Tag: progress wrestling

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Big Damo & Nikki Storm (Nikki Cross) Purchase PROGRESS Wrestling, DEFY

Hailing from Northern Ireland and Scotland, respectively, the former WWE stars (and longtime fan favorites of the U.K. wrestling scene) have purchased the leading BritWres promotion along with its U.S. partner group, DEFY Wrestling.

THE GLOBAL WRESTLING LANDSCAPE has once again shifted with today’s news that Damian “Damo” Mackle (formerly Killian Dain) and Nicola Glencross (formerly Nikki Cross) are the new heads of PROGRESS Wrestling, as well as the Seattle-based DEFY Wrestling. The enterprising couple assumes the PROGRESS reins from the promotion’s previous owners, Lee McAteer & Martyn Best, who purchased the company back in 2021.

“We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS,” said Mackle, a former multi-time champion for the promotion as Big Damo, in the official press release. “We both started in the U.K. and Ireland and fully believe this is host to the greatest talent pool on earth [and that] PROGRESS is well positioned to showcase this generation and the next generation.”

PROGRESS, the influential British wrestling promotion cofounded by Jim Smallman & Jon Briley in 2011, has long been a top destination for wrestlers on the rise in the United Kingdom and beyond. Through the years, the likes of Gunther, Will Ospreay, Toni Storm, Zack Sabre Jr., Jonathan Gresham, Chris Brookes, and Jordynne Grace have earned major accolades and notoriety in PROGRESS rings. In recent years, PROGRESS has become a proving ground for internationally recognized talent such as Man Like DeReiss, Rayne Leverkusen (Lizzy Rain), Rhio, and Will Kroos (Mason Rook). And the 2024 merger with DEFY (founded in 2017 by Matt Farmer & Jim Perry) has coincided with PROGRESS’ return to international touring and an expanding influence outside the United Kingdom.

BIG DAMO (COURTESY OF PROGRESS WRESTLING)

“We would like to thank Martyn Best and Lee McAteer for being wonderful custodians and bringing new levels of professionalism to our industry,” said Mackle, speaking via today’s official press release from PROGRESS. “They steered PROGRESS after a worldwide pandemic, created an incredible wrestling network in Hooked On Wrestling TV, created a phenomenal working partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan and DEFY in [the] USA, and showed ambition and an incredible drive to give multiple talented men and women visas to compete in the USA [as well as] opportunities in so many other countries.”

It is also notable that Glencross (who, following her recent WWE departure, will once again perform as Nikki Storm on the U.K. wrestling circuit) is the first woman to have an ownership stake in PROGRESS. “It is not lost on me that there are few female owners in professional wrestling, so I want to bring my experience and insights to the table and elevate PROGRESS and DEFY to new levels,” said Glencross, also speaking in today’s press release.

NIKKI CROSS/STORM (COURTESY OF PROGRESS WRESTLING)

News of the change in ownership arrives on the heels of some significant events in the PROGRESS Wrestling canon. The most recent of these was the annual Super Strong Style 16, a prestigious international tournament presented in London, England. The 2026 edition featured both men’s and women’s brackets for the first time ever. The two-day SSS16 followed PROGRESS’ recent return to Las Vegas, Nevada—an exciting WrestleMania Week card that saw, among other things, Damo battle wrestler/award-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser for the PROGRESS Proteus championship.

“We are over the moon,” Mackle told Pro Wrestling Illustrated when reached for additional comment. “PROGRESS Wrestling is one of the top independent wrestling promotions on the planet and is full of incredible talent. Nikki and I are excited to bring our experience both in ring and behind the scenes to the table and drive PROGRESS even further forward.

“We have been hard at work already getting prepared for our first show, Chapter 195: WonderBrawl 2, June 7 at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, and preparing for Nikki’s first U.K. independent appearance in 10 years at Chapter 196: Scorchio!, at the fabled Electric Ballroom in Camden, London,” says Mackle, adding the location is “the spiritual home of PROGRESS.”

For more information on upcoming PROGRESS events, visit progresswrestling.com

COURTESY OF PROGRESS WRESTLING
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RHIO Talks U.K. Dominance, AEW All In and WrestleMania Weekend

SINCE THE TITLE’S INCEPTION in 2017, 28-year-old Rhio has defended the PROGRESS Women’s championship more than any champion has during one reign. Successfully defeating a dozen-plus challengers, including Lana Austin, Kanji, Nina Samuels, Delmi Exo, and Session Moth Martina, is no easy feat.

Rhio’s PROGRESS title run has reached more than 400 days, but it’s by no means her only accomplishment worth celebrating. The U.K. powerhouse ranked #25 on the 2024 “PWI Women’s 250,” making her the highest-ranked U.K. freelancer on the 2024 list.

PWI‘s Kristen Ashly spoke with Rhio about her record-breaking year.

ASHLY: Congratulations on your “PWI Women’s 250″ ranking! You made #25. What do you think made this year so special?

RHIO: This year, I’ve broken records and made history in some of the top independent promotions in Europe. I feel this year has been my best work so far, and with every challenge I’ve come out stronger. Also, this year I made my debut in the U.S., which is another big milestone for me. I think this year has had many special moments for me, so many amazing matches and incredible opponents. Opportunities have come and I’ve just run with it. Just as I think it can’t get any crazier, it does.

ASHLY: You’ve held multiple titles during the evaluation period for this year’s list. Do you have one that you’re particularly proud of? Is there one you think is missing from the list?

RHIO: I’m particularly proud of holding both the ICW and PROGRESS Women’s championships, especially when I was holding them at the same time. Both of these championships are legitimate world championships and have such a rich lineage. So, to be able to join the list of incredible women that have held these championships means a lot to me. In terms of one I feel is missing, I am definitely going to be working towards the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s championship. 

Rhio holds aloft the PROGRESS and Insane Championship Wrestling Women’s belts. Given the breadth and depth of competition surrounding each prize, she believes both championships to be legitimate world titles. (PHOTO BY ISSA MARIE)

ASHLY: One title you should feel incredibly proud of is the PROGRESS Women’s title, which you held the entire evaluation year. What defense did you find the most difficult?

RHIO: I’m extremely proud of holding the PROGRESS Women’s world championship. It’s hard to say which is the most difficult defense as there has been quite a few. But some of the ones that spring to mind are: the 4-way ladder match I had at this year’s Super Strong Style 16, myself versus Emersyn Jayne, myself versus Lizzy Evo, and myself versus Kanji, off the top of my head.

ASHLY: What defense do you think is still missing?

RHIO: I feel me [against] the DEFY Women’s champion is something that is missing. Especially with the partnership of PROGRESS and DEFY. So, hopefully that is something we can do. 

ASHLY: U.K. women’s wrestling is known as some of the best in the business. How do you feel the U.K. stacks up against other countries?

RHIO: Oh, I agree the U.K. women’s wrestling scene is incredibly strong at the moment, and I’m proud to be a part of it. We have one of the best women’s wrestling scenes in the world. So many beautiful, strong, and talented women that will step to anyone to prove themselves. Women putting in consistent hard work.

Rhio joins Saraya’s entourage at Wembley Stadium during the second AEW All In event.
(PHOTO BY LEE SOUTH/©ALL ELITE WRESTLING)

ASHLY: One incredible moment to see as a Rhio fan was your in-ring appearance at All In, supporting Saraya. How did that moment feel?

RHIO: I loved appearing at AEW All In supporting Saraya. And being a part of a moment that involved two incredible British women [Saraya and Jamie Hayter] in front of a huge crowd at Wembley was very special.

ASHLY: How did that opportunity come about? AEW has a wonderful group of U.K. talent. Is that somewhere you’d like to wrestle on a regular basis?

RHIO: The opportunity came about after I received an email inviting me to Cardiff and All In. AEW has so many amazing British wrestlers and is definitely somewhere I could see myself wrestling regularly.

ASHLY: WrestleMania Weekend in Philadelphia was the time to see Rhio! You had two title defenses that weekend, one for PROGRESS and one as part of Kevin McElvaney’s ThrashElvania. Both were incredible matches; did you have similar mindsets going into them?

RHIO: I loved wrestling in Philadelphia over Wrestlemania Week. I loved all of my matches. I would say my mindset going into them was very different, as the one for PROGRESS was a singles match with the former champion I beat, and someone I know very well (Lana Austin). So, with that said, I knew she was coming into this with extra motivation. Whereas my match at ThrashElvania was a triple threat with two women I have never wrestled before. So, I went into that match knowing that I didn’t have to be pinned to lose. I didn’t fully know what to expect from my opponents. So, I had to watch my back even more in that one.

Delmi Exo gets clobbered by Rhio’s side headbutt during their triple-threat bout for the PROGRESS Women’s title at ThrashElvania, which took place over WrestleMania Weekend.
(PHOTO BY ISSA MARIE)

ASHLY: Do you approach a match differently when you’re facing more than one opponent, or an opponent that you don’t face often?

RHIO:  When it comes to approaching my matches, I always approach them differently. Because I know that all my opponents are different, they think differently, and they move differently. 

ASHLY: Also that weekend, you faced Shoko Nakajima on a TJPW show. This isn’t your first time wrestling for TJPW. Is it different wrestling in the U.S. for TJPW, as opposed to Japan? Do you find wrestling British Style is different from joshi? Are there adjustments to make?

RHIO: It did feel different wrestling for TJPW in the U.S. as opposed to wrestling for them in Japan. I don’t really know why, I can’t quite figure that out. But it was definitely different for me. The British and joshi style do have their differences, but the prominent similarity is they are both a hard-hitting style, which I think transcends well. If I get to face Shoko Nakajima again, which I hope I do, it’s more [that] I need to adjust to her in particular, not the style. Again, it goes back to me taking every opponent as they come.

Rhio catches Alex Windsor with a missile dropkick (rendered all the more devastating by a trash can) during the exceptionally violent 10-woman tag at RevPro’s latest anniversary event.
(PHOTO BY SCOTT LESH)

ASHLY: Looking at your resume, your match in August for the 12th Anniversary of RevPro featured what was easily one of your best matches of the year: the no-DQ 10-woman tag team match. Do you find it’s harder to create a memorable and maybe cleaner match with so many opponents?

RHIO: The 10-woman tag at RevPro for their 12th anniversary was very special. A match of that caliber is definitely not an easy task, but I feel everyone in that match was so different, so everyone showed out in their own unique way. When you have so many experienced and talented people in one match, it does make it easier. We also had an amazing person who helped and supported us. (Thank you, Will Ospreay.)

ASHLY: Wrestling fans can agree your career trajectory is amazing to watch. What’s next for you?

RHIO: I’m so proud of my career trajectory so far, and I plan on keeping the momentum going and the good times rolling. I don’t know what’s next for me, but I’m very excited for my future. I’m going to keep working hard and be open to every opportunity that is presented to me.