Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro/RPW) is a British professional wrestling promotion founded on 26 August 2012 by Andy Quildan after separating from International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom.
 Revolution Pro Wrestling's logo | |
| Acronym | RevPro[1] RPW[2] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 26 August 2012 |
| Style | Professional wrestling Sports entertainment |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth, England |
| Founder(s) | Andy Quildan |
| Owner(s) | Andy Quildan |
| Split from | International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom |
| Website | RevolutionProWrestling.com |
Revolution Pro Wrestling currently has partnerships with several internationally based promotions including US-based All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Japan's New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). American independent company Global Force Wrestling (GFW), also has worked with RPW in the past.[3][4][5]
Top international wrestlers who have worked for RevPro, include WWE performers Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, Apollo Crews, Finn Bálor, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Kalisto, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Killian Dain, Noam Dar, Tommaso Ciampa, and Adam Cole.
History
Early history (2012–2019)
On 26 August 2012, at Summer Sizzler International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom's (IPW:UK) booker Andy Quildan broke with the company to ensure the high standards he set to the promotion would be maintained.[6][7] Quildan would bring with him the British Heavyweight, Tag Team and Cruiserweight Championships to the promotion. RPW would also book talent from other promotions such as Prince Devitt, Big Damo and Noam Dar, whom later were signed by WWE. With the rising popularity of RPW, it would become one of the biggest promotions in the British independent circuit.
RPW would begin a series of international collaborations and partnerships with other promotions. On 25 July 2014, RPW announced a working agreement with Global Force Wrestling (GFW).[3] On 5 April 2015, RPW hosted the first independent UK defence of the ICW World Heavyweight Championship[8] as part of the At Our Best card when Drew Galloway defended the ICW title along with the EVOLVE and DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Championships[9] against Doug Williams.[10]
On 18 July 2015, RPW established a working agreement with New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of their "New IWGP Conception", a global expansion strategy centered on their international partnerships.[11][12][13] The agreement also led to NJPW wrestlers making regular appearances for the promotion.
In May, RPW hosted a qualifying match for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.[14] The first co-promoted shows with NJPW were Uprising and Global Wars UK, which took place in October 2015.[15][16][17][18] On 3 March 2016 RPW released their own OTT streaming service the RPW On Demand.[19] On 16 March, announced a working agreement with Pro-Wrestling: EVE, which would also feature various title defenses of the Pro-Wrestling:EVE Championship and Pro-Wrestling:EVE events airing on the demand for the RPW On Demand.[20] On 23 March, RPW launched a YouTube series the RevPro TV, which airs on Mondays.[21]
On 8 June 2017, RPW announced the British J-Cup, a tournament based on NJPW's Super J-Cup for cruiserweight wrestlers from all over the world.[22] In August 2017, RPW partnered with American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) and Mexican Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) for the War of the Worlds UK, which featured participation from the promotion.[23] On 22 September, RPW announced that content from Over The Top Wrestling would also be available on RPW On Demand.[24]
On 13 November, RPW announced the creation of its fourth active title the British Women's Championship,[25][26] On 30 November, RPW reach a deal with NJPW to officially sell their merchandise from the RPW shop, becoming their second European carrier of their licensed merchandise.[27] On 30 August 2018, RPW signed a television deal with FreeSports, where it premiered on Wednesday and Thursday, 5 and 6 September 2018,[28] in a live special held at the York Hall in London, England. On 3 October, it was announced the Queen of the Ring tournament for their women's division.[29]
Acquiring Southside Wrestling Entertainment (2019–2021)
On 18 September 2019, RevPro announced they took over Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) operations.[30]
SWE was a promotion operating out of Cambridgeshire, England, which ran events from 2010 to 2019. They promoted internationally known names like Drew Galloway, Chris Hero, Tyler Bate, Pete Dunne, TAJIRI, MJF, Gabriel Kidd, Noam Dar, Tommy Dreamer and Kevin Steen, among others.[31][32]
Previous SWE title holders had included:– Will Ospreay, Mark Haskins, Ethan Page, Tommy End, Kris Travis, PJ Black, Kay Lee Ray, Stevie Boy, BT Gunn, Rampage Brown, Mike Bailey, Kip Sabian, Davey Richards, Andrew Everett, Trey Miguel, Nixon Newell, Shigehiro Irie, Ricky Knight Jr., Rockstar Spud, Jade, Melina and numerous others.[33][34][35][36][37]
The SWE Heavyweight Championship, SWE Speed King Championship, SWE Tag Team Championship and SWE Women's Championship were defended on RevPro events before eventually being vacated or unified with their own active titles.[38][39][40]
New partnerships (2021–present)
In 2021, Revolution Pro Wrestling established a relationship with Major League Wrestling.[41]
On 3 August 2023, the CMLL and Revolution Pro Wrestling announced their alliance beginning with their first joint event, Fantastica Mania UK.[42][43]
Training school
Revolution Pro Wrestling hosts a professional wrestling school in Portsmouth, England. It was founded in August 2012 and run by Andy Quildan.[44] The school runs 4 trainee level shows a year for them to showcase their ability in front of a live audience. They teach all the basic elements of professional wrestling as well as other vital parts of being a wrestler.
Championships
Current champions
As of September 4, 2024
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won | Days held |
Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship | Luke Jacobs | 1 | August 24, 2024 | 11+ | London, England | Defeated Michael Oku at RevPro 12th Anniversary Show. | [45] |
| Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship | Will Kaven | 1 | August 24, 2024 | 11+ | London, England | Defeated Neón, Cameron Khai, El Phantasmo, Leon Slater and Dante Martin in a six-way match at RevPro 12th Anniversary Show. | [45] |
| Undisputed British Women's Championship | Mina Shirakawa | 1 | August 24, 2024 | 11+ | London, England | Defeated Dani Luna on at RevPro 12th Anniversary Show. | [45] |
| Undisputed British Tag Team Championship | Sunshine Machine (Chuck Mambo and TK Cooper) |
2 (2, 2) |
August 24, 2024 | 11+ | London, England | Defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) at RevPro 12th Anniversary Show. | [45] |
Former champions
| Championship | Last champion(s) | Date retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Heavyweight Championship | Ricky Knight Jr. | 18 July 2021 | Ricky Knight Jr. retired the championship and proclaimed himself the British Heavyweight Champion, using the old British Heavyweight Championship belt. |
| Southside Speed King Championship | Michael Oku | 13 September 2020[46] | Defeated Ricky Knight Jr. to unify the title with the Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship.[46] |
| Southside Tag Team Championship | Rampage Brown and The Great-O-Kharn | 24 November 2019 | Defeated Mike Bailey and Mao to unify the title with the Undisputed British Tag Team Championships.[47] |
| Southside Women's Championship | Alex Windsor | 9 July 2023 | Defeated Skye Smitson, Dani Luna and Hyan in a four-way match to unify the title with the Undisputed British Women's Championship.[48] |
Events
Marquee events
- High Stakes
- Summer Sizzler
- Uprising
Collaborated events
- Strong Style Evolved UK (with NJPW)
Tournaments
| Tournament | Last winners | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| British J-Cup | Leon Slater | October 21, 2023 |
| Queen of the Ring | Zoe Lucas | July 31, 2021 |
| Great British Tag League | Greedy Souls (Brendan White and Danny Jones) | December 16, 2023 |
See also
References
External links
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