wrestling being the biggest independent wrestling company to feature on the WWE Network.
DEMAND PROGRESS
Fans will still be able to access their content library via DEMAND PROGRESS and Chapter 148 will be their first show since 2016 to feature exclusively here.
PROGRESS Returns to the USA!
Further news announced at the eponymous chapter is that PROGRESS will be returning to the US in March at Los Angeles and linking up with WWE’s showcase WrestleMania39.
They also announced their first commercial sponsor in WrestleTours who are taking over 150 U.K. fans to WrestleMania.
What’s next for PROGRESS Wrestling?
They have a stacked card for their first event of 2023 at the Electric Ballroom, London, with six women competing in the Thunderbastard match.
PROGRESS Women’s Champion Lana Austin will go head to head against Session Moth Martina for the title, and PROGRESS Men’s World Champion Spike Trivet will put his championship on the line against Gene Munny.
Away from title defences, US star Lio Rush will make his PROGRESS Wrestling debut against Danny Black, and Warren Banks will compete for the first time after his lengthy injury, teaming up with Big Damo to face The 0121 in tag team action.
The first show of the year is certainly one not to be missed, and tickets are still available to purchase by HERE.
What did PROGRESS have to say?
PROGRESS co-owners Martyn Best and Lee McAteer said: “First of all, we want to say thank you to the WWE for a fantastic six year relationship and we wish them all the very best for the future.
“We are very excited for what the future now holds for PROGRESS Wrestling and we are currently in discussions with several high profile streaming platforms. Our US show during WrestleMania 39 is an exciting venture and we can only say that our recent decisions put us between a Rock and a hard place.
“This is the first of a number of important announcements we have coming up in the next two months, and there is no better place to start than just before our conveniently named first show of the year, START SPREADING THE NEWS.
“We would also like to say thank you to all of the fans for their support in 2022, our comeback year and for their continued support and with Sunday’s show marking the first not to be aired on the WWE Network for many years, we hope to see a great audience to watch an action packed show filled with our awesome talent.”
Back in August 2020 WWE began airing indie content from PROGRESS Wrestling in the UK, wXw in Germany, and ICW in the UK. They also aired EVOLVE programming, but the company purchased EVOLVE in July 2020.
PROGRESS Chapter 148, also known as “START SPREADING THE NEWS,” will take place this Sunday, January 22 from the Electric Ballroom in London, England.
Stay tuned to WrestlingHeadlines.com for more.
Follow Marc on Twitter at @this_is_marc. Send any news, tips or corrections to us by clicking here.
