Welsh Wrestling

Welsh Wrestling is the only national Welsh professional wrestling promotion. Neath-based Alan Ravenhill is the founder and promoter of the group, which was established in 2004 and holds live events all across the country.

Overview

Welsh Wrestling is the only national Welsh professional wrestling promotion, holding live professional wrestling events across the length and breadth of Wales. The shows combine athleticism, drama and fun, with each having The Primary goal of giving each paying customer an enjoyable and action-packed night out. The product is family-orientated sports entertainment, catering for adults and especially children, while aiming to provide humour, excitement and overall enjoyment for both. The actual wrestling is hybrid of American wrestling and traditional British wrestling, with contests most often contested under ‘one-fall’ rules. Each match is overseen by a referee, dressed in traditional bow-tie and shirt, with a smartly-attired MC hosting the evening's entertainment. Wrestlers on the card will typically be larger-than-life, both in persona and physique – with the heroes drawing influence from wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan, Big Daddy and Rey Mysterio and the villains bringing with them traits popularised by past performers Kendo Nagasaki, Ravishing Rick Rude, Superstar Billy Graham and others.

Throughout each year, the roster (promoted as Superstars of Wrestling) perform in front of several thousand fans at primarily theatre-based venues. The live events run around two hours in duration, with a short interval, and are typically headlined by either a Battle Royal, Royal Rumble or multi-man tag team match, with an array of singles bouts on the undercard. At the conclusion of each event, Welsh Wrestling offers a Backstage Pass – allowing spectators to meet the evening's wrestlers, take photographs with them and collect autographs. Traditional wrestling merchandise, including foam hands, is commonplace at the shows, and adds to the colourful, carnival-like atmosphere.

The Welsh Wrestling touring roster consists of wrestlers with experience from WWE, TNA Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Michinoku Pro Wrestling and promotions across Europe. WWE NXT athletes Oliver Grey and Gavin Reid worked extensively for Welsh Wrestling prior to signing their developmental contracts and moving to the United States. Reid, who competes in Welsh Wrestling as Stevie Starr, is the most prominent graduate of the promotion's training school and took on rising star Roman Reigns on WWE television.

International stars

In the early days of Welsh Wrestling, international talents including Billy Kidman, Chad Collyer and Joe E. Legend were brought in for various big events. However, in recent years the promotion has maintained a policy of promoting quality domestic talent. Among the WWE superstars to have plied their trade in a Welsh Wrestling ring are the former Intercontinental Champion, Wade Barrett. Promoter Alan Ravenhill also helped to introduce Impact Wrestling star Rob Terry to the wrestling business, after a chance encounter in the Swansea area in the mid-2000s. Through his association with Orig Williams, Ravenhill has been a long-time advocate of North Wales grappler Mason Ryan.

Celebrity involvement

In 2012, former Liberal Democrat MP and media personality Lembit Opik became embroiled in a feud with Welsh Wrestling's Kade Callous, with the dispute covered by The Guardian,The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Metro, The Daily Star, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Huffington Post and other media outlets. The key incidents between The Two, culminating in a tag team match in Welshpool, drew television coverage on both BBC News and ITN News, as well as entertainment programmes The Wright Stuff and Have I Got News For You. National radio station talkSPORT also covered the story, which appeared on the MSN, AOL and Orange websites and spread as far as Albania, Croatia and Opik's homeland of Estonia. The Premiership footballer and Wales captain Ashley Williams of Swansea City has also appeared in Welsh Wrestling, participating in an in-ring angle with Mean Tommy Dean at a live event in Llanelli.

Venues

South Wales

• Aberdare Coliseum
• Ammanford Miners Theatre
• Barry Memorial Hall
• Bedwas Workman's Hall
• Blaengarw Workman's Hall
• Blaenavon Workman's Institute
• Blackwood Miners Institute
• Bridgend Recreation Centre
• Brynmawr Market Hall Cinema
• Cardiff St. David's Hall
• Caldicot Leisure Centre
• Carmarthen Lyric Theatre
• Cwmaman Institute
• Cwmbran Congress Theatre
• Ferndale Rhondda Fach Sports Centre
• Gilfach Goch GGCA
• Llandeilo Civic Hall
• Llanelli Y Ffwrnes
• Llanhilleth Institute
• Llantrisant Leisure Centre
• Maesteg Town Hall
• Merthyr Tydfil Dowlais Centre
• Monmouth Blake Theatre
• Newport Centre
• Pontardawe Leisure Centre
• Pontypridd Muni Arts Centre
• Porthcawl Grand Pavilion
• Port Talbot Princess Royal Theatre
• Swansea Penyrheol Theatre
• Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall

Mid, North and West Wales

• Aberystwyth Plascrug Leisure Centre
• Anglesey Beaumaris Theatre
• Bala Neuadd Buddug
• Blaenau Ffestiniog Moelwyn Leisure Centre
• Brecon Theatr Brycheiniog
• Builth Wells Wyeside Arts Centre
• Caernarfon Arfon Leisure Centre
• Carmarthen Lyric Theatre
• Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre
• Fishguard Theatr Gwaun
• Harlech Castle
• Knighton Community Centre
• Lampeter Victoria Hall
• Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre
• Llangollen Town Hall
• Llanrwst Dyffryn Conwy Leisure Centre
• Machynlleth Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre
• Narberth Queen's Hall
• Newtown Elephant and Castle Hotel
• Pembroke Dock Pater Hall
• Porthmadog Y Ganolfan
• Rhyl Pavilion Theatre
• Rhayader Leisure Centre
• Welshpool Town Hall
• Wrexham Stiwt Theatre

Holiday Camps

• New Quay Quay West
• Tenby Kiln Park
• Trecco Bay Holiday Park

Grand Slam Wrestling

Welsh Wrestling also hold wrestling events in England under the Grand Slam Wrestling banner, in towns including Abingdon, Bude, Banbury, Brackley, Cheltenham, Crewe, Colne, Congleton, Craven Arms, Didcot, Eastbourne, Henley-on-Thames, Kidlington, Kettering, Newbury, Oswestry, Ormskirk, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Reading, Walburton, Witney and Weymouth. These shows typically use a similar structure, ethos and talent pool as the Welsh Wrestling shows.

Roster

The Welsh Wrestling touring roster typically consists of 8–12 heavyweight and super heavyweight wrestlers at any one time, with light heavyweights and guest talent featuring often as further attractions. Women's matches are a rarity in Welsh Wrestling, but have been known to occur as a special attraction.

Super heavyweights

• Big Dog
• Bison Brody
• Grizzly Jones
• Kade Callous
• Skull Duggan

Heavyweights

• James Mason
• John The Machine Titan
• Matt Vaughn
• Mean Tommy Dean
• Mr. Irresistible Iestyn Rees
• Rocco Berretta
• Stevie Starr
• Tagori
• The Fame Robbie Caine

Light heavyweights

• Flash Morgan
• Magico
• Wild Boar

Welsh Heavyweight Championship

History

The inaugural Welsh Heavyweight Champion was crowned at a special "King of the Castle" tournament in Harlech on 1 May 2010, run in association with Cadw at the Harlech Castle site. The six-man tournament consisted of three singles matches, which saw contenders Dafydd Rhys, The Saint and JD Knight eliminated. The final match was contested under 'three way dance' rules, and saw James Mason defeat both Kade Callous and Danny Garnell to win the championship. The present Welsh Heavyweight Champion is Stevie Starr, who is also the only three-time title-holder. Kade Callous holds the record for longevity, with a reign of 480 days.

Champions

Affiliation

Welsh Wrestling is Wales' representative in the UEWA (Union of European Wrestling Alliances), which recognises the Welsh Heavyweight Championship as the country's premier title. As part of their membership, the promotion has hosted one of the few European Heavyweight Championship title matches on UK soil and sent light heavyweight standout Wild Boar to represent them at the inaugural European Cruiserweight Championship tournament in Oslo, Norway.

External links

• Official website
• Official Facebook page
• Official Twitter account